Grade 4 Instrumental Music Schedule Update

Dear Kingston Families,

We are writing to share an update regarding instrumental music for our Grade 4 students.

Earlier this school year, the district adjusted the Grade 4 instrumental music schedule from two lessons during each six-day cycle to one. This change was made as part of our continued focus on strengthening student achievement in reading and math while protecting important classroom instructional time.

We heard the concerns raised by families and staff about this change. We value that feedback and recognize the important role music education plays in a well-rounded educational experience for our students.

In response, district administrators met with our principals and instrumental music teachers to discuss how we could provide students with more opportunities for instrumental music while also limiting the amount of core classroom instruction they miss. Together, we developed a revised approach.

Under the new schedule, Grade 4 students will once again have two instrumental music opportunities during each six-day cycle:

• One 30-minute instrumental lesson will take place during the school day. This may require students to miss a portion of classroom instruction. Whenever possible, schedules will be designed to avoid Tier 1 and Tier 2 instructional periods, and students will be supported in completing any missed work.
• One ensemble experience will be scheduled outside of classroom instructional time. This will give students a structured opportunity to practice and perform with other instrumental music students, strengthen their skills, and prepare together for concerts.

We believe this revised schedule provides a better balance between protecting academic instructional time and giving students meaningful opportunities to grow as musicians.

The district remains focused on improving student achievement in reading and math, while also recognizing that music and the arts are an important part of our students' educational experience.

We appreciate our families for sharing their concerns and our instrumental music teachers for working collaboratively with district administration to develop a solution that supports our students.

Sincerely,

Kingston City School District Administration