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"Music education opens doors that help children pass from school into the world around them - a world of work, culture, intellectual activity, and human involvement.  The future of our nation depends on providing our children with a complete education that includes music." 
                                        ~ Gerald Ford, former President of the United States

Welcome!  You have found the home page for the Fifth Grade Instrumental Music Program for the Poway Unified School District. 

For nearly the past 40 years, fifth graders in PUSD have had the opportunity to participate in instrumental music instruction as part of the regular school curriculum.  In the 2003/2004 school year, thanks in large part to the generosity of our community, we were happy to be able to provide that opportunity despite drastic budget reductions.  Relative to prior years, there were some significant changes implemented in the instrumental music program due to the restructuring necessitated by budget constraints and the reduction in staffing from 7.4 music teachers to 4 music teachers.

~ NEWS ~

In spite of the fact that budget outlook for California's schools is still quite tight, PUSD has made a commitment to maintaining the Fifth Grade Instrumental Music Program as a curricular educational opportunity for our students.  For the 2007/2008 school year, the Administration and the Board of Education made the commitment to fund five full-time elementary music teachers a sixth part-time music teacher (75%). In the 2008/2009 school year, the part-time music teacher's position was increased to full time in order to accommodate the opening of Del Sur Elementary and Willow Grove Elementary.

As part of the continuing effort to increase funding for the Fifth Grade Instrumental Music Program and return staffing levels to their 2002/2003 levels, the PUSD Foundation, and its director Irene Frank, has ongoing programs through which donations specifically designated for this program can be made.  Should you wish to make a donation in support of this program, please contact the Foundation directly and accept our grateful thanks in advance.

~ Band & Orchestra Buddies ~

Again this year, the elementary music teachers are coordinating a program  called "Band & Orchestra Buddies."  The program involves high school music students who have volunteered to serve as resource persons for our elementary music students.  Each elementary music teacher will have lists of these high school students who have so generously agreed to help our beginning students.  The lists give the name, instrument, phone, and closest elementary school of the high school students.  Want a list?  Ask your elementary music teacher.  If you are a high school instrumentalist who would like to volunteer to tutor PUSD's younger instrumentalists, please contact the elementary music teacher of the elementary school that is nearest your home.  We very much appreciate what these high school students are doing for their younger peers and our program in general!

~ Coda ~

Looking for some interesting music resources on the Internet?  Try the "Resources" page of this website.  Be sure to check out the marvelous website from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  It is truly an outstanding musical website for kids!  Need to know a fingering for a note?  Check out this link to ONLINE FINGERING CHARTS for all instruments.

 Poway Unified School District

Site last updated: 09/06/2008

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