Point Arena Schools' Music Program: The Offerings Change But The Song Remains The Same
Times have changed. Every student from 2nd-12th grade now has the opportunity to experience music as part of their regular school day in the Point Arena Schools.
Jered Sherrill is the schools’ new Music Director. He teaches how to read music more effectively than any teacher I’ve ever seen and he’s very passionate about his music program.
Sherrill is in his second year for the District, “My primary focus is to excite students to be involved in music. Musical training begins in the second grade and progresses through high school band. Ultimately, I hope to have a high school concert band with 35-40 students. At the moment we have 21.”
Sherrill has taught bands, with a focus on percussion sections, throughout California for the last 25 years. He chose Point Arena because he loves the area and was given the chance to build a vertically-aligned, District-wide music program.
“I’m here for the small-school setting and the challenge to develop a district-wide program, a first for me,” said Sherrill.
His music program includes teaching four bands, a percussion class, a guitar class, and three general music classes — in all, he teaches nine classes to students from the four Point Arena schools: PAHS, Arena Elementary, PCCHS, and PCCS.
“Calibrating my delivery of content for students with an age range of nine years, in the same day, can give me an instructional whiplash, but it’s an interesting challenge,” said Sherrill.
“Every well-run music program is made or broken on class scheduling,” said Sherrill. “It’s a challenge and a work in progress, but the school staffs work together to make it happen.”
In the last year, he has doubled the size of the high school band, developed a first-time percussion class, and reached out to the community and funding sources to double the number of instruments. Each student has their own instrument now.
Sherrill’s originally from Visalia, California. He took up percussion in 5th grade and was a standout player in high school, according to Scott Deering, Sherrill’s high school band director. At Fresno State, he played with the majority of the ensembles on campus. He excelled in musicology, composition, and musical theory research.
He earned a Bachelor’s in Arts in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Percussion Performance from California State University, Fresno under percussion pedagogue Matthew Darling.
In addition to teaching, Sherrill plays percussion for the Symphony of the Redwoods, and Timpani for the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra. “I’d like to encourage parents to support their kids in music. Research shows that involvement in music is one of the highest predictors of academic success. It’s also another place for a student to thrive in their school culture,” said Sherrill.
“I don’t expect my students to be music majors or professional musicians,” he said. “But music teaches so much regard to life skills including promptness, teamwork and problem solving. We’re learning about life; music is just the medium.
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Here are photos and comments by student representatives of the program, along with Jered Sherrill’s synopsis of his course offerings. The photos and descriptions are organized 'clockwise' from upper left. (Jered Sherrill's comments are indicated (JS).
2nd & 3rd grades: general music program
Second grade students learning the “Hambone” rhythm by clapping and singing "Hush Little Baby, Don't Say a Word".
JS: With 2nd grade, I’m teaching primarily “bodily-experiential” relationships to music by listening, moving, and singing through games and activities. In 3rd grade they’re studying written notation, playing simple pieces on the ukulele, drums, tambourine, and recorder, along with singing. Most of the third graders can read the treble clef and have basic rhythm reading down.
5th grade Pre-band: 5th graders, Treyce Zettler, Aiden McGraw, and Daniel Davila, learning a new note on their trumpets.
JS: Playing an instrument is a challenge and 5th grade is the ideal age to start. The musical offering is band for all 5th graders and we’re hoping to get them hooked. By 5th grade, they know how to read music and are able to focus on playing their instruments.
Beginning Guitar: Jacqueline Contreras, Freshman, playing "Greensleeves": I came from Manchester School where there wasn’t a music program. Since I was about nine years old, I’ve wanted to play an instrument. Next year, I’ll probably take Sherrill’s Percussion class.
JS: Guitar is the entry level music class in the high school for those who’d like to learn music but haven’t had the opportunity.
Pirate Band: The Pirate band playing the chromatic scale.
JS: This is the advanced middle school band. I’m preparing them for entrance into the high school band. I’m working on their confidence. They’re learning what band is about and having fun.
Percussion: Brandon Huse, Sophomore, practicing 16th note timing patterns on a snare drum: "Drums appealed to me because I like to work with my hands. Sherrill really makes it fun because he’s knowledgeable. I’ve learned different motions, strikes, holds, and to play many percussion instruments."
JS: Having the percussion class exist separately from the Band is a way to teach this instrument in a more comprehensive and efficient manner. We combine with the Band prior to concerts to put things together.
4th — general music program: Emma, who plays the recorder in class: "I like the music teacher because he’s funny. He teaches really well and walks us through the steps. We’ve learned to read the A, B, G, E and D notes. Maybe next year I’ll play the flute."
JS: Fourth graders are reading music and playing proficiently on the recorder in an ensemble setting.
Point Arena High School Band
Tyler Sundstrom, Junior (center, in photo): "Sherrill has such a good ear—he tells me ‘that’s wrong, that’s wrong’. It a difference experience than before.”
JS: As Music Teacher, Band is my area of focus. It’s the “academic” offering in the District music program that allows specialization and depth of study. It also has the potential to offer a lot of music to as many students who are interested. There’s no upper limit on membership.
Jered Sherrill can be contacted for any queries or donations at jsherrill@pauhs.org.
