OUR DIRECTOR:
Mrs. Maryann S. Gross
OUR SCHOOL:
Broughal Middle School
CLASS:
Instrumental Music
SCHOOL PHONE:
610-866-5041 extension 40938
My name is Maryann Salamone Gross. I am the instrumental music teacher
here at Broughal Middle School in the Bethlehem Area School District,
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I received my B.S. from West Chester University, West
Chester, Pennsylvania, and my area of study was Music Education. I received my
M.Ed. from Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a concentration in
Curriculum and Instruction. I currently sit on the Board of Directors of the
Lehigh Valley Friends of Music. Some of my hobbies and special interests
include spending time with my family, reading, traveling and being involved in
my community.
A music educator for almost 30 years, I possess the distinctive blend of
artist, teacher-mentor, advocate and inspirer. My passion for inspiring others
to use music as a vessel to change lives shapes my existence. Guided by
inquiry and research, my quest to build a harmonious community in school
serves to intertwine and connect students, administrators, educators, parents,
and the community. Partnerships are essential and vital to the existence of
music in public education. My students are an inspiration to me. It takes
gumption to play an instrument in an urban middle school. Sixth, seventh and
eighth grade students in an urban culture continuously strive to be part of
our marching and concert bands, orchestra, string ensemble, and jazz band, and
small instrumental ensembles. Our program has grown from just thirty students
involved in an ensemble just seven years ago to over one hundred and twenty
over the past six years. It is my mission to provide a positive, safe, and
nurturing environment for every child and provide any student the opportunity
to participate in an instrumental music group. Soon after connecting with me,
students feel the power of love for music. Working together with
administration, teachers, and the surrounding community, I continually promote
and advocate for music in the public school. The involved parent organization
supports activities for the ensembles and partner with me in music advocacy
projects. Outreach is an important part of this urban music program. The
relationship forged between guest teaching artist and our students is
powerful. I tirelessly promote the interconnectedness of music and literacy
while striving to generate interdisciplinary experiences for the students.
Establishing relevancy for the students through technology and life
connections is powerful and engaging.
Every student has the opportunity to take part in any aspect of the
instrumental music program. The learning potential of the student will be
continually considered to develop each student to the extent of his potential
intellectually, socially, and musically. The importance of each individual
will be considered. Self-discipline will be cultivated to foster the
student’s musical progress and freedom of musical expression. With
self-motivation as a goal, students will be constantly challenged. All
decisions will be based on the welfare of the students leading to the
development of their talents and completing their preparation for a healthy
mental, physical and emotional life. Although this subject is only a small
portion of what the student is to learn in public school, music is for a lifetime.
