This Monday, March 30th, four local middle schools, including Wickford Middle School, will be participating in a “Night of Jazz” at the Curtis Corner Middle School.  I am really looking forward to hearing the performers, especially my son who will be performing under the instruction of Michael Iadevaia for Wickford Middle School.  It should be an amazing night of music for the kids and parents of these talented musicians.

Quoting the immortal Lou Reed “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.”

Wickford Middle School recognizes the unique developmental characteristics of the middle school student. We believe in the middle school concept which nurtures respect for self and others.  We strive to foster high academic achievement, clear thinking, and responsibility. Through the cooperative efforts of parents, teachers, and community we encourage academic, emotional, and social growth and work to instill democratic principles in our students. The Wickford Middle School Band and Jazz Band have achieved superior ratings in band and jazz festivals recently. It has been a highly successful year for everyone involved in the music program at Wickford Middle School. Research has found that learning music facilitates learning other subjects and enhances skills that children inevitably use in other areas. “A music-rich experience for children of singing, listening and moving is really bringing a very serious benefit to children as they progress into more formal learning,” says Mary Luehrisen, executive director of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, a not-for-profit association that promotes the benefits of making music. Making music involves more than the voice or fingers playing an instrument; a child learning about music has to tap into multiple skill sets, often simultaneously. For instance, people use their ears and eyes, as well as large and small muscles, says Kenneth Guilmartin, cofounder of Music Together, an early childhood music development program for infants through kindergarteners that involves parents or caregivers in the classes. “Music learning supports all learning. Not that Mozart makes you smarter, but it’s a very integrating, stimulating pastime or activity,” Guilmartin says.