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YES Foundation funding pays for the Ross Valley School District’s credentialed music educators who teach weekly classes at Brookside, Hidden Valley, Manor, and Wade Thomas Elementary Schools, including instrumental or choral music for all fifth graders. YES also funds White Hill Middle School bands, choirs and orchestras, which meet daily. YES funding provides all music literature, supplies, instrument scholarships and more for all grades. Although funding comes from the foundation, the music teachers are normal employees of the school district who are credentialed by the state of California, then interviewed, hired and evaluated by the District's administrators.
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Elementary Music leads to Middle School OpportunitiesThe Ross Valley School District values music as a vital part of every child’s education. Each student in elementary school participates in, and is exposed to a broad range of music from many historical periods and many places around the world. Equally important, each child participates in creative movement, musical improvisation and composition. The goal is to provide children in Kindergarten through 5th grade with a multifaceted, engaging music education that promotes an understanding of all forms of music; emphasizes the importance of music in our lives; explores various types of music in history, contemporary society and world cultures; and provides the development of fundamental music reading skills. Our 5th grade music choice program leads directly into our middle school chorus, orchestra, band and jazz band ensembles, which encourage personal success through the exploration of advanced instrumental and vocal music.
Instrumental and Choral MusicInstrumental and choral music are cornerstones of our comprehensive program. Students are introduced to instruments in grades K-3 through the use of xylophones, drums, mallets and other percussion instruments. Hands-on exposure to instruments continues in 4th grade with an introduction to orchestral strings (violin and cello) and wind instruments (recorder). During fifth grade, students choose a year-long study of either choral music, or of one instrument (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin, or cello). In middle school, students may elect to take YES-funded music ensemble classes: Concert Choir, Advanced Chorus, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Intermediate Orchestra and Advanced Orchestra.
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