A COVID19-FREE STORY Since the closure of the ICCSD in March, many students have been left without musical instruction. MusiCommunity, a student-run volunteer organization, hopes to fill these gaps and make music lessons available to all through alternate modes of communication. BY CAROLINE MASCARDO PHOTOS BY SOCIAL IMPACT COLLEGE COACHING DESIGN BY ZOEY GUO
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he COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the start of online courses throughout the country, a platform foreign to most teachers. While the transition was smooth for some classes, it is impossible for others. For musical ensembles, like orchestra and band, this transition has left many students without formal instruction. Due to legal issues, the ICCSD and its teachers are not allowed to offer individual lessons via virtual platforms like Zoom. Some students, however, still have access to online private lessons. Music institutions such as the Preucil School and West Music continue to offer instruction, albeit not in person. Nonetheless, these lessons can cost anywhere from $30 to $75 per hour, a price many cannot pay, making music an unaffordable luxury. A small group of musicians at West High hopes to change that, though. MusiCommunity is a national volunteer organization that allows high school musicians to teach music to younger children. This means that no matter where a student lives or what their financial situation is, music lessons are readily available for them. “[MusiCommunity is] important because across the nation, millions of students no longer have access to music education through their school programs. This is the result of regulation that prevents teachers from teaching one-onone or simply due to a lack of resources. Filling this huge gap by setting up programs in districts that allow instruction to continue remains our main goal,” said Andrew Burgess ‘20, the founder of MusiCommunity. After seeing the effect of one of the ICCSD’s
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NEWS
MAY 26, 2020
“[MUSICOMMUNITY IS] IMPORTANT BECAUSE ACROSS THE NATION, MILLIONS OF STUDENTS NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION THROUGH THEIR SCHOOL PROGRAMS... FILLING THIS HUGE GAP BY SETTING UP PROGRAMS IN DISTRICTS THAT ALLOW INSTRUCTION TO CONTINUE REMAINS OUR MAIN GOAL.” -ANDREW BURGESS ‘20
policy changes at the high school level, Burgess began MusiCommunity in 2018 to provide everyone the opportunity to learn about music from a young age. “This was the first year that ICCSD’s decision to cut music programs for fourth graders began to noticeably impact the quality of ensembles and teacher resources in all district high schools,” Burgess said. “We started with in-person instruction through the Neighborhood Centers for Johnson County before being forced to shift to online instruction using Zoom.” The transition from in-person to online lessons has posed numerous challenges, such as creating an entirely new set of guidelines and curricula, as well as the typical issues by using a virtual platform. Nevertheless, the MusiCommunity team has adapted and continued to expand. “So far, we have conducted dozens of lessons in four states and partnered with the ICCSD and a school district in Ohio. We also have had professors at Juilliard, Eastman, USC, and other institutions sign on as advisors, giving guidance on the curriculum and helping our teams,” Burgess said. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the support of our advisors, as well as the enthusiasm of many of our coaches.” Jonathan Welch, the district music coordinator and orchestra director at West High, sees MusiCommunity as a much-needed solution to the plethora of problems teachers face throughout the district. “MusiCommunity is important right now because we all have a hard time living in this digital world and trying to find ways to reach out and connect,” Welch said. “As the district coordinator, I’ve had problems with mandatory teaching and
