Respect for all learners is at the core of our program.
Students of every race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, cultural background, ability and socioeconomic status have an essential place in our classroom. There is zero tolerance in our program for behavior that violates this core principle. Outlined below are a series of policies and accommodations available to ensure that every student's needs are met in our classroom.
If you or your child do not feel that the program is meeting your needs or helping you to feel welcome, I urge you to reach out to me personally at [email protected] and I will do everything in my power to help you.
If you or your child do not feel that the program is meeting your needs or helping you to feel welcome, I urge you to reach out to me personally at [email protected] and I will do everything in my power to help you.
CLASSROOM ACCOMODATIONS
Various accommodations and provisions will be made in our classroom to make all students feel welcome. Some are part of our curriculum, while others are resources and services available to particular students.
It is important that students of every race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and culture feel seen and represented in the music we study. Our music curriculum will include composers from Western and non-Western idioms, including composers of color, women composers and queer composers. We will study these musicians and their music, and celebrate these individuals for who they are.
Specific accommodations will also be made for students who need them. Parents of students with IEPs and 504 plans are encouraged to meet with me to discuss how accommodations for their individual child can be implemented in the classroom. Common accommodations include placement of aides in the classroom, the use of color-coding or other symbolic notation in students' music, modified parts and increased individual attention after class/after school. Your child's IEP or 504 plan will always be honored in the SHS Band program, and individual accommodations will be made for each student who needs them.
It is important that students of every race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and culture feel seen and represented in the music we study. Our music curriculum will include composers from Western and non-Western idioms, including composers of color, women composers and queer composers. We will study these musicians and their music, and celebrate these individuals for who they are.
Specific accommodations will also be made for students who need them. Parents of students with IEPs and 504 plans are encouraged to meet with me to discuss how accommodations for their individual child can be implemented in the classroom. Common accommodations include placement of aides in the classroom, the use of color-coding or other symbolic notation in students' music, modified parts and increased individual attention after class/after school. Your child's IEP or 504 plan will always be honored in the SHS Band program, and individual accommodations will be made for each student who needs them.
FINANCIAL ACCOMODATIONS
The costs of participating in a school instrumental program can be significant. However, no child should be unable to access instrumental music because of cost barriers. If fees involved with participation in band are a financial burden for your family, we may be able to help. The SHS Band Parent Association sets aside funds yearly which are reserved for helping families cover the costs of participation in band. Please reach out to myself or the Band Parent Association president and we can discreetly assist you.
DIVERSITY IN REPERTOIRE
Music is a cultural phenomenon and vehicle for the transmission of traditions that is present in every country. Each musical tradition has something valuable to celebrate, and so it is only right that a music class should explore the musical treasures of many cultures. Western art music is commonly studied in large ensemble classes, but it is important that every student sees their musical culture reflected in our class. The SHS Bands will explore repertoire from a variety of musical traditions, with a particular focus on the musical traditions that belong to members of our community. I specifically invite students and families to share music from their own cultures with our band program if they so wish. There is no musical experience more valuable than learning music straight from the source.
This diversity of repertoire will be extended to our Winter concerts in particular. While our Winter concert does not focus specifically on holiday music, we will program a different holiday piece from a different culture each year (rather than performing strictly Christmas music). Particular priority will be given to music from the cultures represented in our SHS Bands community.
This diversity of repertoire will be extended to our Winter concerts in particular. While our Winter concert does not focus specifically on holiday music, we will program a different holiday piece from a different culture each year (rather than performing strictly Christmas music). Particular priority will be given to music from the cultures represented in our SHS Bands community.