Community Update

“Winter Wonderland” At Grosse Pointe
South High School

To
understand and appreciate why the arts and music are important and critical to
the fabric of a school and the community, look no further to an event that occurred
this past week at Grosse Pointe South High School.  On two successive nights talented musicians
from eight of the schools in the southern district participated one night in a
Band-O-Rama followed the next night by a String Extravaganza.  Both nights brought out a jammed packed crowd
to witness some magnificent, majestic, music by hundreds of students starting
with the combined fifth grade combined bands through the middle school and high
school bands including the South High School Marching Band.  It was a night of classic melodies which
included Christmas tunes as the audience experienced music that made us feel we
“were happy tonight walking in a winter wonderland”. The final presentation of “Bugler’s
Holiday” at the Band-O-Rama elicited loud and prolonged applause from the appreciative
crowd.

It’s no
secret that schools in our country are under pressure to operate with less
funding and many have made cutbacks in several of their educational programs. Having
said that, there is one program that should remain untouched and one that
should continue to receive school board and community support – the music
program!  To witness the dedication and
enthusiasm of the students is priceless and as such, strategies should be
established so that the musical programs never fall victim to cutbacks!  Studies have shown that music students have a
much lower high school dropout rate and researchers find that sustained
learning in music correlates strongly with higher achievement in both math and
reading.

Through
June of 2014, the musicians in the southern district of Grosse Pointe will be participating
in numerous programs.  Get yourself a
schedule and then witness firsthand some of the most talented musicians in the
area.  And while you are there, thank the
teachers for their dedication in introducing their students to a segment of our
culture that will have a lasting positive impact on their lives.  This will be a “feel good” experience for you
but refreshingly it may take several days before your toes quit tapping from
the music!

Bill Kalmar