Sinnott's Musical Wildcats
The PTA brought music back to Sinnott in 2021 to ensure our students experience the joy and creativity that comes from learning music.
Currently being delivered to TK through 3rd grade, our goal is to spark a love for music in all classrooms through singing, movement, instruments, games-based theory, and performing.
Nearly 400 students benefit from this program across all primary classrooms. Classes are taught for 30-minutes each week between September and May. Students learn to sing, use sign language, dance, play basic piano and bucket drums, read and write music, understand musical elements, and perform on stage.
The program is delivered by our dedicated volunteer community, which includes structured training and curriculum for all docents, and is funded 100% by your donations to the PTA.
We are the only PTA in the Milpitas Unified School District that funds music classes for TK to 3rd grade. Many parents have shared that it's because of our music program that their child expressed an interest in piano lessons or other musical expression. This is what drives us. If you're at all inspired by this mission, please consider volunteering or donating to the PTA to keep this program running.
Here are some additional questions you might have....
1. Do I need prior music experience?
Prior music or teaching experience is no doubt helpful, but not required. All docents will be trained prior to teaching in the classroom.
2. How do I become cleared with the district?
Fill out this MUSD volunteer clearance form and give it to Jessica in the office. You will need to provide a negative tuberculosis (TB) test, proof of Covid vaccination, and a valid ID. She will file it with the district. It is encouraged that you to do this early as the district can take time in processing.
3. What is the time commitment?
Each docent is expected to deliver one 30-minute music lesson each week to their assigned classroom(s) between September and May. Additional time will be required to plan the lessons, which will vary from docent to docent. Training for first-year docents is required, which is around 10 hours of curriculum and a couple hours of observation of existing docents before running your own classroom.
4. Do I get a free t-shirt?
Yes! Upon completing training, each docent will receive a Music Program shirt to wear proudly into the classroom.
5. Can I teach in my child's class?
We have 17 TK-3 classrooms this year and ideally, we have folks from each class volunteer to take their own classrooms. Based on last year, where we had 10 volunteers and more classrooms, we will likely have some volunteers taking multiple classrooms this year to cover where we have gaps. Occasionally we have very engaged classrooms with more than one music volunteer and we can decide those on a case-by-case basis. This was the situation for one of my classrooms last year and the other parent and I decided to alternate weeks. Another option is to divide the year in half and each take a half. Or, you might be exceptionally generous and happy to teach in a classroom that is not your child’s, which is wonderful. In any case, we will find a solution that works!
6. Can we use instruments and props during our class?
Absolutely! We have invested in many instruments and props and encourage you to incorporate them into your lesson plans. Instruments include electric pianos, rhythm sticks, maracas, triangles, drums, and tambourines.
7. How do I know what to teach each week?
Training will provide example lesson plans and we have developed has a song repository that you can download and use in class. Additionally, we have a Sinnott Google document where we share what we’re doing (or have done in prior years) and you are welcome to copy what others are doing/have done or create your own. For example, there are lots of themed songs for Fall/Halloween, December/Holiday, Spring, Patriotic, etc. that are fun to incorporate.
8. Does the PTA love its music docents?
Is the sky blue? LOL, yes! We do an end of year assembly where we showcase our work with class performances and recognize our docents with trophies and praise. We also brag about them on our website :)
9. Do the kids and teachers love our music docents?
SO MUCH. The teachers were THRILLED when we told them this program was coming back. And a kindergarten teacher told me that the kids love when other adults come into the classroom, regardless of what they are doing! And I experienced firsthand the excitement and genuine appreciation of the kids each lesson. They were joyful, proud, and shower praises for teaching them about music. It’s so rewarding. Are you ready yet?