In partnership with school districts committed to the process, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF) provides Music Education District Support Services (MEDSS) to enhance and sustain quality, sequential music education programs in their schools.
In response to a clear need, after 22 years of working in over 700 school districts across the country, we recognized some of the widespread, yet manageable challenges facing district leadership and administration in making music education accessible for all students district-wide. MHOF created a menu of services to help address these issues and provide practical, strategic solutions resulting in successful music education programs.
The Program Audit provides a detailed assessment of K – 12 in-school music education on a district-wide level, as well as within specific feeder patterns. The audit evaluates music education accessibility for students, gaps in sequential K – 12 class offerings, identification of schools with low music program student participation and/or retention, identification of schools that do not offer music programs, and insight into the challenges/barriers that schools face in offering quality, music education.
The Instrument Inventory Audit assists districts in the collection and administration of district-wide musical instrument inventory lists for each school. Additionally, (or if a district already administers inventory lists) MHOF compares the current inventory to the Instrument Inventory Audit results to identify areas of need throughout the district.
MHOF promotes, both locally and nationally, the goals and achievements of music education within each district. MHOF facilitates community engagement by hosting and managing city-wide instrument drives that benefit the school district, conducting school board presentations that recognize their support for music education, producing a school instrument donation event, and highlighting music education in the district through MHOF’s social media, newsletter, e-blasts, and other outlets.
MHOF hosts instrument repair workshops led by certified repair technicians, where music teachers learn how to conduct basic, simple repairs in the classroom. Teachers also learn best practices for maintenance of the various types of instruments to extend the life of their school’s inventory. Participating teachers are given an instrument repair toolkit for use in their classroom courtesy of MHOF.
Throughout the execution of MEDSS services, MHOF provides customized consultation for each district’s specific needs. Districts often request MHOF consultation for strategic planning, program implementation, program sustainability, music teacher retention, music program scheduling, instrument repairs and musical instrument inventory.
