BOURNE — Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou and Principal Jane Norton are pleased to announce that Bourne Intermediate School (BIS) band members performed at the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State Conference earlier this month.
On Thursday, March 2, 39 fifth-grade students played at the MMEA conference in Westford. The students played an arrangement of songs for an audience of about 60 teachers from across the state.
For Bourne Intermediate School students, fifth grade is the first year they are able to play instruments in music class. The students who performed at the conference are also part of a BIS after-school band program for those who are excelling with their instruments.
In September, the students began playing their new instruments using the band method book written by BIS Band Director Michael Smith. A method book is a kind of textbook for learning how to play instruments.
Following the conference, several school districts approached Smith about using his method book for the upcoming school year due to the success and skill the Bourne students exhibited at the conference.
“At the conference, the students’ fantastic performances sparked interest from those in attendance in how they have been able to progress so quickly this year,” Principal Norton said. “It’s a testament to our curriculum and dedication to the outstanding work being done at BIS to place a high priority on music and the arts. It’s been great to see how far along the kids have come knowing that many of them just started playing their instruments at the beginning of the school year.”
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