My Dream-Music Boarding School (Musical Dreams)

The name, Musical Dreams. The what, boarding school-elementary through high school. The when, as soon as everything is set up. The why, it is my dream. The how, that I do not know. 1

Let me explain. It will be located somewhere near Texas, or states around it. Those states have a lot of music activity. The campus, will be like a college campus, except there will be some differences of course. Since elementary children are so young, their dorms and buildings for classes or whatnot would be right next to the entrance to the school. The dorms for the middle school and high school kids would be across the campus, allowing for all the buildings in between their dorms and the entrance of the school. The dorms for the high school and middle school would not exactly be separated by distance, but they would not be in the same dorm. 2

The rules for the different grades will slowly graduate as the children graduate into new grades. For example, kids in elementary school could not leave their dorms unsupervised. And I guess their rooms? The common room, where they could hang out together if they wanted too, would be supervised at all times. First and second graders would have some modifications to there rooms, and have supervisors ALL the times going around campus and off. All elementary would have supervision off campus. Third no supervision, but not allowed into middle and high school part of campus, and if they are caught wondering off, they are put into the first and second graders group of supervision on campus. Fourth and fifth have a little more freedom, but not much. Again, not allowed off campus without supervision. Strict rules on when bedtime is, 8 for first and second graders, 8:30-9:00 for the other grades. No coming out of their rooms after that time, unless it was an emergency, but I doubt their would be problems with elementary school.3

Middle school would be a level higher. Sixth graders would be paired up with a tenth grader to be shown around this bigger part of campus, to learn all the rules correctly, and stuff like that. And for the high schooler to be like a "big sibling" or whatever. Seventh graders get paired up with first graders and any other elementary child having a hard time getting used to the boarding school or whatever. Middle schoolers are not supervised on campus, but if they break 2 rules, they...won't be allowed off campus? Idk...They are also not supervised off campus when kids are allowed off, but they have to be at least in a group of three. If someone complains, they automatically are not allowed off campus for the rest of the year (or something). The middle schoolers are not allowed into the high school dorms (but high schoolers are allowed to come into theirs). No boys in girls rooms and no girls in boys. Sixth graders go to sleep at nine, and the rest at ten. No coming out of their rooms after that time, unless it was an emergency.4

High schoolers not supervised on campus, but same as middle schoolers-[if they break 2 rules, they...won't be allowed off campus?]. Not supervised off campus, have more able times to go off, don't have to be in groups, but when its dark, have to be in pairs. If someone complains, your out! No boys in girls rooms, no girls in boys rooms, etc. Lights out at eleven for all. No coming out of their rooms after that time, unless it was an emergency.5

Breakfast for all is eight, and school starts at nine. It would be taught like regular school, with all the main subjects (math, history, english, etc.), but with music incorporated into it. I.E. Fifth graders have to learn the fifty states of America, so they would sing "Fifty Nifty". Music was and still is part of life, so it won't be too hard too include. First and second graders wouldn't be taught an exclusive instrument. They would just be taught about the beat, the courage to perform in front of people, and stuff. They would learn a lot of music, don't worry. Just not an instrument. Third graders would take a break with all that stuff and be taught an instrument. They would have class instruction, and private instruction. Fourth and fifth graders will continue with their instrument of their choice, but add in more of the music culture and history. If a student transfers, let's say in fourth grade, and they don't know how to play any instrument at all, they would pick an instrument and learn it in private instruction. In class, they would, of course, learn the music culture and history.6

There would be two middle school classes. Beginning and Wind 2. In Beginning, there would be any middle school transfers who didn't know how to play an instrument, and kids who were learning another instrument. In Wind 2, would be the kids who knew how to play their first (maybe even second by the end of middle school) instrument, and were now practicing to perfect it. Once it was perfected, they would move to the next instrument of their and their private instructor's choice. [it wouldn't be total perfection] A high school graduation requirement, if the kid started in at least fifth grade, would be to know at least two instruments. (play several scales and a simple song, or something) This is because if the kid wants to be a performer, they most likely will get in an orchestra with knowing how to play more than one instrument. Or if they want to teach music, you have to know how to play them to teach the instruments, right?7

In high school, you could move two ways. Performance or teaching. In performance, you would go back to your first instrument (if not already on it), and perfect it to total perfection. And even if they did not start in fifth grade or below, they would have to learn another instrument to graduate. [play several scales and a simple song, or something] The instrument would be the same type as their first (for example, reed). For teaching, you would be taught how to teach and conduct yourself, maybe learn a few notes on several different instruments, and also perfect your first instrument more.8


During all this, the regular schooling is kept up. All the kids have to have at least a "C" average to keep on coming, which would be easy because if they start to fall behind, their teachers would force them and help them catch up. Their wouldn't just be academic classes in this school, though. All kids would be reqired to stay in shape. [even if they are heavily built, they still would have a lesser rquirement] Elementary would get in shape by playing, dancing, all that fun stuff. Middle schoolers would have a weekly run and would play like soccer or baseball. High school would have a daily run and *drumroll* marching band, along with team sports!9

Of course, there would be a marching band. Middle schoolers wouldn't get to participate in THE marching band, but they would be able to join in. Those who thought the flags looked fun were taught some flags, and everyone was taught how to keep in step. By the time they would get to high school, they would know everything about marching band that they wouldn't need to be taught anything! In high school, for transfers, there would be band camp, going over basics and the style of how they march, and etc. Every high schooler in the school would have to be in marching band, even if they were more of the performer type. It was their Physical Education, and it would give them understanding of the sport. (People in PIT would have some modifications, since they don't march) Let me explain for those people who have disabilities and cannot really "keep in shape" as they say. Their body won't allow them to go as far as others, but they can do some stuff. Like if there is something wrong with their leg, they can do exercises of the upperbody while the other kids run. Oh, and people in PIT would have to do some other kind of sport (or just go to the gym or something). There will be sports teams.10

The high school marching band will compete with other marching bands by traveling to their tournaments, even though they are public school and we are a boarding school. We would even host our own tournie, and they would come to ours! The sport teams at the boarding school will also compete against these public schools. There would also be a Musical Dreams Drum and Bugle Corps. Boarding school kids may join, but are not required too, and any one else not from the school who can play a drum or bugle may join- years 14 through 22. (I believe they extended the year) Kids really interested in the sport of marching band and drum corps, there would be a special program for them to learn how everything works and whatnot. They would learn the different kinds of styles used by different bands and corps, etc. 11

For religion. There are churches off campus, most likely. First through fifth graders will attend the church their parents specify every Sunday, unless sick. Of course, they will be supervised by someone. If parents pick no church, or say that there is none that meets their needs, we will try to accomidate them. Middle schoolers and high schoolers have the choice to keep on going to church. Or not. For those in high school and do go to church, they may have to miss a Sunday once in a while for music related stuff (like we're away on a trip or something).