And they think they’re just playing music. “When I am planning
lessons I’m not just thinking about music,” Swartzel said. “I do
not teach music. I teach children. And there is a difference.
“We have to find a way to help these children find the life
skills they are going to need in our world.” The music budget at
Arnold tops out at $300. Swartzel said this is more than most
schools offer. Especially, in a time when school budget cuts
often mean arts and music get the ax. Grants are used to
supplement her budget. “It takes about 20 hours to write a grant
...” Swartzel said. “Twenty hours of my time are going to give
my students a lifetime of valuable information.” For three years
she has been awarded a $1,000 mini-grant through the Bradley
Cleveland Public Education Foundation. First came the lap
dulcimer. Then Swartzel’s students rocked the house with their
trash band. This year, they will become elementary masters of
the Orff instruments, bass xylophones, alto metallophone, alto
xylophones, soprano xylophone