GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The local nonprofit Mind Meets Music Inc. is the recipient of a four-year, $2 million federal grant to enhance teaching and learning through arts education.
U.S. Department of Education awarded a total of $13.4 million to 34 organizations.
"We are thrilled, honored and humbled," said Monique Salinas, who founded the program six years ago. "We have a wonderful product that's making a difference in children’s lives.
"Music helps academic achievement, helping the brain in unique and wonderful ways."
The program consists of two 30-minute sessions per class twice a week in 10 schools -- seven that the grant will specifically target. Master Teaching Artists lead students in singing songs, reading and writing music, tapping music notes, and playing games to review new skills. The curriculum is based on Kodály Music Methodology, which uses rhythmic concepts to teach syllable sounds, memory and listening skills.
"What sets us apart is we use singing, reading and writing music, something accesible to every child, and through that medium children learn to recognize patterns, sequences and steady beat, which also helps them organize information," said Salinas about the curriculum.
"It is very gratifying to see children excel in this program and hear comments from teachers that it has improved their reading and math skills."
Mine Meets Music Master Teaching Artist Erin VanDellen works with students at Wyoming's Parkview Elementary.
The program is described as laying a foundation for a lifetime of learning and successful futures. The music program, which serves students in kindergarten through second grade and some Young Fives, started with 20 students and now serves 1,700 students.
Mind Meets Music is in Grand Rapids Public Schools' Burton Elementary and Southwest Community Campus; Wyoming's Parkview Elementary; Kentwood's Brookwood and Explorer elementaries; Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center; Hope Academy; Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts and Technololgy; D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s, and Mussel Elementary in South Bend Public Schools in Indiana.
Only the GRPS and St. John's programs aren't included in the grant because Salinas said they could only include so many and went with programs in their system longer. She said the nonprofit expects to add one additional program and GRPS' Burton Elementary could be added.
Jennifer Potter, director of marketing and development for Mind Meets Music, said with the grant they expect to serve 2,000 students this year. Last year, she said they served 1,400 students.
The grant focuses on implementing the program's curriculum into core subjects, and training classroom teachers on the implementation. It also focuses on incorporating technology in the arts. Technology labs, used to further arts instruction and arts education in the classroom, will be established at participating schools.
Officials say the project will serve some of the most underserved students in West Michigan, including large numbers of Hispanic, African American, low-income and English Language Learners.
"The arts are an essential part of a well-rounded educational experience, and all students deserve access to high-quality arts instruction," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Great arts educators can help students grow and succeed inside and outside of the classroom."
Mind Meets Music started in 2009 as a project of the Girls Choral Academy, when Salinas was the executive director. She saw children struggling to read and write, and developed a curriculum. She said the grant is the organization's first federal grant.
In December 2013, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs awarded more than $7.6 million in arts grants for 2014, including $14,000 to Mind Meets Music.
Related: State arts grants to Grand Rapids area for 2014 shoot up 58 percent from last year
Potter said they applied for the grant in April. She said plans are to partner with multiple Lead Education Agencies over the next four years for implementation of the grant, titled Innovative Arts.
More than 4,000 children and 89 teachers are to be affected by this award.
According to U.S. DOE, the grantees are supported by two distinct programs, Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD), and Professional Development for Arts Educators (PDAE). Mind Meets Music, fell under the AEMDD grants that support school districts and nonprofit organizations with arts expertise to create materials that can be integrated into arts disciplines across elementary and middle schools.
Michigan's River Rogue School District is also receiving approximately $2 million.
The official announcement of the grant will be made by Mind Meets Music to their supporters on Thursday, Nov. 6, during a cocktail reception. The program's office is located at 1550 East Beltline Ave. SE, Suite 170.
Monica Scott is the Grand Rapids K-12 education writer. Email her at mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @MScottGR or Facebook