UWS launches Community Music School – Superior Telegram

SUPERIOR — On April 18th, the halls of the Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center were buzzing with music. A voice was lifted in song. A piano tune dripped from behind the door.

Welcome to the Community Music School at the University of Wisconsin.

“The purpose of the Community Music School is to enhance the musical teaching and learning pipeline and promote lifelong learning in music,” said David Potter, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Music Education.

Assistant Professor David Potter (second from left), coordinator of the Music Education Program at the University of Wisconsin, teaches elementary students to beat the drums during a group music lesson at UWS’s Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center. Campus on Tuesday, April 18th.

Maria Lockwood / Superior Telegram

The initiative will launch in 2021 and will provide free professional development to music teachers in the community each month. This year, under the guidance of teachers, university students have added individual music lessons for local children.

Currently, 10 students in the university’s music program provide lessons to over 30 children in the area. They met in her January and taught tuba, trombone, trumpet, flute, voice, piano, percussion and saxophone.

For college students, most of whom major in music education or performance, it’s an opportunity to dive into real-world situations, flip lessons they’ve been taught, teach others, and even make money. .

“This is pretty special. I’ve never seen anything like this, I think, nowhere else.” But it’s also great for college students, because they get this real-world experience that they rarely get until they become mentors.”

Sophomore Claire German, who lives near Lake Nebagamon, has four percussion students, ages 9-14. For example, one has band experience and one of hers learns by ear.

“You can appreciate each of the different styles,” Jarman said. “We get to know the needs of each individual student before being pushed into a classroom that meets all of their needs. That’s a real benefit.”

Juniors also enjoy the program.

A piano student and a music teacher perform a duet during a music class. — From left, 7-year-old Ezra Castro and University of Wisconsin sophomore Emma Jones perform a duet together during a music lesson at the Holden Fine Arts Center on the UWS campus on Tuesday, April 18.

“It was just incredible. “Every time I come here, I learn something new, and I get to sing some great songs that I love.

Her mother, Chantel Roman, said that Grimm has been singing ever since she could speak.

“It’s exciting to see her really enjoy something and to be so passionate about it that she looks forward to coming every week. Watching her grow is just exciting. ‘ said Roman.

Holly Castro learned UWS lessons from a music teacher at Lake Superior Elementary School. She signed up her son Ezra, 7, for piano lessons with Emma Jones, her sophomore at UWS. Castro said Aixla has tried sports like soccer but nothing has worked for him so far.

“This is his and this makes it accessible to a lot of kids. They can find a passion for that music,” Castro said.

Music lessons are available to students in all regions.

“We want finances to never be a barrier. So, for example, those who qualify for a discounted lunch can take lessons for half the price, and those who qualify for a free lunch get them for free. You can take lessons at ,” said Potter.

Close-up photo of a child playing the piano — Ezra Castro, 7, plays piano in music class at the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Tuesday, April 18.

Aiden Jones, a UWS junior and voice performance major, said it’s a win-win-win situation for everyone.

“This is probably the most transformative and coolest thing that has happened during my tenure here,” said Brett Jones, UWS Professor of Percussion and Chair of the Music Department. “We invite the community to our space and hopefully connect really to make our community a better place.”

The final part of the community music school, Potter said, is group music lessons, offering everything from music classes for toddlers to songwriting classes for adults.

This experience has already inspired Gudmunsen to bring music to his hometown of St. Croix Falls.

“I love it so much. I want my degree now so I can start working. It also inspired me to start my own community school this summer,” he said.

Work is underway to coordinate music lessons for the fall 2023 semester. Potter said it starts with finding out which college students want to participate and what instruments they will teach.

“We’ll make a phone call in the area to see if there are any families with children interested in studying with those instruments,” Potter said.

Local school music teachers have forms to distribute to their students. UWS also has online links to interest forms for individual music lessons and group music lessons. We will be contacting everyone who has signed up for the first lesson, including those on the waiting list.