After-school music program coming to middle school
Language of jazz, music history classes on offer
A new after-school program will enhance music education at Asbury Park Middle School this fall.
The Artist Residence Program [ARP] consists of weekly after-school workshops and clinics from Monday through Friday at Asbury Park Middle School. The board of education approved the program at its Aug. 29 meeting.
The board approved ARP with a monthly cost of $3,000, not to exceed $30,000 per year.
The program is being run by Charles Chico Rouse Jr. Rouse may bring in specialists for students who are interested in particular instruments, but this will not affect the monthly fee.
Board member Gregory Brewington has known Rouse since high school, he said.
“He’s an accomplished percussionist and educator,” Brewington said. “We’re constantly talking about beefing up visual and performing arts as a draw, not just to the high school but to the middle school. This is another way we’re doing it.”
Brewington also suggested the board invite Rouse to a September meeting.
ARP is more than just music instruction, assistant curriculum director Andrea Bates said. It also includes music history and reading, music creation and sound setup, as well as classes on jazz as a language.
The middle school’s music instructor will attend many of the programs as well, to ensure continuity between in-school and after-school programming.
The district will follow the typical policy for volunteers, meaning Rouse will undergo a background check, Superintendent Denise Lowe [pictured at right at a previous meeting] said.
