Health & Fitness
Spring Valley Middle School Finds Its Rhythm
Spring Valley Middle School has both a show choir, combining song and dance, and a full marching band. Dynamic music education is a key part of this school.
Taking the lead in dynamic musical education, Spring Valley Middle School (SVMS) has a rarity in non high school performing arts. SVMS features both a show choir, combining song and dance, and a full marching band. In spite of deep cuts to arts funding in the La Mesa Spring Valley School District and across the state, Spring Valley Middle is developing as a focal point for music arts education.
Unison Goody directs 130 students in four choir classes. She attributes her unique and somewhat musically linked first name to her “hippie” parents and their ideals of family bonds.
Ms. Goody said she has loved music from early childhood and joined her church choir as soon as she could, being the youngest member by about 60 years.
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The choirs are more like a family than a formal class, but expectations are still high with a class theme being, “What will you contribute to the class today?”
A choir director for 13 years, Unison is committed to giving the students a place where they can explore music to find their own voice. She also believes that every student should experiment with performing arts. Many may not continue, but at least they had the chance to try.
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While certainly fun, and excellent for building self confidence, Ms. Goody noted that music also has documented academic benefits. Students analyze language through study of lyrics, building stronger knowledge of metaphor, simile, and creative vocabulary. Choral repetition is also very helpful for English learners.
Even those who do not join a performing group benefit from a comprehensive education in music history. Ms. Goody stated; “If schools remove music, then the kids will only hear narrow choices from the radio or tv which are controlled and limited.”
The show choir has performed at Disneyland and done local holiday caroling, but Unison has hopes that the school budget situation will improve and her group can do some additional touring, including to local schools.
On the instrumental side, James Villegas directs three bands, teaches music appreciation, and travels daily to five of the local elementary schools to teach their elementary bands. Unique among his groups is the SVMS Marching Band, which is voluntary, rehearsing after school. The marching band is even open to dedicated 6th graders from the elementary bands at Murdock, Casa De Oro, Highlands, Loma, and Sweetwater Springs.
Mr. Villegas, or “Mr. V” as he is known to his students, was born in the United States but moved to Canada as a young child. He served in the Royal Canadian Artillery, playing in their Pacific Region Band. During his time as a bandsman he performed for both Princess Diana and President Reagan.
Relocating back to the United States, he has been the SVMS band conductor for five years. Drawing on his own experiences he founded the marching band program four years ago.
The band has proved to be both talented and successful. They regularly march in local parades, including the La Mesa Flag Day Parade. They have played at Disneyland and taken sight-reading honors in regional band competitions. One of Mr. V’s favorite performing events is for a veterans group called The Spirit of 45. This group honors the memory of the generation which fought and helped win World War Two. They also help fly veterans to Washington DC and other historic sites. The SVMS band performs as an honor guard for them when the veterans return to San Diego. One of these events will take place this coming Sunday, October 7th.
Mr. V has hopes of taking the band to perform in Washington DC next Spring and is currently seeking outside funding support for such a trip. Villegas further noted that although the band is progressing despite education budget cuts, they have many 30 year old instruments and would very much like to begin replacement program. He also hopes to form a small jazz ensemble and start a string orchestra curriculum to enhance his symphonic band.
The band also works closely with the Monte Vista High School Marching Band and will be performing at tonight’s Monte Vista football game. Says Villegas; “These kids are great performers, they are well trained and disciplined, and are even better than some of the High School bands in San Diego.”
Like Ms. Goody, Mr. V is a staunch supporter of music in schools. He says that music is fundamental to education as it teaches responsibility, socialization, and the always critical time management skills. It is the only subject that touches on physical, intellectual, and emotional learning; activating different parts of the brain at the same time.
Mr. V further stated; “Every child needs some sort of arts opportunities. Most kids aren’t going to be football stars so this gives them more reasons to come to school, work hard, and learn.”
Spring Valley Middle School Principal Dana Wright is effusive in her praise for the music program at her school; “I am very proud of our performing arts classes at SVMS and I am constantly amazed by the caliber of program Unison Goody and Jim Villegas provide. Their passion for music is contagious…students develop a deep love of music and performing that I know they will carry into life. “
Ms. Wright continued, “There is nothing better than watching and hearing the Spring Valley Middle marching band come down the parade route. I feel like the parents in The Music Man, and I want to shout, ‘Those are my kids!!!’. They may be in make-shift uniforms, playing old instruments and be one of a very few middle school bands in our county, but they can hold their own against the high school bands every time.”
