Schools in my town have always struggled from a lack of funds. For kindergarten, middle, and high schools, local education leaders are always trying to figure out creative ways to educate students with a small budget. Around 10 years ago the mobile music bus was created to help save music programs that didn't receive enough funding.
What is the mobile music bus?
The mobile music bus is a program where a music classroom was created on a school bus. Ten years ago an old school bus that had been retired was refinished to house a classroom. Some of the seats were removed and tables put in front of the remaining seats. Each table held a keyboard or keyboards where students were taught beginners music classes.
The bus would travel to a different school every day so that each school could allow different grade levels to have music lessons. By having one mobile classroom local schools could save money by not having to hire three different music teachers, house three music classrooms, and provide three sets of supplies. By focusing funds on one location the school board was able to provide all new equipment and supplies to better educate students.
Kids Love The Music Bus
What kid wouldn't love leaving their stuffy classroom for a period to go outside to a classroom all about music? The music bus was a hit with kids. The music teacher on staff 10 years ago was one I had as a high school student and he was amazing at his job. When he was hired to run the music bus he had a great time. He was an older teacher and I remember him having a new spring in his step as he taught kids in his unique classroom.
The mobile music bus helped save money but also helped make kids enthusiastic to learn. Ten years later the mobile music bus is still in use and educating kids at the local schools.
Video Showing A Music Bus (not my towns but a great example)
As you can see in the video, music buses are designed to make it easy to teach music. It's amazing how much space a school bus has for a classroom. In our local bus there are desks so kids can work on worksheets to help them learn music notes. They are taught basic music skills and learn to play the keyboard. Headphones can be hooked into the keyboards so students can practice without being bothered by other student's noise. The space is designed to promote group activity while offering all students their own work space.