‘Do-Re-ME!’ showcased at Three-Ten Christmas social

Members of the Three-Ten Club were surprised and delighted by the appearance of students from Crowley Kindergarten and Church Point Elementary at their annual Christmas social Tuesday night at City Hall.

The students, part of the “Do-Re-ME!” project funded by a grant received by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of Music, were invited to  demonstrate how rhythm and movement have been integrated into their core studies of reading, writing and arithmetic.

Students in the project receive what can best be described as an “arts-integrated” approach to education, singing, dancing and playing as they learn. They may listen to the music of another culture while learning about that culture in social studies class, for example. Students learning writing skills may be asked to build letters or numbers with objects such as jump ropes or rhythm sticks. Math concepts such as big versus small, fast versus slow and loud versus soft are explored through sound.

Do-Re-ME! grew out of a 2010 pilot program instituted by the orchestra in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana. The goal of the project was to see a 20 percent improvement in the academic performance of participating students. But what the program evaluators saw was much more than that.

There was a 60 percent improvement in academic achievment, a 50 percent improvement in social behavior and a 40 percent improvement in parental involvement. 

After the project was successfully introduced at Truman Early Childhood Center in Lafayette Parish last school year, it was rolled out in Acadia Parish schools for the current school year. 

In a recent interview with “Overture” magazine, Acadia Parish School Superintendent John Bourque praised the program, saying, “We were looking for ways to motivate students and get them actively involved in the learning process. Do Re-Me! seems to meet these needs. We are extremely excited about the program.”

Local sponsors such as First National Bank, IBERIABANK and The Moody Company Foundation have been equally excited.

Anyone wishing to support the program in Acadia Parish can do so at www.cfacadiana.org/DoReMe.

The students’ performance was a well-kept surprise for the majority of the Three-Ten Club’s members, as was the appearance of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor Mariusz Smolij, who traveled to Crowley to personally participate in the demonstration with the students.

Following the presentation, the club members and their guests enjoyed fellowship and good cheer over a delicious meal prepared by the Rice Palace, which catered the event.

Acting as hostesses for the Christmas social were Muff Bier, Isabella de la Houssaye and Imogene LaCour.