Special Recognition

Congratulations to Heather Nail, Southwoods' Vocal Music Director!

Mrs. Nail was recently the first ever recipient of the national award Barbershop Harmony Society/NAfME Music Educator Award! It honors educators "who give students the opportunity to learn and participate in the joy and power that music education brings in uplifing the human spirit and fostering the well being of society."

For more details, click here: http://bit.ly/2juUDqj

West Des Moines Community Schools recognized nationally for it's music education efforts:

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation recognized the West Des Moines Community Schools for its outstanding commitment to music education with a Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation. The WDMCS joins 376 districts across the country and only six in the state of Iowa to receive the prestigious distinction in 2014.

In its 15th year, Best Communities for Music Education affirms school districts that have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the schools’ core curriculum.

In the WDMCS, students in grades K-6 participate in general music class 90 minutes per week. Students can also continue their music experiences by joining orchestra beginning in fourth grade, band in fifth grade and extra-curricular chorus in sixth grade. Our secondary students also have the opportunity to participate in chorus, jazz band, marching band and other musical ensembles along with theory and music classes at the high school level. Students in music in the WDMCS participate in solo/ensemble contests, various music events and trips, and other competitions throughout the year.

During the 2013-14 school year, WDMCS music:

  • had a student selected to the prestigious GRAMMY Camp – Jazz Session as a vocalist, performing with the top 32 jazz instrumentalists and vocalists in the nation in conjuction with the GRAMMY Awards in late January.
  • had 10 junior high students named to the 28th annual Opus Honor Choir.
  • had 45 students named to all-state band, choir and orchestra, performing in the Iowa All-State Music Festival at Hilton Coliseum.
  • students on Valley’s varsity show choir, Choralation, were named Grand Champion at the Waukee Star Struck Show Choir Invitational and the Emmetsburg Show Choir Invitational.

The BCME survey requires districts to answer detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

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