For the musically inclined fourth grader in the district, attending the mid-September demonstration of instruments at school is like visiting the candy store. Which to pick:  Saxophone or flute?  Violin or trumpet?

Whatever they choose, fourth graders enrolled in the district’s optional instrumental-music program begin instruction soon afterwards with one of the district’s two elementary music instructors:  Christopher Della Pietra at Nesbit, Redwood Shores, and Sandpiper, and Andre Ehling, new to the district this year and teaching at Central, Fox, and Cipriani.  In this pullout program, fourth- and fifth-grade students each week step out of the classroom during the school day for 30 minutes of group lessons on their instruments.

Pedagogical methods emphasize teaching the physical skill of producing sound on the instrument first (just how do you squeeze enough air through the saxophone’s reed to make that sound?) followed closely by discussing basic concepts in music, such as note reading and rhythm.  Students also learn to play in groups, learning such critical ensemble skills as listening to and blending in with others. Repertoire, taken from standard method books, ranges from “Hot Cross Buns” and “When the Saints Go Marching In” to other jazz arrangements.

As the district’s enrollment grows, so too does demand for music instruction, presenting challenges for the teachers. At Redwood Shores, for instance, Della Pietra this year has two fourth-grade and two fifth-grade classes, up from only one fourth-grade class last year, but spends the same amount of time at the school as last year. The courseload requires some juggling, such as mixing students playing different instruments or mixing students of differing skill levels.  The most efficient setup, though, would be grouping students playing at the same level on the same instrument, says Della Pietra, a pianist.

The majority of the district’s fourth-graders participate in the program, and most of them continue through fifth grade. And later down the road, a large fraction continues participating in music in either band or orchestra at Ralston and Carlmont High School. “It takes years to develop musical skills, and the elementary program makes the middle- and high-school programs possible,” says Della Pietra.

At the elementary level, “the goal is to give students the skills to go up to junior high and high school and experience all the great music programs they’ve got there, and also to let students enjoy what they’re doing and have fun with it,” adds Ehling, a saxophonist.

Ehling and Della Pieta also teach all fourth- and fifth-graders in a 30-minute weekly general music class, where students sing and develop other musical skills through movement and listening exercises.

Aside from providing artistic fulfillment, studying music enhances students’ discipline and problem-solving skills – both highly valued in the workforce. Studies have shown that musical training in childhood can improve the brain’s ability to process sounds, boosting students’ ability to learn other subjects like literature and foreign languages.

Although Della Pietra joined the district only a year ago, he can already point to some success stories.  Last spring, a handful of particularly motivated fourth-grade flutists and clarinetists formed a small ensemble. They took group instruction in class, had some tutoring from Carlmont students through the Music Mentors* program, and took some before-school coaching from Della Pietra donating his time. Ultimately, these students demonstrated the motivation and musical skills to perform an advanced piece from their method book in the school talent show, he says.

Della Pietra and Ehling currently are coordinating with organizers of the annual Save the Music Festival, scheduled for Oct. 2, to plan student performances and the Instrument Petting Zoo. In the spring, the teachers also expect to lead elementary students in performances at Ralston’s Multicultural Festival.

“We’re very appreciative of the support from the district and School-Force for the music program,” says Della Pietra.  “We’d like to ignite a passion for music and music-making with all of our students.

By Louise Lee
Central Elementary School Parent

*Note:  The Music Mentor program is available distict-wide.  Carlmont High School instrumental musicians volunteer to tutor younger students after school on elementary school campuses.  Organizers are now discussing the possibility of  a similar choral mentoring program.

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Read more about how active engagement with music affects brain development and helps develop listening skills.

Read about the Ralston Middle School Music Programs.