Whiz Kids: Music Fills The Air At Drum Intermediate

Whiz Kids: AME (Advanced Music Enrichment) students at Drum Intermediate

Whiz Kid Director: Aundrea Schmidt, Drum Orchestra Director and Anne Carpenter, Drum Band Director

Whiz Kids Accomplishments:  The Advanced Music Enrichment class was created three years ago for several reasons. The instructors for each orchestra and band wanted to provide a place were advanced students could have an opportunity to play in a full symphonic orchestra. It also gives music minded students an additional opportunity to play with other advanced students in band and orchestra.  Lastly, it provides a platform for the teachers to team teach together during symphonic orchestra. (Band and Orchestra students perform music numbers together)

The students make a commitment in early March to meet every Tuesday and Thursday after school for many weeks to practice their skills and polish musical selections, so they can show off their talents in a performing arts assembly at the end of the school year at Drum.

Key to Awesomeness:  The group is open to any seventh-grader, but sixth-graders may audition if their instrument is needed in the group.  This situation provides an additional motivation and excitement in the music program overall.  Students really enjoy getting to play with peers in other music classes.  

Another fun incentive for the group is they creatively design a t-shirt each year to represent the AME group.  They wear their shirts at the performance and proudly afterwards to show their involvement in developing musical talents.

This year, there are 60 students between the band and orchestra performing. The group continues to grow in size each year as they develop musically, an added bonus is the enhancing of performing arts department at Drum.

Each year the students feel accomplished and rewarded as they learn that hard work, practice and effort are key to becoming all they can with the AME group.

We honor these students for their desire and effort to make music, learn new songs and develop the skill to perform as a group in a symphonic orchestra.  This is an extraordinary opportunity for young musicians.  Thanks to confident and loyal directors to help make this possible. Way to GO!

Whiz kid(s) are nominated weekly on UP Patch. Please consider a student, team, group that is doing good things! Do they volunteers? Maybe they go beyond the ordinary? or is honorable in some activity to spotlight here on Patch.  Please contact mmlybbert@aol.com