Music Community Overview

The School of Music supports the work of the public schools of New Haven, the region, and the country through its broad Music in Schools initiative.

Our work in this area began thanks to the generosity of the Yale College Class of 1957, which gave its 50th reunion class gift to the School of Music to improve the quality of public education in America. These visionary Yale graduates understand the value of music and arts education in the developing creativity, discipline, and focus in young students from all backgrounds. The endowment identifies three main responsibilities for the School of Music:

1. To provide programs in New Haven public schools that complement the work of full-time music teachers
2. To host a biennial symposium for teachers in public schools from around the United States
3. To host visiting professors to work in music education and train School of Music students and New Haven public school teachers

As the programs have developed, the School has followed the principles set forth in the endowment through major programs at three schools in New Haven (Lincoln-Bassett Elementary School, Vincent E. Mauro Interdistrict Magnet School, and John C. Daniels School of International Communication), as well as through a variety of activities in 25 schools throughout the New Haven school district. The School of Music also offers its programs to other districts in Connecticut for a fee.

The Symposium on Music in Schools was held on June 10-11, 2009 and hosted teachers nominated by Class members, superintendents, and others as Yale Distinguished Music Teachers and New Haven Public School Music Teachers.

In 2008-2009, the Visitor Professor of Music Education is Wing Ho, a distinguished professor of viola from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China.

Through these programs, the School of Music is committed to ensuring that the role of music in the public schools continues to grow and evolve.