by David Cruz

“It is really lovely to bring music into this school, and win over the hearts of the classes,” explains Julie Waters, a music teacher at PS/MS 95 Sheila Mencher, a K-8 school in Kingsbridge. She looks at music as a very natural activity, an art form paired with high standards, discipline and a sense of humor.  

The school’s foundational music program teaches students K-5 basic skills and concepts such as music notation, reading music, and refining one’s pitch through singing and playing instruments. The little ones sing many songs derived from American folk, pop, and world music while the older children sing as well as learn to study music more academically, exploring how and why music is created. Students are encouraged to form their own sounds to make unique contributions to the work of the class.

“We know what a profound experience music has on kids,” Waters said, adding the art form “can save lives.” “[I]t gives children a place to belong and succeed and express themselves when they don’t know how else to do it,” said Waters. “I have seen in my life that music can be the only thing that makes students want to stay in school – and go to college.”

Andre Devero, music teacher for the middle school students, leads the upper school program, teaching band, orchestra and keyboard basics during the day. An after school program is also available, offering students the chance to put in extra rehearsal time. In all, hundreds of them are being exposed to playing musical instruments, which educators have promoted for years, given its proven ability to increase memory, boost team skills and improve mathematic skills.

At PS/MS 95, the eighth grade band has been invited to play at Great Adventure, and all the music students will take part in the Spring Arts Festival, entitled “Come Together,” based on the idea of people coming together to help each other as a community. Devero has a home recording studio, composing, producing and recording for local artists in nearby Harlem.

What does the program mean to students? Fourth grader Benjamin Boateng feels that “all of us have a special talent in music and each of us should try. Music gets me into my inner self.”

Graduating senior Saad Rahman talked about the hard work linked to perfecting one’s musical craft. “We learn what it actually takes to sound good in an ensemble. This allows me to create on my own and to think more–to do something else, and I have the aspiration to go on to the next level.”

Students will showcase their musical talents on Thursday, Feb. 13, with a performance based on the music from The Wizard of Oz. Teachers and families will gather at the school auditorium from 8:50 to 9:40 a.m., where each grade will perform their own song, giving every child the experience of gracing the stage to flaunt their skills.