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OPERATION SHOESTRING STRIKES UP THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL
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Operation Shoestring's staff and board had been discussing implementing a music school as part of the arts programs for some time. Feedback from Project KIDS families about the project helped to focus on providing a strings-based program. The school is being integrated into the Project KIDS and SODO (StampOut DropOut) programs. Students are receiving music instruction several days a week on a rotating basis with other arts programming.
A generous grant from His Way helped to this music education project. Retired JSU music faculty member Dr. London Branch provided assistance and guidance for the project. More than just music education, the Community Music School is Operation Shoestring’s way of reading out to the children we serve AND the larger community.
The introduction of music into Shoestring’s arts programming is also connected to national arts education research, which has shown that student participation in music programs helps to increase test scores and reduce dropout rates. Deputy director Dr. Martha Alexander says that Shoestring has three main goals for the program. The first is for students to learn to read music. Another goal is to shape and inform the students' career aspirations and ambitions through exposure to professional musicians. Ultimately, Shoestring intends that the Community Music School will work in concert with its other programs to build student confidence and academic achievement.
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