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The Arts Home

Katie Mark

Director of the Arts
kmark@rvcschools.org
(516) 255-8925

Music in Elementary Schools

All instrumental instruction (strings and band) begins in the 4th grade.

  • Lessons take place during school, and possibly before school, once in the 6-day cycle. Upon mutual agreement between the music teacher and your child’s classroom teacher, a time during the school day is selected for small group instruction.

    The students are expected to prepare for each lesson by practicing on a regular basis at home.

  • Instruments are provided for school year by the district. Click here to see a list of instruments used in RVC Schools. As per the “Instrument Use Agreement, “any repair that exceeds normal wear and tear, or for damage incurred while in your care is the financial responsibility of the parents. However, the district will have the repair work done.”

  • In preparation for concerts, once a 6-day cycle there will be before school rehearsals. The schedule will be distributed in advance of the first rehearsal.

     

    These rehearsals are essential to the success of the ensemble and attendance at them is mandatory.

    • Discuss with your children the idea of learning an instrument. If your child is interested in learning a string instrument, you will have your choice of violin, viola, cello, or bass. 
    • If your child wishes to take a band instrument, the band instruments offered in 4th grade are flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and French horn.
    • Please follow this Google link to make you selections: Incoming 4th Grade Instrument Selection 2024-2025 Form

  • In 5th grade, bass clarinets, tenor saxophones, baritone saxophones, baritone horn, and percussion are added to the list of available band instruments.

     

    Your music teacher will help you with any “switches”. We encourage students to take an instrument home for the summer so that they can maintain their skills for 5th grade.

     

    First, however, all instruments must be checked for damage and repairs and a “Summer Use” form must be signed by a parent/guardian.

  • By now, your child should have been scheduled by the Middle School for a 6th Grade music ensemble. If your child would like to practice his or her instrument over the summer, contact Mrs. Mark, the Director of the Arts, or a Middle School music teacher to borrow an instrument.

    In addition to the ensemble you register for during the school day, there is also band and chorus available to 6th graders once a week, outside the school day.  Consult the middle school music staff, or arts director for more information.

RVC Sponsors of the Arts

Logo for Rockville Centre Sponsors of the Arts

 

 

Sponsors of the Arts is a not for profit scholarship organization  dedicated to supporting the RVC school district students in their search for excellence in the visual and performing arts. We are lucky to have been able to provide approximately $6000 this year in scholarships.

Your help and membership has provided students in this district opportunities to continue their education in all the arts. Please consider joining Sponsors of the Arts. Your generosity will allow us to continue to support our talented young actors, artists, and musicians. 

 

All-District 2024 Scholarship Application

 

2024 Senior Scholarship Application

Rockville Centre Schools’ Music Education Program Receives National Recognition

District is one of 4% of school districts in nation to receive distinction

 


Rockville Centre, NY – April, 2024

For the eighth consecutive year, Rockville Centre School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Rockville Centre is one of 4% of districts across the nation receiving the prestigious award in 2024.

The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, district administrators answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

As Rockville Centre UFSD finalizes its 2024-2025 budget, The NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education Award and the state level implementation of the federal ESSA law bring attention to the importance of keeping music education part of curriculum offerings and available to all students. It also highlights music’s vital role in students’ overall success in school and the personal benefits of making music. Music and the Arts in Rockville Centre Schools have always been important to the social emotional development of our students.
 

A graphic made by the NAMM Foundation to celebrate the best communities for music education.

Rockville Centre offers General Music instruction alongside Band, Orchestra and Choral ensembles in all of its elementary schools. South Side Middle School and High School give students the opportunity to explore music composition, sequencing and engineering in modern music laboratories equipped with electronic instruments and computer software and hardware. The secondary school students also continue to develop their performing skills in higher level instrumental and vocal groups, including Jazz ensembles. The high school offers 11th and 12th graders IB Music, a comprehensive music curriculum that integrates performance, composition, and research at the commencement level.

Students who live in Rockville Centre have had a broad range of opportunities to perform in community-based theatre troupes, bands, orchestras, and choirs, as well as county level advanced performing ensembles where they can use and improve the skills they learn in school.

 

About The NAMM Foundation

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.