Dr. Richard Ripani, longtime band director at Hume-Fogg Academic High School is featured in the January edition of Teaching Music, a publication of the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Ripani talks about how he aspires to create a music program that is integral to a student’s overall education plan, not simply a fill-in elective. By all accounts, he has been very successful. This year, and most years, 15 of the total 40 students selected for Honor Jazz Band come from his program.

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In the annual celebration of March is Music In Our School’s Month, the National Association for Music Education’s Give a Note Foundation and Disney Performing Arts sponsored a national Music In Our Schools bus tour with recording artist Danielle Bradbery (winner of The Voice, season 4).   The tour began in Disneyland in California and ended at Walt Disney World in Florida. Antioch High School was selected as one of the five high schools on the tour.

As part of the Music Makes Us efforts to provide access to a variety of musical experiences, the Metro Indoor Percussion Ensemble launched its inaugural season. Under the direction of Jason Walsh, former award-winning band director of Dobyns-Bennett High School, the new ensemble boasts 25 student percussionists, representing five high schools throughout Metro Nashville Public Schools. Mr. Walsh also teaches World Percussion at Overton High School and McMurray Middle School. The Indoor Percussion students rehearse after school and on weekends at W.A.

More than 150 students and teachers from 12 Metro Nashville Public Schools enrolled in national nonprofit Little Kids Rock’s Modern Band music program celebrated at Glencliff High School with performances in an annual Jam Summit event. Organized by Mark Hale, Little Kids Rock Nashville coordinator and teacher at Mt.