DCPS schools with good music programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed that these DCPS elementary schools have orchestra and band. My kids go to Hearst and Deal, and we have nothing. A school musical every year, but no instruction in musical instruments (except maybe drums in music class?) and no opportunities to play in an ensemble. Does it just depend on the teachers, or do some schools get extra money for these programs through grants?

Yes, some schools get grants, some allocate funds for music. What DCPS and DCPCS don't do is require schools to offer instrumental music instruction across the board at any level. Nothing is standardized or too serious. Compare to MoCo, Arlington and Fairfax, where almost all by-right schools offer serious instrumental music instruction daily at school from the upper elementary grades on up, and weep. So lame.

Yeah, this is what nobody is mentioning. As a whole, DCPS is awful for music education. You might find a particular school or teacher that is great, but it's probably entirely contingent on a temporary grant and the will of one or two people. If music education is really important to you, you'll likely end up at either DCYOP, Levine, a private school, or the suburbs. We've made do with a combo of private instruction and private school after leaving one of the schools that was cited in the thread as "good."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed that these DCPS elementary schools have orchestra and band. My kids go to Hearst and Deal, and we have nothing. A school musical every year, but no instruction in musical instruments (except maybe drums in music class?) and no opportunities to play in an ensemble. Does it just depend on the teachers, or do some schools get extra money for these programs through grants?

Yes, some schools get grants, some allocate funds for music. What DCPS and DCPCS don't do is require schools to offer instrumental music instruction across the board at any level. Nothing is standardized or too serious. Compare to MoCo, Arlington and Fairfax, where almost all by-right schools offer serious instrumental music instruction daily at school from the upper elementary grades on up, and weep. So lame.

Yeah, this is what nobody is mentioning. As a whole, DCPS is awful for music education. You might find a particular school or teacher that is great, but it's probably entirely contingent on a temporary grant and the will of one or two people. If music education is really important to you, you'll likely end up at either DCYOP, Levine, a private school, or the suburbs. We've made do with a combo of private instruction and private school after leaving one of the schools that was cited in the thread as "good."

+1. So true. A music teacher here and there or exposure to an instrument at a few random schools is not a serious music program like what they have across the board in the burbs.

[Anonymous]

Hands down Eaton. Two music teachers, choral, strings, winds, marimba, annual musical, performances at major arts venues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed that these DCPS elementary schools have orchestra and band. My kids go to Hearst and Deal, and we have nothing. A school musical every year, but no instruction in musical instruments (except maybe drums in music class?) and no opportunities to play in an ensemble. Does it just depend on the teachers, or do some schools get extra money for these programs through grants?

Yes, some schools get grants, some allocate funds for music. What DCPS and DCPCS don't do is require schools to offer instrumental music instruction across the board at any level. Nothing is standardized or too serious. Compare to MoCo, Arlington and Fairfax, where almost all by-right schools offer serious instrumental music instruction daily at school from the upper elementary grades on up, and weep. So lame.

Yeah, this is what nobody is mentioning. As a whole, DCPS is awful for music education. You might find a particular school or teacher that is great, but it's probably entirely contingent on a temporary grant and the will of one or two people. If music education is really important to you, you'll likely end up at either DCYOP, Levine, a private school, or the suburbs. We've made do with a combo of private instruction and private school after leaving one of the schools that was cited in the thread as "good."

+1. So true. A music teacher here and there or exposure to an instrument at a few random schools is not a serious music program like what they have across the board in the burbs.

Sure. But most serious music students seem to go to DC youth orch or Levine, which seem far superior to an average suburban program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed that these DCPS elementary schools have orchestra and band. My kids go to Hearst and Deal, and we have nothing. A school musical every year, but no instruction in musical instruments (except maybe drums in music class?) and no opportunities to play in an ensemble. Does it just depend on the teachers, or do some schools get extra money for these programs through grants?

