Newtown Music Department Ranked In Top 100 Nationally

By Tanjua Damon

The teachers in the music department throughout the Newtown School District say they do not work hard and give their all to the students because they are looking for rewards. They say they love what they do and the students they do it for.

But the department recently learned that they have been ranked one of the top 100 schools across the nation that provide quality music education by the American Music Conference, the Music Teachers National Association, the National School Boards Association, Yamaha Corporation of America, and VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

The department was chosen through a survey process that public and private schools answered during March and April online. There were detailed questions about music funding, enrollment, student-teacher ratios, participation in music classes, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and participation in private music lessons.

“There are no words. It’s so exciting to be recognized,” Ms Hiscavich said. “This department deserves it. They work so hard making sure it is first class all the time for the students. Making sure it is good on kids, this is what our teachers do.”

In Newtown over 4,900 students participate in the music program districtwide, according to Music Director Michelle Hiscavich. There are 1,205 students who participate in the instrumental program and over 1,081 students who are part of the choral program, leaving over 2,400 students in kindergarten through fifth grade who receive general music instruction.

Students can take part in the band, orchestra, or chorus programs at all levels, according to Ms Michelle Hiscavich. Fourth and fifth graders are able to participate in the band, orchestra, and chorus. Middle school students have a variety of instrumental programs from band to orchestra to jazz band as well as chorus. High school students also have a variety of instrumental and chorus programs to participate in.

“We do things in music that cross the curriculum,” Ms Hiscavich said. “Music is such a small piece of what we do every day.”

Newtown was the only Fairfield County district to be included in the ranking. Six other schools from Connecticut – Bristol Public Schools in Bristol, Consolidated School District of New Britain in New Britain, Simsbury Public Schools in Simsbury, Stonington Public Schools in Old Mystic, and Torrington Public Schools in Torrington – were also ranked in the top 100.

“I think you’re always pleased when you have a wonderful hard-working staff and hundreds and hundreds of students involved in such an undertaking that is justified,” Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed said. “Newtown has a long history of a very strong music program. We owe a debt to former music director Joseph Grasso as well as our current director and outstanding staff.”