Instruments sought for MAC music program
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The Mount Ayr Community elementary music department is looking for donated, unused instruments people may have in storage such as trumpets, trombones, flutes, clarinets, saxophones and especially guitars, bass guitars, and amps.
In addition, Jennifer Rau, MAC K-6 music and 5-6 band, instructor, is currently working to acquire certification for a program called Little Kids Rock with plans to implement the new curriculum in the upper elementary grades in the 2021-2022 school year.
Rau said the Little Kids Rock strategies will be used in general music classes. Band concerts will still feature pieces normally found in traditional concert performances.
The new curriculum would utilize the foundations of music learned in previous years and play modern band instruments to popular music as a connection to promote music education in a rockin’, exciting way.
Once Rau receives certification as a Little Kids Rock teacher, she will join a network of thousands of K-12 teachers across 44 states who are bringing innovative and inclusive music education to students.
More than 500,000 kids currently participate in Little Kids Rock programs nationwide. Since 2002, the organization has reached more than 1,000,000 students with highly-inclusive and culturally relevant music education.
Using genres including rock, pop, Latin, and rap, the Little Kids Rock program empowers teachers to build music programs as diverse as the kids they serve. The students see themselves reflected in their classes, which strengthens their connection to their school, their peers, and their community.
By emphasizing performance and composition over reading notes, students develop a musical voice and acquire musical skills at an accelerated pace. Like language, music is primarily a vehicle for human communication. The Little Kids Rock approach is deliberately non-notational. However, instead of focusing on a classical repertoire, students begin with the popular musical styles and instruments with which students are already familiar.
More information can be found at www.littlekidsrock.org.
