A new truck. New uniforms. New opportunities.
Music is a growing force in Rochester's City Schools.
As part of our celebration of Music in our Schools Month, WXXI’s Brenda Tremblay recently spoke with Alison Schmitt, lead teacher for the Arts Department in the Rochester City School District.
“We got the best news!” she said. “Since the Rochester City School District has been expanding music offerings over the past few years, it’s built a Pride of Rochester marching band. We have a very first out-of-state trip coming up soon, and we had been waiting on a custom build truck, and it just arrived. We are so thrilled!”
That truck will carry the band’s equipment Hersheypark for their very first out of state competition this spring. The Pride of Rochester Marching Band has expanded from twelve to fifty students in the last few years. It plays year round and includes students of all abilities from the fourth grade to high school seniors. The Band also recently got its first new uniforms.
In addition to the Pride of Rochester, the City School District has started another new ensembles program. Schmitt says, “We're establishing nontraditional ensembles (meaning rock bands.) So if you’re looking around in spring cleaning in your closet, and you see your old electric guitar or a microphone or speaker or a drum set, and you’re thinking, 'I could really use the space.' You know who could use it more? Our city school students.”
Alison Schmitt is lead teacher for the Arts Department in the Rochester City School District.
Click here to donate instruments and resources for music education.
