The Music program at TOPS transcripts

Stephanie Hellekson - Orchestra Teacher, TOPS K-8

The orchestra has really grown, so the need for instruments is really high. The need for music, new repertoire of BIPOC artists and female composers. So that is what Friends of TOPS is supporting, new music for the students to play and getting instruments into their hands. All 4th and 5th graders play an instrument - band or orchestra. That is super different from any other Seattle K-8 or elementary school music program. Everybody gets to pick. This is what distinguishes TOPS’ music program from any other school in the Seattle Public Schools. They have orchestra and band twice a week, plus we have sectionals, so we get to work with students individually, such as just playing the violin or flute.

The students have the opportunity to continue on in middle school and we have orchestra or band every day. That is when we see a huge amount of growth. We get to go on trips, go to festivals and participate in competitions. The students have a community in the orchestra and band programs at TOPS.

Hannah Ogden - Band & Elementary Music Teacher, TOPS K-8

In the past Kindergarten through 3rd grade general music was taught by a non-certificated teacher, so the classroom teachers would have to be in the room. It was not a certificated music specialist, but now through Friends of TOPS funds we’ve been able to have a certificated teacher, like myself teaching K-3rd. In Kindergarten and 1st grade it’s all about the foundations of music: steady beats, singing in tune, and moving to the music.

The 2nd grade ukulele program is brand new this year and for the past several years there has been a recorder program for 3rd graders. All of these elementary general music programs lay the foundation for students to be successful in the 4th and 5th grade beginning orchestra and band. They have had that previous music exposure, which is really special.

The high school programs want musicians from TOPS who have gone through 4th, 5th and middle school. Often those kids are the strongest musicians going into their programs.

The money from Friends of TOPS helps fund things like sheet music (that is basically our curriculum) and the instruments that we need so that every kid, if they need it, can have an instrument to borrow.