The Vermont Alliance for Arts Education (VAAE) announced that the Middlebury Union Middle School (MUMS) is this year’s Vermont recipient of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Creative Ticket School of Excellence Award. This is the highest statewide level of recognition for arts programming in the schools.

The 2002 award to Middlebury Union Middle School (MUMS) is a testament to the strength of their arts education program and how it is fully incorporated into the school curriculum. MUMS points out that the best evidence of how arts education is an essential component of their school curriculum can be seen in the number of arts courses offered and the amount of time devoted to each. The extensive list of available activities includes: Wind Ensemble (marching band) every day for 40 minutes; Choir - every day for 40 minutes; Jazz Band - 70 minutes per week; DWA Dancers (Dancers with Attitude) – 70 minutes per week as well as many, many others, from Studio Art to Drama. All seventh graders are required to take one quarter of music; all seventh and eighth graders are required take one quarter of art. All arts classes are taught within the day except for drama that is after school.

While MUMS offers a wide variety of arts opportunities to meet all students’ needs, the important factor is that students are able to access these opportunities. The school philosophy, the administration and the faculty are all partners in making the arts flourish in their school. No curricular decision is made without considering its impact on the arts.

The imaginative learning done in the arts at MUMS is widespread. Within the school’s four-team structure, the arts are incorporated into many subjects. For example, “Charting My Course” is a combined English/art unit in which 7th graders create self portraits in block prints. Some are displayed superbly on the cover of the magazines that each student creates. The point of the unit is to know ones self, ones strengths and weaknesses, and to set goals. Another example is how The World Music Ensemble makes many of its own instruments and creates original performances annually, including: “Street Corner Hip Hop” which combines tap dancing, vocal sounds, body sounds and a bouncing basketball. Another is “Green Mountain Gamelan,” a piece for different-sized frying pans, wood blocks and gongs - all played in a Balinese style.

One of the most interesting results of integrating art into the curriculum was when 150 eighth grade MUMS students studied sound waves in science. As a culminating activity, students had to design and build an original musical instrument, which had to be able to produce several different-pitched sounds. The result was an incredible array of flutes and windpipes, “singing glasses” and water-filled bottles, harps, chimes and stringed instruments of every shape and size. What began as a simple unit on sound, evolved into something much more... a connection between science and music.

Students were no longer just talking about terms like vibrations, longitudinal waves, amplitude, frequency and pitch. Students were now applying their new knowledge to create and play instruments. They were adjusting string tensions, pipe lengths and water heights to create sound waves with just the right frequency and pitch. To modify the amplitude (and therefore loudness) of the sound waves, students were strumming, tapping and tooting on their instruments with varying intensities Through the experience, students realized that even disciplines as seemingly diverse as science and music share many connections.

It should be noted that parental involvement is significant at MUMS. Parents handle many of the necessary details such as chaperoning events, serving refreshments and videotaping events. Additionally many parents and community members have served as guest performers on cello, trumpet, drums, piano, guitar, tuba and banjo - and as guest conductors. MUMS prides itself on its close ties with parents as well as the community. It is clear that the community connects with them through the attendance at events. Four major band concerts per year have an average attendance of 500-600 at each event; and three choir concerts have a turn-out of 250 people at each event. The Marching Band marches at the Memorial Day Parades in Middlebury and Vergennes.

Twelve years ago MUMS started The Culture Club to introduce students to high quality, diverse workshops and performances. A further aim was to give students an opportunity to learn the customs and protocol of concert going. Each year The Culture Club presents a variety of workshops and performers of specific ethnic origins and cultural perspectives. Last spring Russian musicians visited the school; this year MUMS will host a Bosnian dance group. Previous groups that have performed at MUMS include: Native American storyteller, dancer and musician Kevin Locke; the Harlem Spiritual Singers; a Russian string orchestra; English dancers; African American dancers and musicians, and many others.

MUMS’ vitality and success in the arts is perhaps best indicated by the students’ activities and accomplishments. MUMS clearly ranks among the best in the state in what they offer, the strength of their programs and the levels of proficiency achieved by their students. MUMS students have performed at these events, some of which are annual: The Vermont Association of Middle Schools conference; The Vermont Superintendents and School Board conference; The State House “Farmer’s Night”; WCAX TV’s “Across the Fence”; The Vermont Alliance for Arts Education conference; The Vermont Alliance for Arts Education Awards Night; The Discover Jazz Festival; The International Jazz Educators Jazz Festival; The All-State Parade; and a Federal Immigration Ceremony. 

The MUMS’ marching band was asked to lead the Middlebury College Bicentennial Parade “Marketfest” in Burlington. Their marching band was invited to march in President Clinton’s 2nd Inaugural Parade. Many of their students annually audition successfully for the Green Mountain Music District Festivals. A jazz student won 2 Downbeat Magazine Awards, and a number of students are members of the Vermont Youth Orchestras. 
The VAAE is very pleased to recognize the Middlebury Union Middle School with this year’s award.
 
 

Accomplished oil painter/art teacher Joe Bolger displays a Money painting being recreated in sections by his 8th grade students

The Vermont Alliance for Arts Education (VAAE) is a statewide organization that annually recognizes outstanding schools and arts educators for their achievements in arts education. VAAE is a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.