Ralston Middle School music teacher Jordan Webster tells parents that incoming sixth-grade music students are “ready to fly.” Bringing the fundamentals learned in fourth- and fifth-grade instrumental music classes, sixth graders are ready for some serious ensemble work.

Although some students stick to the instruments they started playing in elementary school, others build on their technical knowledge and branch out to a second instrument once at Ralston.  A flutist can try the oboe, or the trumpeter might try trombone.  In orchestra, some violin or viola players may pick up cello or double bass.  Students’ willingness to try other instruments allows Ralston to form complete ensembles, letting the groups play with the full range of musical colors and textures.  Ms. Webster likens the situation to finding all the ingredients for a cake:  When students arrive, she may have too many eggs, but as they branch out, she gains more frosting.  The result is tasty.

At the Winter Concert it’s not uncommon to hear sixth-grade parents say, “I had no idea they could play like this!” At other middle schools, music is an after-school activity, but it’s a regular school elective at Ralston.  Students rehearse four days a week during a dedicated class period.  With that level of consistent practice, students are performing challenging pieces by the end of the school year.

More than 425 of Ralston’s  1,000 students take music as an elective, up from 350 just a few years ago.  (District officials are now considering expanded music facilities in the plans for new Ralston buildings.)  The ensembles include sixth-grade band, orchestra and choir, seventh- and eighth-grade groups, and an honors band, which requires auditions. There is also a jazz band led by music teacher Peter Thielen that meets at 7 a.m. two or three days a week. This schedule keeps Ms. Webster and Mr. Thielen working at a fast tempo.

Mr. Thielen, now in his tenth year of teaching music at Ralston, has enjoyed watching the choral program burgeon over the years from one choir with about 20 students, to now three choirs with 111 students.  Ralston added the sixth-grade chorus five years ago, and the only prerequisite is to enjoy singing.  Students of all music abilities and levels of experience are welcome.  Mr. Thielen teaches musicianship and vocal skills starting at the beginner level, bringing all students along together as an ensemble.  Most of these singers earn a spot in the Advanced Chorus comprised of seventh and eighth graders. Seventh graders who want to join an ensemble for the first time can sing in the Intermediate Chorus.  Mr. Thielen considers it his responsibility to give all his students a solid vocal and theoretical foundation, to nurture a love of music, and to help them build confidence.   A very high percentage of Ralston singers continue into Carlmont High School’s amazing program of seven choirs, where many become leaders and soloists.

All groups perform in the Winter and Spring Concerts. The Honors Band, Advanced Orchestra and Advanced Choir play at the annual Save the Music Festival and other venues.  Every other year the seventh and eighth graders take a fun and educational trip to play at Disneyland.  Students attend a workshop at a recording studio where they learn and record sections of a film score and then view the playback of actual Disney film clips with their own ensemble playing the musical score.  It’s an experience the students remember forever.

On the alternate years, Ralston music groups have participated in competitions at music festivals organized by the California Music Education Association (CMEA) or at California’s Great America theme park.  Students work under master conductors and band leaders in workshops to improve their skills.  In competition, Ralston’s ensembles have a winning track record.

Ms. Webster’s favorite part of teaching middle school is that the students are old enough to make some amazing music, yet young enough to remain enthusiastic.  Deanna Bartee, the president of the Ralston Music Boosters, says that the students come out of the program with a strong sense of accomplishment.  She adds that a new world opened up to her own son when he first arrived at Ralston and learned xylophone and tympani in addition to the more basic percussion instruments learned in elementary school.

After Ralston, students are ready to join the strong choral and instrumental music programs at Carlmont High School.  Instructors at the two schools coordinate their programs;  eighth-grade students, for instance, can play in a pep band performance at the high school, while Carlmont choral students have visited Ralston to share their experiences with the younger choristers.

Amid ongoing funding cuts to public education in California, a middle-school music program of Ralston’s size and quality is truly remarkable.  Many other districts offer little or no music in elementary schools, so students arrive in middle school with only the most basic knowledge of music.  It’s much harder to engage students in beginner-level music while they’re simultaneously tackling the academic demands of the middle-school curriculum. Plus, as Ms. Webster notes, students in fourth or fifth grade think it’s fun to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” But once they hit sixth or seventh grade, such introductory lessons seem decidedly uncool to them.

Ralston’s musical success largely reflects the dedication of the staff, but without the efforts and generosity of the parent community, it wouldn’t continue.   The School-Force Education Foundation funnels parent donations to pay the salaries of the fourth- and fifth-grade music specialists. General district funds pay Ralston’s music teachers.  Almost every other expense associated with Ralston’s program is covered by the parent-run Ralston Music Boosters, which pays for instrument purchases and maintenance, sheet music, music stands, trips and more.  The group accepts parent donations, sells school lunches as fundraisers one day a week, and also runs other standard student fundraisers.  Serious commitment from the faculty, parents, and students maintains this high-caliber program.

Why does School-Force continue to fund the elementary-level program instead of funneling the money to Ralston? The elementary program generates the best bang for the School-Force buck. Ralston’s music teachers agree that the elementary music education allows the middle-school program to thrive.  In the 2003-2004 school year, instrumental music was temporarily eliminated from the fourth grade due to lack of funding.  The negative effect on student musical skills was clearly felt, and heard, at Ralston later down the road.  Since then,  School-Force has been able to raise enough funds to help support the entire program.  Mr. Thielen and Ms. Webster would like to express their appreciation for how School-Force donors have  supported their program over the years.

by Martha Simmons
Cipriani and Ralston Parent
School-Force Communications Team

Edited by Louise Lee
Central Parent

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Read the blog about the BRSSD Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Music Program.

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