Mr. Vito DiSalvo Head of Music Department

A Rationale for Music in the West Mifflin Area Schools:

The reasons for including music in the public schools vary according to the philosophical views of individuals and communities, but the consensus is that music is an integral part of a complete education and all students ought to experience music in a meaningful way.

Several reasons are frequently cited for including music in the West Mifflin Area Schools:

	To help each student develop aesthetic awareness and sensitivity;
	To contribute to a balanced educational program which deals with objective, subjective, symbolic, and concrete aspects of human experience;
	To provide students with an opportunity for visible success and achievement in the school and community;
	To provide a means for creativity and self-expression;
	To provide a sense of our history and cultural heritage;
	To understand other cultures better through music;
	To make the school and the community a more pleasant place to learn, work, and live;
	To give students a source of enjoyment which can enhance the quality of life during school years and throughout later life;
	To increase the satisfaction students are able to derive from music throughout life;

Therefore, the school music program exists to inform, challenge, direct, enhance, and provide meaningful music experiences, so that students may establish a solid and permanent relationship with music.

Objectives:

The general objectives of the music courses in the West Mifflin Area School District are to develop the skills of music symbol reading, develop certain technical abilities to sing or play music, develop listening skills, develop skills of interpretation, to be exposed to and develop the latest technology [skills] as they apply to music, and to acquire an appreciation for music and the related fine arts.

It is intended that the apex of this course of study will result in the student possessing the ability to use critical thinking skills to make value judgments in the fine arts and practical domains based upon aesthetic principals.

For those students who participate in performing ensembles, it is intended that they will acquire positive attitudes toward responsibilities to one's self, the ensemble, and performances: and to recognize and respect the values of others.

For further information on the Music Department, including contact information and web pages, visit the following link:

West Mifflin Area School District Music Department

Vito DiSalvo
Department Head-Music Department
disalvov@wmasd.org
(412) 466-7220