Philadelphia School District Partners With Philly POPS To Enhance Music Programs
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia School District is partnering with the Philly POPS and some instrument companies to supplement its music programs and replace an aging inventory of instruments.
The Philly POPS "POPS in Schools" program was launched back in June and is heating up now that that classes are back in session. Under the guidance of Jason Ward, some of the musicians will become coaches and mentors at ten city high schools.
"They will visit each school up to 18 times per term," Ward says. "So it'll be 36 visits from Pops musicians into each school through the school year and culminating event will be all-city jazz."
Meanwhile, the School District of Philadelphia is launching "Keys for Philly Kids" at South Philadelphia High.
"The majority of our piano inventory across the district is beyond the 30 year life expectancy of a piano," says Frank Machos, the school district's Director of Music Education. "Really, what we're looking at going forward is technology-enhanced pianos. Some of them are connecting to the internet and doing distance learning. Others are capable of recording in playback, functions for teachers within the classroom."
The problem is there's no district money available to pay for new instruments. Machos is spearheading a fundraising drive in part through a new website, phillymusiced.org.
