FAME - Upper Perkiomen
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Highlights from 2015

Middle School Musical

The Middle School Musical is back! Auditions will be held in October at the UPMS for Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR. The show will be performed on February 27th and 28th, 2015 in the auditorium in the Upper Perkiomen Middle School, on Jefferson Street in East Greenville.

High School Musical

lookingglasscover

This year's high school musical is Through the Looking Glass. There will be a Gold Card Performance for senior citizens on Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. on March 11, 2015 in the auditorium at the Upper Perkiomen High School, Walt Road, Pennsburg. Evening performances for the public begin at 7 p.m., March 12 - 14, 2015, with a final show on Sunday afternoon, March 15th, at 2 p.m.

Choir Orchestra Boosters

The Choral Fund Society has changed its name to Choir Orchestra Boosters, better reflecting its growing role supporting the multiple choirs and the orchestra at the high school.

Donation Received for Sound System

The Perkiomen Women's Club donated money towards improving the sound system in the high school auditorium, and towards scholarship money for students who wish to be in the band but can't afford the cost of buying or renting instruments.

Important FAME News

For over 10 years years, here in the Upper Perk School District, Families Advancing Music  Education has served as a meeting place for Band Boosters, Choir Orchestra Boosters (formerly known as Choral Fund Society), Performing Arts Committee, and Alumni Band, as well as community members and parents of music students in grades K-8.  Information has been shared online and at meetings on the third Tuesday of the month. 

FAME has been the place where resources, information, and concerns are shared and all can work together to support the music programs at all levels; elementary, middle, and high school, in the Upper Perkiomen public school system. It is not a fundraising organization but its purpose is to inform, advocate, and volunteer where and when needed.

It is now time for new leadership to provide the energy, ideas and fresh voice needed to continue to move the organization forward to make a postive difference. 

The current FAME website will be closing down by the end of September, unless the new leadership is interested in carrying it on with the same address, which can easily be transferred to another individual. The emailing list information, along with the FAME bank account, and additional FAME paperwork would also be transferred to the new leadership.

If you are interested in taking on this adventure, please contact Cathy Sweeney or Susan Royer or email upsdfame@gmail.com

A minimum of two people are needed to coordinate the group.

GET INVOLVED

Be informed! Be a presence! Be an advocate of the arts in our public schools! Be a mentor for our children! Be a voice for the community!

Volunteer

Volunteer for special events, helping other organizations support the music and arts programs in our public schools (e.g. selling tickets, ushering, handing out programs, setting up chairs, distributing posters, supplying props for stage shows... ).

Volunteer with Band Boosters and the Choral Fund Society.

Be in the Audience

Support the music programs by attending concerts and shows at the Upper Perkiomen schools, and cheer on the band at the football games and parades.

Stay informed

Visit our website, read the newspapers, attend school board meetings,talk to students, attend booster meetings, and/or sign up for FAME email list.

Upper Perkiomen School Board

Attend FAME meetings

FAME has been meeting 4 times a year; from 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the band room at the Upper Perkiomen Valley High School.

FAME's meetings are only 30 minutes a month. Can't make the meetings? You can still volunteer, you still join in the discussion on our blog or on Facebook, and you can still be on our e-mail list to stay informed.

Speak Up

Please talk to anyone and everyone about the importance of music, art, and drama in the lives of our students. Let school board members, the district administration, neighbors, your children, and your parents, as well as state legislators; State Representative Toepel and State Senator Mensch, and the governor, hear your voice advocating for arts education. Talk about it at parties, over the washline, at the grocery store, on the sidelines of the lacrosse game, etc, etc.

STUDENT INFO

Hereford and Marlborough Elementary Schools

• join the choir

• 3rd grade - learn to play the recorder, sign up to learn to play a string instrument

• 4th grade - sign up to learn an instrument and join the band

• 4th-5th grade - school band

Upper Perkiomen
Middle School

• sing in the choir

• learn to play the guitar

• play in the marching and concert band

• play in the orchestra

• tryout for the Middle School Musical

Upper Perkiomen High School

• 9th-12th grade - audition for A-Choir, Uptones, and Women's Choir

sing in StepUP (show choir, 10th-12th)

• join the marching and concert band

play in the String Orchestra

• play in the full Orchestra (includes strings, winds, and percussion)play in the orchestra (includes strings, winds, and percussion)

play in UPbeat (jazz band)

• tryout for Strolling Strings (new select group that performs from memory as they walk through the audience

• tryout for the High School Musical

NEWS ARTICLES

Hearing the Music, Honing the Mind

Music produces profound and lasting changes in the brain. Schools should add classes, not cut them.
Scientific American- November 2010

 

Why Arts Education is Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best

"Art does not solve problems, but makes us aware of their existence," sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz has said. Arts education, on the other hand, does solve problems. Years of research show that it's closely linked to almost everything that we as a nation say we want for our children and demand from our schools: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity.
Edutopia - April 13, 2014

 

STEAM

STEM is incredibly valuable, but if we want the best innovators we must teach the arts

A foundation in STEM education is exceptional at making us more efficient or increasing speed all within set processes, but it’s not so good at growing our curiosity or imagination. Its focus is poor at sparking our creativity. It doesn’t teach us empathy or what it means to relate to others on a deep emotional level. Singapore and Japan are two great examples. “[They] are looked to as exemplar STEM nations, but as nations they suffer the ability to be perceived as creative on a global scale.” Maeda said.

Is the United States completely misinformed and heading down the wrong track? Not entirely. Science, technology, engineering and math are great things to teach and focus on, but they can’t do the job alone. In order to prepare our students to lead the world in innovation, we need to focus on the creative thought that gives individuals that innovative edge.
Washington Post - September 5, 2014

 

Band:no longer extra-curricular

“The U.S. Department of Education is in full agreement on the need for access to quality music and arts instruction in schools,” said Martin. “No Child Left Behind legislation defines the arts as a core academic subject. It is our job, in our community, to uphold the intent of that law, to create access to a quality education that includes music and arts instruction and to work so all children have the opportunity to learn and grow with music and the arts.”

He went on to show the link between music and the impact music makes on enhancing children’s learning capabilities.
Washington County News - August 7, 2014

ADVOCACY RESOURCES

American for the Arts Action Fund

Support Music Coaltion

Music Friends

MISSION STATEMENT

To ensure the highest quality musical education for our children (K-12) so that the program may be continually improving, allowing each student to maximize their individual potential. Our objectives will be to address critical needs, promoting a close relationship among parents, staff, administration, the community, and the students at all grade levels.

FAME also seeks to serve as an umbrella organization and information clearinghouse for all the music groups and band and choral supporters in the Upper Perkiomen elementary, middle and high school.

Drama - PAC