New Pilot Program Brings Music to School Kids

By Lookout Staff

In a school district where the arts are hailed and protected at a time when other districts are cutting back, officials at McKinley Elementary School are determined to bring music to their students.

Principal Wendy Wax, with the help of district instrumental music teachers, launched a pilot program this year to put musical instruments into the hands of each fourth grade student.

For two weeks fourth graders were allowed to sample a variety of instruments before having to pick one they would want to play for the rest of the year.

Using a grant from the California Arts Council, school officials were able to rent instruments for every fourth grade student and teacher, according to a district statement. The classes will be divided into strings and brass instruments or strings and woodwinds.