ACTION ALERT:

Proposed CUT of FOUR TEACHING POSITIONS CAN

BRING DOWN THE ENTIRE MCPS MUSIC PROGRAM

MCPS is cutting four full-time instrumental music teaching slots in elementary schools.

THE FACTS:

·         MCPS Elementary Instrumental Music has grown in the last five years from 9,400 to 12,300 students.

·         There has been no additional staffing to cover these 2,900 kids.

·         Cutting four positions will double many class sizes to 20 students.

·         Many schools have only small spaces for instrumental classes (think lunchroom stage) that won’t hold 20 kids.

·         In these first years, they need to learn how to hold a violin and bow, fingering for the sax and clarinet, trumpet embouchure. These are only taught hands-on. Early instruction becomes impossible with large classes.

THE CONSEQUENCES:

·         Instead of inspiration and discovery, frustration. Elementary students will learn much more slowly.

·         Winter Concerts—traditionally a proud, happy event—will be far less exciting or completely eliminated.

·         Achievement will be restricted to the affluent: Only kids who can afford private lessons will succeed.

·         As discouraged kids leave music, Middle School and High School programs will decline.

·         Montgomery County will lose its now-outstanding statewide presence. Now MCPS provides up to a third of the musicians for all-state bands and orchestras. Many former MCPS students won major college scholarships because of their music. With weaker programs, these honors will end.

·         Ironically, this will cost the county more in the long run: instrumental teachers in middle and high school, where hands-on instruction is no longer necessary, take on very large student loads. When these kids no longer play music, the county will have to find more teachers to instruct them in non-music classes.

·         Bottom line? Fewer of our kids learning the magic of making music. Music teaches 21^st century assets—and old-fashioned skills—like working together, responsibility, confidence, and doing your best. Let’s keep music!

Montgomery County Parents for MUSIC  -- Laura Quigley at ghsbandparents@gmail.com

"Only .01 percent of the total MCPS budget--a tiny amount to restore--and think what you're getting!"