Every class of eighth-graders before the class of ’21 has been given the choice: students used to be able to choose whether they wanted to specialize in choir, band or orchestra or do a combination of choir and an instrument. This year, however, the setup of eighth-grade music has changed. We now adhere to an ever-changing cycle of playing instruments, singing in choir, and participating in options. This system has aroused a large amount of dissatisfaction among the eighth-grade students. In a survey sent out to all eighth-grade students in which 72 students partook, about 80% of students stated that the new system was less than good.
The intention of diversifying students’ experience with music is no longer a valid argument as students have had the opportunity to experiment with their musical choices since fifth grade. “Since we have all gotten a chance to try both choir and band/orchestra, we should be able to choose what we want to specialize in this year,” said Liv Lueneburger, an eighth-grade orchestra student.
Though it is important to have experience with both an instrument and choir, the vast majority of students have had the chance to do just that in the middle school years leading up to eighth grade. Once students have reached eighth grade, the majority of them want the freedom of choice.
Ms. Lorraine Davis, one of the orchestra teachers, explained why the music department decided to make the shift in layout. “Curricularly, it makes a lot more sense for the middle school to have one thing that continues all the way through, and high school is a good demarcation point for people to start making those independent choices.”
In many other classes, we are repeatedly told that eighth-grade is a transition year between middle and high school. “We should get some choices now so we won’t be overwhelmed by choices in high school. We need this experience to prepare for high school,” said eighth-grade band student Mackensie Kim.
Of the students surveyed, 29% said they would choose just band, 35% said they would choose just choir and 6% said that they would choose just orchestra. Around a quarter of students would choose to do both. This is a clear indication that forcing students to do both an instrument and sing is in no way reflective of what eighth-grade students want out of music class.
Ms. Davis gave the reason behind our three-part music curriculum: “What used to happen was that there was a choice at this point where it was possible to do choir and an instrument, just choir, just the instrument or carousel [a more general, one-class version of what we now call ‘options’]…There were all these experiences that we kind of thought were for everyone. So we decided instead to have everyone participate.”
Although we do agree with the notion that it can be beneficial for students to participate in everything, it is not practical. Classes are cut short with the constant transition between different classes and our options classes are often postponed or cancelled.
Since the schedules are constantly changing, the work we set out to accomplish in time for the concert is not covered in depth. Eighth-grade band student Amelia Learner said, “We barely get any time to learn any songs or work on whatever we are doing for [our] option…because it is every other class…so it is very crammed at the last minute before the concert.” This reflects 61% of eighth-grade students’ views that the current setup is ineffective.
A better set-up would be to give students the choice between instrument, singing or both with mandatory options and to stick to a stable, constant schedule. Since options are a fun way to experiment with music and allow us to experiment with different mediums, we should have it twice a cycle. The choices would be two days of band, two days of orchestra, two days of choir, or one day of choir and one day of either band or orchestra. It would be a student’s responsibility to keep up in both their instrument and choir class if they choose to take part in both. This is an accurate reflection of the both choices and responsibilities students will have to make and uphold in high school.
