Music Together® has been a part of the Crescendo Academy of Music for seventeen years, since they began offering Music Together family classes in 2008. Then, in 2010, a partnership between Crescendo and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) created the nonprofit organization, Marvelous Music. Its goal is to support kindergarten-readiness skills through music and movement programs, many of which involve KSO musicians. As a part of the Marvelous Music offerings, Crescendo teaches Music Together In School to over 750 preschool students in Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program classrooms in the Kalamazoo area. (The Great Start Readiness Program is Michigan’s free pre-K program, ranked #1 in the nation.) We recently sat down with Audrey Lipsey, Executive Director of Crescendo Academy of Music and Melissa Ludwa, M.S.Ed., Lead Music Together Specialist at Crescendo, to hear about how Music Togetheris a vital part of connecting the people of Kalamazoo through music.
Marvelous Music + Music Together In School
Music Together In School as part of the Marvelous Music program has grown from 10 to 44 classrooms, many of whose students might not otherwise have the chance to experience arts education. Some of the schools that started with Crescendo in 2010 are still using Music Together In School — and some of the original teachers are still there too! Audrey says that in fifteen years, they haven’t had to convince schools to offer the program. “They come to us asking to provide it.”
What’s the appeal of Music Together In School for Crescendo? Audrey and Melissa have actually asked their teachers, who say they love the regular structure that music class brings each week. The process and arc of the lesson plans allow the children different creative and enjoyable music and movement experiences within that solid structure.
They also love the Music Together songbooks that are given to each classroom and child as part of the curriculum. Melissa says, “The in-school materials really fit with this age group. You guys did your research!” The songbooks become classroom materials, and the teachers say that their use is instrumental in supporting reading-readiness. The teachers have also noticed that children for whom English is a second language, and who may not speak much during the day, participate fully during music time.
Finally, Melissa and Audrey explain how the teachers (and children) love the lullabies. Melissa says, “They are magical.” The quiet time at the end of each class serves to regulate the energy in the classroom, and allows everybody (including the teachers!) to take a breath. The lullabies “really do what they are supposed to do.”
Not in it Alone
Other Marvelous Music programs involve KSO musicians. Such programs include: A Great Music For Great Kids workbook with classical music and age-appropriate activities related to the music (the workbook is available in English, Spanish and Arabic); Instrument Petting Zoos where children can hold and experiment with various musical instruments in their classrooms; and KSO and Crescendo combine to present evening concerts including live Music Together classes with audience participation. All of these work together to offer at-risk students music experiences and music education.
Bringing all of these programs to the community takes commitment. The first three years of the Marvelous Music offerings were paid for in full by a grant from PNC Bank. Now, additional funding through foundation grants and individual private donations provides fifty percent of the program’s cost, with schools providing the other fifty percent.
PNC also provides volunteers to help work for the symphony and Music Together. And those volunteers really get things done! Among their important tasks, they go into the classrooms and make sure the rooms are stocked with supplies (like egg shakers). For every certain number of hours the volunteers work, Marvelous Music earns grants for their programs.
Taking the Music Home
Family engagement in Music Together In School is a big draw. Each participating school holds family events and sends home postcards (handwritten by the volunteers!) with instructions on how to download the Music Together app and unlock the songs being learned in the classroom. The teachers also send home quick videos telling the families, “This is what we did in music class this week.” Melissa says, “I can tell who’s listening to the music at home.”
Beyond Music Together In School
In addition to Music Together, Crescendo Academy of Music offers private music instruction for graduates of the Music Together programs, and for students of any age. Marvelous Music offers scholarships for Crescendo’s Rhythm Kids® classes (for five- to eight-year-olds), and across their other programs so that interested students can experience music education regardless of financial status. Audrey believes that the music exposure and practice that the children receive in the classroom is a good steppingstone to private lessons. One young student recently performed at a concert in a string quartet with the Junior Symphony. Having been involved in Crescendo and Marvelous Music programs from a very young age, upon graduation he will be going on to continue his musical studies.
From serving the youngest Music Together children in their family classes, to the school-aged children, to the private lessons offered through adulthood, Audrey loves that they reach so many people through music. She proudly declares that between Crescendo and Marvelous Music, they serve the community throughout “the entire human lifespan.” Part of Music Together’s mission is to provide the highest quality music and movement experiences to as many young children as possible, involving their parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals. Crescendo Music Academy and Marvelous Music are doing that. In spades. Thank you, Crescendo Music Academy, for your belief in the value of Music Together, your support of music and early childhood development, and for fostering a musical community in Kalamazoo for the past two decades!
Audrey Lipsey has worked as a musician teaching violin for 45 years and held orchestral positions in several symphony orchestras including KSO. She also served as an early childhood educator for 18 years. After teaching music in public school, she worked as a Head Start teacher where she not only continued to use music in her classrooms, but mentored other teachers on how to do the same. When she was first exposed to Music Together, she thought, “This is a curriculum I wish I’d had. It’s wonderful!”
Melissa Ludwa earned her master’s degree in education, and has a background in school counselling. She started out as a Music Together mom, first in Indianapolis, and then in Cleaveland. The center director there suggested she take the teacher training and Melissa agreed. While in the training, Melissa suddenly thought, “This is it! This is where I’m supposed to be.” She loved many things about the program, including the childhood development, group dynamics work, and emphasis on family relationships. Melissa says that for her, everything, “just fit.” After working in Cleveland for a time as a Music Together teacher, she found her way to Kalamazoo and began teaching for Crescendo.