WMU School of Music Our Partner in Social-Emotional Learning Ed Roth, Associate Professor of Music Therapy at Western Michigan University, is a man with a mission: Music Therapy. A longtime CIS partner, Professor Roth has used his enthusiasm and energy to make certain that students in CIS schools can benefit from Western Michigan University’s unique and effective Music Therapy program. Music Therapy groups at CIS sites have given Site Coordinators a taste of the unique blend of music, movement, and therapeutic techniques that can be delivered in a school setting. This made CIS eager to expand this resource—bringing the creativity and energy of music therapy into additional schools. Last year, because of Professor Roth’s steadfast determination, combined with the talents and ingenuity of two amazing graduate level interns, an even deeper level of service has been achieved. Our children were their priority and were the beneficiaries of all 80 hours a week that the two Music Therapy interns, Rachel Boomsma and Rebecca Bumgarner provide. They devote their services to all ten 21st Century Community Learning sites, which includes Loy Norrix High School, five elementary, and four KPS middle schools. Services are being delivered in five additional CIS sites throughout KPS, including Kalamazoo Central High School and four elementary schools. Professor Roth oversees the interns, assuring that therapeutic and educationally based music experiences are provided to meet the academic, social, and/or emotional goals for students with the overall goal of increasing college readiness. The interns do the rest, using music techniques and experiences such as composition, instrumental improvisation, lyric analysis, and music performance to provide students with safe, fun, and non-threatening experiences to practice social-emotional learning, appropriate coping strategies, and academic enhancement. Deb Faling, Director of Social Emotional Learning for CIS, works closely with Professor Roth. “WMU School of Music is an ideal partner,” says Faling. “Year after year, Ed and his interns bring a valuable service to schools and have a good time doing so. It is so clear that they believe in and love what they do. Students light up when they come through the door. We are so fortunate to be able to offer this wonderful resource to kids.”
WMU's School of Music: Music Therapy
Maurice Reynolds America Reads Tutor at Spring Valley A Senior at Western Michigan University, Maurice is busily working towards his bachelor’s degree in general studies with an English Major. And yet, he has made the time each week for over the past two years to tutor students at Spring Valley Center for Exploration. Site Coordinator Martha Serio says that Maurice has become a member of the Spring Valley family. Respected by students and staff alike, Maurice is one of seven volunteers who come to us through Western Michigan University’s America Reads program. We are thankful for our partnership with America Reads, who, over the years, has steadily been sending us strong volunteers to place within the schools. Young men and women like Maurice, who remind us that success in school and life hinges on a child having the opportunity to have a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult, one of the CIS five basics, can make all the difference. And it has for a number of the children whose lives have been touched by Maurice. Just ask some of the students he has tutored. They will tell you the following: