Results of the Music Survey

I want to thank everyone who participated in the music survey. We had strong participation and interesting results. I wanted to let you know some of what we discovered. Our administration and music faculty is working to use these results to think through how we can serve our students and families in the future. Right now, we are not announcing any changes, but we are using your feedback to help us built a strong music program in the future.

The survey began with general questions about our families’ attitudes toward music. These questions, while general, were an important gauge for us. As you might know, most schools are cutting or diminishing their music program at present. We were interested to see where the attitude of our families fit into the broader culture. We were encouraged. The support for a strong music program was high. About 90% of respondents said that music was integral to a well-rounded education and that it was an important part of a classical education.

The percentage of families valuing students learning to sing a part, play an instrument, and appreciate music was high. A majority felt that learning to sing a part was important. Families also, while valuing music appreciation, did not want to see appreciation take the place of technical work in singing and instrumental work.

This commitment on the part of families played out in the choices that they made. A very high percentage of students are taking, have taken, or will take private music lessons. This fits with the responses above, but it is further confirmation that Veritas families’ choices fit with their commitments. (Nice to see walking the walk and talking the talk fitting together.) This commitment is critical for building great opportunities here at school!

Next, we got some interesting results on what sort of music lessons students are taking. Many are taking piano. We had a strong showing in strings. Some are taking multiple instruments. We had fewer in woodwind and brass (more on this later).

Finally, we had some interest and feedback concerning lessons here at school. First, parents want to make sure that we continue to guard our academic program. That strengthening the music program does not come at the cost of the academic strength of our school, and you can be assured that we will guard this core distinctive of our school. Second, we found that there was substantial support for having lessons at school (the top choice of parents was “Hurrah” at 37%), but that whatever we did needed to be convenient and cost sensitive (48% combined to support these two answers). We also understand that this goal—being convenient and affordable—is a tough one! What is convenient for some is inconvenient for others. We are, however, going to try to best to build a program that aims at both.

So, where do go from here? We are studying your feedback and integrating it with Veritas’ deep commitments to classical Christian education. We are looking in the future to expand our instrumental offering beyond our strong strings program into areas like woodwind and brass so that we can have a more comprehensive instrumental program. We want to do that in a way that works within the time now allotted to music and that builds support in the grammar school so that we can have a stronger program in secondary school.

Thank you for your excellent feedback. There were a number of comments were great, but that did not fit into general feedback. I will be addressing them soon on the school’s blog. Here is a teaser:

• Why does Veritas sing some popular songs at concerts? Why not just stick with classical music?
• Why the emphasis on part-singing? Why not just sing from the heart?
• Will we see Veritas students competiting at district level band and orchestra competitions soon?

Answers to these and other exciting questions will be coming up soon on the Veritas Academy blog (http://www.veritasacademy.com/headmasters-blog/).