Melvin Jones, far right, visiting the territory's schools as part of the United Jazz Foundation's Artist in Residence program, stopped in and jammed with 'ME' (Music Educators) during a professional development session facilitated by Territorial Director of Music Dionne Donadelle at BCB Middle School on March 23.
Music Educators (ME) in the St. Thomas-St. John district came together for a “Jam Session” at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School on Thursday, March 23 in celebration of Music in our Schools Month.
Facilitated by Territorial Director of Music Dionne Donadelle, the group of approximately 25 music educators engaged in two hours of professional development, where they learned techniques from each other in an effort to become better musicians and teachers.
The educators were arranged into two groups--instrumentalists and choral. They were given a new score of music that allowed them to become students for a day where they learned and performed the music.
Midway through the Jam Session, Melvin Jones, trumpeter and Carlton Holmes, pianist, professional musicians visiting the territory's schools and training students as part of the United Jazz Foundation's Artist in Residence program, joined the educators to provide them with tips, and offered different perspectives to learning and teaching music.
Music in our Schools month has seen several mini concerts at schools across the territory highlighting the talents of student musicians.
