Loker Elementary School Principal Brian Jones outlined the new pilot program to be initiated this fall that would reduce the current 75 minutes of music instruction to a weekly 45 minutes in grades 4 and 5.
A memo describing the changes was sent out to the Loker community on June 22.
The change was prompted after Jones co-chaired an elementary scheduling committee with Assistant Superintendent Betsy Gavron to evaluate the current schedule to ensure that all students were receiving maximum instruction time.
Jones stated that 71.8% of teachers felt that the current schedule was not effectively meeting the needs of the students at Loker. He also recognized that scheduling conflicts affect more than academic classes.
“It affects our ability to provide intervention, enrichment, social-emotional learning, and the flexibility needed to support scholars with diverse needs,” he wrote in the correspondence to parents.
The change was also prompted by equity of the schedules of the music teachers who teach in more than one school during the school year. Jones also stated the need to increase literacy time for students in grades 3 and 5 for students in the Spanish immersion program as a factor.
In the memo, Jones highlighted some constraints of the pull out music classes:
Instrumental lessons account for approximately 27 hours, during which classroom instruction cannot effectively move forward.
During 45-minute ensemble lessons, students who do not participate in band or strings attend Skills Lab for 30 minutes and spend 15 minutes in the classroom where instruction cannot move forward, creating an additional 15 hours of instructional disruption.
Collectively, this results in approximately 42 hours of instructional time (the equivalent of nearly a week and a half of instruction) during which fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms are unable to move forward with core instruction.
Not all cities or towns have the same system for music instruction in the elementary schools as Wayland. For example, Wellesley does not have pull-out music classes. Rather, professional musicians come to school after school hours to teach lessons offered at a discounted price. There is also an opportunity for students to meet before the school day begins and to play in an all-town orchestra and band. At the middle school and high school level, students can choose orchestra or band as an art elective.
Jones said that after careful review, the Loker School Council unanimously voted to approve the pilot. Nevertheless, he acknowledged what the loss means to the music students at Loker. He praised the talented staff and acknowledged personally attending as many of the concerts that he was able to attend.
“I also want to speak directly to the loss this pilot represents,” he said. “To the families, educators and advocates who have passionately supported instrumental music: I see you, I hear your concerns, and I share your disappointment regarding this outcome. Reducing weekly instrumental instruction from 75 to 45 minutes is a real, measurable loss of time for our musicians to develop their talents.”
“Some families move to the district because it’s award-winning in music and offers great programs. The most important part of music education is that it educates the whole child and helps kids with academics, especially science and math,” said Vera Garibaldi, who has a fifth-grade strings player at Loker and two other children in seventh and ninth grade. “Now, especially post-Covid, there are studies that music id tied to helping to improve mental health. My fear is that the music department will be demolished
For many, the change evokes mixed feelings. Wayland is a town known for its excellence in music instruction. Recently The Wayland Public Schools received the Best Communities for Music Education Award from the NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education for the 17th consecutive year and many scholars have excelled at and won awards for their musical talents.
However, decline in ELA MCAS scores and the need for more instruction time necessitated the change.
Becky Leonard, owner of Leonard Music, laments the loss
“Eliminating small-group band lessons would significantly disadvantage the Loker students,” she explained. “Beginning instrumental music requires individualized instruction that cannot be effectively delivered in a large ensemble of 50-plus beginners. Without that foundation, many students will become frustrated and quit.”
Data will be collected and analyzed throughout the coming school year to measure the effects of the reduction in music instruction deliver
