Cherry Chase is very fortunate to enjoy a full music and arts program, thanks to the generosity of its parents during our fundraising events and to the PTA for funding these excellent programs. Cherry Chase's Music and Arts Committee, comprising teachers and parents, oversee the following programs:

FAME

FAME (Fine Arts Mini-Experience) is a five-year in-class program at Cherry Chase, covering all grades. Students entering Kindergarten will repeat their first FAME year in fifth grade. Each year comprises 6 lessons; they are taught by volunteer (parent) docents from September through May. Each lesson consists of one artist and one musician and their work, with a follow-up art lesson related to the style of the artist for that lesson. FAME artwork is kept in special portfolios within each classroom; traditionally, the artwork and portfolios are sent home during the spring Open House.

For further information about the program, please contact our coordinators, Heather Cooke (738-0607), Kathy Besser (733-8323) or Becky Davis (245-9225).

For a more in-depth look at the FAME program at Cherry Chase, click here.

In-Class Performing Arts (Starting Arts Program)

Each year, all Cherry Chase students will have six weeks of once-a-week lessons in each of the following disciplines: Dance, Visual Arts, Music, and Theatre, for a total of 24 weeks. The lessons will be provided by Starting Arts, a group of skilled, professional artists.

Starting Arts is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is the promotion and preservation of quality arts education in public schools. Since 2001, Starting Arts has partnered with school communities and districts in the San Francisco Bay area to provide both during and after school programs in visual and performing arts for children in grades K through 12.

Unlike many arts education providers, Starting Arts actively promotes all four arts disciplines: Dance, Theatre, Music and Visual Arts. Starting Arts recruits skilled professional artists eager to share their knowledge and passion with children. Classes are standards-based, offered in both independent (art alone) and integrated subject formats. Starting Arts' instructional focus includes performance/exhibition as well as art knowledge and appreciation. Starting Arts is all about "doing it"!

Tremendous abilities are fostered by arts education. Studies have shown time and again that arts education improves overall academic performance. Acknowledging this, federal, state and local agencies have adopted comprehensive arts education standards in an attempt to plant arts solidly into the core curricula of public schools. Despite this support, budget shortfalls dating back to the 1980's have resulted in the steady disappearance of arts education from schools nationwide.

For more information on Starting Arts, please visit their website at http://www.startingarts.com.

Additionally, www.menc.org/information/advocate/facts.html lists important facts on how music helps our children excel in academics, society and in life.

After-School Cherry Chase Strings Program

We are happy to announce our eighth year of Strings, again with our violin instructor, Mrs. Dana Scoby. Mrs. Scoby is founder of Maestro School of Music and is involved in many orchestral programs throughout the Bay Area. 

Lessons will be offered to 1st-5th graders, with Strings Levels 1, 2, and 3. The lessons are held once a week after school, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as follows:

Tuesdays:
2:45-3:30 Strings 1 (Group 1T)
3:30-4:15 Strings 2

Wednesdays:
2:45-3:30 Strings 1 (Group 1W)
3:30-4:15 Strings 3/4

Arrive 10 minutes prior to lesson start time. Lessons are held in the library.

We will have a violin introductory/sizing meeting in the library on September 9, 2009. Lessons begin on September 22, 2009.

Program donation levels are:
Platinum level: $200
Gold level: $180 RECOMMENDED
Silver level: $160

For more information, please download the Welcome to Cherry Chase Strings letter (MS WORD or PDF FORMAT). To enroll in the program, please fill in the enrollment form (in the Welcome letter) and follow the payment instructions.

Enrollment deadline is September 16, 2009.

For further information, please contact Cristina Milesi (cristina.milesi@gmail.com).

After School Cherry Chase Band

We would like to welcome our band director, Stacey Lewis, back for her sixth year at Cherry Chase. Stacey has a lot of new ideas and music this year.  She looks forward to seeing many returning students as well as all the new beginners.

After-school band will be offered to 4th-5th graders. Beginning classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45-3:45 PM. Intermediate Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:45-3:45 PM.