Over the past 3 years, teachers and administrators of current “JAM” programs have met several times to distill some standards which we feel are important for program success. Our “Core Values” are listed below with suggestions as to how a community might insure that the value is realized.
Core Value – Fostering Local Musicand Dance Traditions
Involve indigenous “bearers of tradition” from community as teachers or visiting artists
Compensate ongoing involvement of these traditional artists well!
Core Value – Community Involvement
Plan the program with involvement of community leaders in education, traditional arts, youth services and business/tourism to:
- Collect community information including: Demographics of community; and, local music and dance resources
- Establish policies for the program such as: Personnel; Student Conduct and Attendance; Instruments and Equipment; Field Trips; and, Fees and Costs
- Establish goals, budget and operational logistics for the program:
- Define target student population
- Select site(s)
- Determine dates of program cycles
- Provide fiscal management and fund raising
- Employ and oversee a program director and teaching staff
- Evaluate program and program staff
- Develop student performance opportunities at local nursing homes, benefits and festivals
- Offer field trips or visiting artists to introduce students to the current culture of traditional music in their region
- Provide short term volunteer opportunities for local traditional artists and others
Core Value – Positive, accessible learning environments that provide excellence in instruction, efficient administration and encourage personal commitment, good character and improved self esteem
Positive learning environments are safe and provide: screened staff (including background checks); and, instructional sites in maintained public facilities Accessible learning environments are affordable to all (either fee based on sliding scale and/or with ample scholarships) and are located at sites minimizing transportation issues for targeted population. They often provide loan or low cost rentals of instruments.
Teachers are:
- Aware and involved with traditional music and/or dance
- Open to sharing and growing in their teaching
- Expected to foster cooperative learning among students
- Willing to assess students and monitor their skill development
- illing to include the teaching of core tunes developed collectively by JAM teachers so that students develop some common repertoire for regional gatherings
- Expected to enforce discipline standards and policies developed by their local board
- Expected to agree to JAM Code of Ethics
Administrators:
- Monitor and evaluate in relationship to local board goals and objectives
- Monitor participation by demographic group
- Monitor attendance at weekly classes, field trips, performances and special events
- Track retention rates of students from one class cycle to the next
- Comply with their local board policies in regards to fiscal management and fundraising
- JAM Programs encourage personal commitment, good character and improved self esteem by enforcing local board policies in regards to attendance, discipline, fees, care of instruments and Rewarding Success!