Thank you for considering the wonderful opportunities a music program in schools all over the country creates for the children. Without music, our society would not be the same. Everyone enjoys the benefits of music in his own way. Whether it is a favorite song, favorite singer, or style, music is a part of everything we do. We find music everywhere, including television, movies, malls, doctors' offices, and just about everywhere. Our culture truly appreciates the joys that music creates, and therefore, I want to help children and others learn and appreciate the joy that music has created in my life and in the lives of so many.

One can best express his/her feelings through music by listening, playing, and/or singing a song. Music is a significant part of our lives that is cherished and enjoyed by every generation. It is proven to relieve stress and makes our day a little brighter. Music calms and soothes as it makes us happy and full of life.

As a Music Education / Vocal Performance major at Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA, I learned the ways to reach out to children and teach them the discipline, love, and joy that music brings. Scientists have proven to us that music helps our performance in academic areas such as reading and math. Since music requires discipline, we are taught to be disciplined at a young age.

Through community service in the schools, and raising funds to support the music programs in schools, my goal is to help preserve the love and education of music. I have worked at the Fairfield Summer Camp for the past five years as both a counselor and as the Art Director. I really enjoy working with the campers and love to pass on my love for music to the children as their Music Supervisor/Director. I have been pleased to propose a music program for the Fairfield Recreation Summer Day Camp. As a vocal student advocate at the Boston Latin School in Boston, I worked with the show choir and did so for several years before graduating from Berklee. I have gained much experience in educating these young students by teaching and rehearsing their vocal parts. I was also a music teacher at the Y.M.CA. of Greater Boston, where I taught several classes of five through twelve year-olds Music Appreciation. I really enjoyed working with all of these students and sharing my love for music with them.

As a Music Education major at Berklee, I took many significant teaching courses including "Elementary Classroom Methods," "Secondary Classroom Methods," "Orff and Kodaly," "Keyboard 1-3," "Vocal Methods 1&2," "History of Music," and "Elements of Theater." As part of these courses, I was required to observe many hours in the Boston area school systems. Through these courses and others, I have been given the necessary training to educate children in music.

Since I was a young child, singing and music have been a significant and special part of my life. As an educator and musician, I feel it is my duty to pass on my love for music and singing to younger generations.

Thank you very much for considering the importance of music in our society. It would be my extreme honor to share the gift of music with the chi1dren of America!