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Hazelwood Northwest Middle PTSA Enhances Students’ Musical Experience
Hazelwood Northwest Middle PTSA Enhances Students’ Musical Experience
Students enrolled in Exploring Music at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School are experiencing music lessons on a higher level with new keyboards and guitars purchased by the school’s Parent-Teacher Student Association.
The PTSA bought 15 keyboards and 15 guitars for the music department, providing enough instruments for an entire class to learn how to play.
Music teachers Jessica Arnold, Monica Holy and Eric Meurer are taking turns teaching both the keyboard and guitar in Exploring Music and Academic Excellence.
Before the keyboards, Arnold said the class was taught as a lecture and all applications were done on paper instead of instruments.
“We taught music theory, music history and music careers. We still teach most of the same topics, but the application is much more practical and hands-on,” said Arnold.
Students work at their own pace with the keyboards, which influences the way they learn.
“Students are able to work to their maximum potential because they do not have to wait for other students,” Arnold said. “We can also help students who are struggling by providing one-on-one assistance. We have already noticed the difference in ability level and each student has been able to work at his own pace.”
Holy said that when they first started, the students “were really doing well as a group. The initial lesson was to have the student perform a piece by just using the right hand, and the next piece would just be with the left hand. When the students had to use both hands, it was more of a struggle for some. That’s when we noticed working at their own pace was really helpful for the students.”
Holy said the students’ reaction to having access to the instruments is positive.
“I can’t tell you how many students I had come in during open house with their parents to express how much they enjoy the class. I had students from my Exploring Music class, who are learning the keyboards and students from my Academic Excellence class, who are learning guitar.”
“Students are more eager to learn and they are trying to finish their other work so they can spend more time on the instruments,” said Arnold.
“What has been exciting for me is to see the students engaged in the class,” said Holy. “I have some of the same students from last year in my classes. Some had trouble staying focused and energetic about the material. Those students have dramatically changed this year. They are more excited about the class and they participate more than before.”
To thank the PTSA, the students created cards and the music teachers made a video to show the PTSA how the instruments were being used. At the school’s open house in early September, Principal Willicia Hobbs publicly thanked the PTSA, and the teachers said they have personally thanked individual PTSA members when they see them in the building.
The money came from a school-wide fundraiser held last year. The Yamaha keyboards cost $105 each and the Rogue guitars cost $65 each.
“We are very lucky to have such a strong PTSA at our school,” Arnold said on behalf of her students and colleagues. (story provided by Hazelwood Communications Dept.)
