My name is Tom Colett, I am a Beaverton resident and I am here tonight representing Beaverton Friends of Music. Over the past two months, our members have had the privilege of engaging with the school board in person, via email and by phone. There have been many constructive conversations about how to protect and grow music learning opportunities for students in the Beaverton School District. But, our work must not stop there. We have a vision for music in this district: every elementary school student should receive general music instruction from a certified music teacher for a minimum of 90 min per week and middle and high school students should receive instrumental and choral instruction from a certified music teacher at least three hours per week. Band and choir programs should receive proper funding, so families do not have to pay extra fees and music directors do not have to spend additional hours helping parents organize fundraisers just to keep the program afloat. Elementary classes should have new, well-maintained instruments, appropriate for the kinds of activities that meet the national standards for music education:

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 5. Reading and notating music. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside

the arts. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

This vision will not only ensure the whole child is being taught, it will play an important part in achieving the district’s strategic plan by allowing a wide diversity of students to THRIVE. We will continue to be in contact with the board, inviting ideas, conversation, and most importantly concrete action that can help provide our students with a strong music education. We ask that you please take some quality time to think of what you might do to show your commitment to providing the kind of funding and support our music programs need to once again be the pride of the Beaverton and Oregon.