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Debbi Gibson, Co-Curriculum Coordinator of Fine Arts, Laconia School District
New Hampshire Music Festival, Gilford
Mostly Music Series
Length of Program: six week-long residencies - 3 in SAU 30 and 3 in SAU 2/48
Target grades: all
Venue and personnel: classroom with up to 100 students
Other support needed: community - hosting dinners, scheduling help, some driving
Budget needs for planning: $43,000.00
Assessments: survey evaluations
Program objectives: To reach persons of all ages and economic backgrounds through the program in public schools and community events with a focus on children, many of whom are underprivileged.
School objectives:
- To foster an appreciation for the arts. And to understand that the arts are central to all cultures and civilizations.
- To realize the lessons of music can be used in a variety of disciplines including history, mathematics, science, and language arts.
- To reach students of all disciplines, not only those who have demonstrated an interest in the arts.
- To enhance specific arts' students studies.
- To provide opportunities for interaction between students and artists.
Description: The New Hampshire Music Festival has been working with SAU # 30 on programs that will help foster an appreciation of and participation in the arts within the communities served by the district: Laconia and Gilmanton. Originated in 1994, the Mostly Music Series has grown in popularity and impact because of its high quality and the need for this type of program. In 1998, the series expanded to include the communities of Gilford, Meredith, Sandwich, Moultonborough, Ashland, Holderness, and Plymouth. The series has brought brilliant young musicians into the school at different times of the school year and has offered free public concerts to the community. Many of these artists have also appeared with the Festival Orchestra connecting our school series with our summer activities.
The artists for this series have primarily been winners of the Young Concert Artists Auditions. Young Concert Artists is a non-profit organization in New York City which identifies and nurtures young musicians who show promise for major careers in classical music.
Several criteria will be looked at to evaluate the Mostly Music Series: surveys, which are distributed to students and teachers, observations by artists and professional staff, and the Board of Directors' education committee.
Since Mostly Music Series began in 1994:
- Survey results of students indicate very high approval rating of the program
- Survey results of teachers indicate very high approval rating of the program
- Demand for series continues to grow among public schools
- Underprivileged families that have not gone to cultural events are attending the free community concert
- A piano was donated to Laconia High School
- The music room at Laconia High School has been renovated
- Enrollment is up over 30% in choral and instrumental programs
Resulting Proficiencies: Studies indicate that there is a great need for cultural programs in our country's urban centers and rural communities. The rationale for Mostly Music series is to present a high-quality cultural program normally associated with large urban areas in our rural New Hampshire communities, specifically the Lakes Region. Cultural programs of value bring quality to the community, making the community a more desirable place to live and work. Such programs serve the public good by advancing the spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the general public.
Studies have also shown:
- Young children who study music show increased ability in math.
- Students with four or more years experience in performing arts ensembles have significantly higher SAT scores than those with no performing arts background.
- Our nation's business leaders agree that the skills developed through early exposure to the arts are essential to the cooperative/team building social skills and creative and analytical thinking needs for the increasingly competitive marketplace.
- Arts can be ambassador for society and allows for continuous growth in self and community.
Ms. Gibson is willing to be a mentors/resources to other educators.
Laconia School District and the New Hampshire Music Festival will support other educators' initiatives by facilitating visitations.
Contact:
| Debbi Gibson |
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New Hampshire Music Festival |
| Co-Curriculum Coordinator of Fine Arts |
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88 Belknap Mountain Road |
| PO Box 309 |
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Gilford, NH |
| Laconia, NH 03246 |
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603/524-1000 |
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fax: 603/528-8676 |
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email: nhmf@lr.net |
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