Yes, some schools get grants, some allocate funds for music. What DCPS and DCPCS don't do is require schools to offer instrumental music instruction across the board at any level. Nothing is standardized or too serious. Compare to MoCo, Arlington and Fairfax, where almost all by-right schools offer serious instrumental music instruction daily at school from the upper elementary grades on up, and weep. So lame.

Yeah, this is what nobody is mentioning. As a whole, DCPS is awful for music education. You might find a particular school or teacher that is great, but it's probably entirely contingent on a temporary grant and the will of one or two people. If music education is really important to you, you'll likely end up at either DCYOP, Levine, a private school, or the suburbs. We've made do with a combo of private instruction and private school after leaving one of the schools that was cited in the thread as "good."

+1. So true. A music teacher here and there or exposure to an instrument at a few random schools is not a serious music program like what they have across the board in the burbs.

Sure. But most serious music students seem to go to DC youth orch or Levine, which seem far superior to an average suburban program?

My kid goes to DC youth and not really. DC youth is once a week and it’s not enough. You need the kid to be in private lessons too. I can’t speak for Levine since I know nothing about them. And DC youth, you need to get picked to move up in their orchestra so not all kids will have the opportunity.

If the burbs are offering daily music instruction, then that is huge and kids who are naturally good will get better. It’s much better because they are basically learning and practicing every day.

Lastly, the big elephant in the room is access. Burbs everyone has access and opportunity. In DC its pay to play and private lessons are not cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed that these DCPS elementary schools have orchestra and band. My kids go to Hearst and Deal, and we have nothing. A school musical every year, but no instruction in musical instruments (except maybe drums in music class?) and no opportunities to play in an ensemble. Does it just depend on the teachers, or do some schools get extra money for these programs through grants?

Yes, some schools get grants, some allocate funds for music. What DCPS and DCPCS don't do is require schools to offer instrumental music instruction across the board at any level. Nothing is standardized or too serious. Compare to MoCo, Arlington and Fairfax, where almost all by-right schools offer serious instrumental music instruction daily at school from the upper elementary grades on up, and weep. So lame.

Yeah, this is what nobody is mentioning. As a whole, DCPS is awful for music education. You might find a particular school or teacher that is great, but it's probably entirely contingent on a temporary grant and the will of one or two people. If music education is really important to you, you'll likely end up at either DCYOP, Levine, a private school, or the suburbs. We've made do with a combo of private instruction and private school after leaving one of the schools that was cited in the thread as "good."

+1. So true. A music teacher here and there or exposure to an instrument at a few random schools is not a serious music program like what they have across the board in the burbs.

Sure. But most serious music students seem to go to DC youth orch or Levine, which seem far superior to an average suburban program?

Levine and DCYOP are nowhere near as good as they should be, considering how much it costs. Even the most mediocre school in Fairfax County has a robust music program starting in 4th grade that is available to all, including access to instruments, at either low or no cost. Nobody should HAVE to go to Levine for music education - it's part of the basic public school package pretty much everywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent has an amazing music teacher who has done a lot for my kids' musical education. But I'm not sure that's what you meant by a music program.

Yes, but he's not in a position to provide free instrumental music lessons to the kids, other than on the recorder, because DCPS doesn't fund such a program. In MoCo, the kids get instrumental music lessons at school daily from 4th grade if they want them. MoCo works in close partnership with Strathmore in Bethesda to support MCYO (MD Classic Youth Orchestra programs, many ensembles). DCPS has no equivalent, not even close.

We aren't talking about MOCO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m amazed that these DCPS elementary schools have orchestra and band. My kids go to Hearst and Deal, and we have nothing. A school musical every year, but no instruction in musical instruments (except maybe drums in music class?) and no opportunities to play in an ensemble. Does it just depend on the teachers, or do some schools get extra money for these programs through grants?

It depends on the teacher. Some can teach instruments and some can't. Some schools budget for instruments, or get them granted, some don't.

Btw, my kids were in orchestra at Deal. Is that gone now?