District 112 Foundation of
Eastern Carver County Schools
“Foundation Grants Help Move Music Program into
21st Century”
The District 112 Foundation is a community
organization dedicated to innovation in education.
It raises funds to distribute to District 112 teachers
with inventive ideas that cannot be funded within
the regular school budget. The Foundation is
seeking to further the educational excellence
in the local schools.
Music is one of the areas that can enhance the
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an instrument or singing in the choir are both
wonderful musical experiences,” music teacher
Eric Songer said, “but they are only a small slice of
what music means to students in the 21st century.
We know that if we truly want to engage our
students in music today, we need to incorporate
technology in new, significant ways.”
The District 112 Foundation enabled the middle
school teachers to purchase music technology that
attracts students from a broad range of interests.
“We bought computers, keyboards and sound
equipment to support an expanded program.
Thanks to the Foundation’s belief in our vision,
our students can now create their own recordings,
podcasts and Web sites. Students can creatively
collaborate at a level unknown just a couple
of years ago,” according to Mr. Songer.
Interest in music at Chaska Middle School
West spawned new courses and activities. Music
Technology class, an after-school class last year,
will now be offered as an elective during the regular
school day. After-school programs like the Garage
Band, School of Rock, and the Jazz Ensemble are
growing with student interest.
“This is music in the 21st century,” Songer said.
“If kids are interested in music, they need to know
what it takes to do music well in this century.
They need a variety of experiences that go well
beyond band, choir and orchestra,” Songer said.
“It’s an exciting, updated version that reflects the
way people create music today. The Foundation
gave us the boost we needed to make it happen.”
For more information about District 112
Foundation please visit:
www.district112foundation.org
www.pga.com/diversity