Tri-M is a long-standing honor given to high school students around the country, a select group of students within Foran are admitted to this prestigious society through a rigorous test of musical ability. Orchestra and Band Instructor Ms. Turner breaks down the technicalities of this program through frequently asked questions.
Q: Can you share some insight into the mission and goals of Tri-M Music Society?
A: So we started the Tri-M music society around 18 years ago, and a lot of it was a way to recognize student who were leaders in the music department and alongside that they were the students that were volunteering, contributing, and elevating and we wanted to have a system to be in place to recognize those student’s high achievement as musicians, but also as leaders. Because our students do so much, not just practicing their instruments or working hard in choir and performing at a high level, they give a lot to create the culture and community that is the music department, which in-turn enriches the Foran and Milford community. Whether it’s out-reach concerts at the elementary schools or parade performances on the green, there’s a lot that we do to build relationships throughout the community.
Q: How do these goals align with your broader objectives of spreading music through the school?
A: For me, it aligns a lot with what I believe music does for students. I think that students that fully engage in the experience and the learning, leads one to really learn a lot about yourself. It hits on all the things that we value as a school community, collaboration, creativity, communition, problem-solving. It’s all there and usually it’s with a group of people that you grow with over 4 years. Through the many points of conflict and celebration, you move around that, and you stand to learn a lot about what you are capable of.
Q: How do you believe that being in Tri-M contributes to the personal academic development of its members?
A: I think that students are recognized by a lot of different things, through any school, and Foran is no exception. We have Math, History and World Language honor societies respectively. I think that having a Music and Visual Arts honor society highlights that this is an entirely new domain and set of skills that is important and valuable. The arts are essential, so having an organization that promotes that is good for everybody, not just the students being recognized, but other people who can see that [The Music Department] is the same as any other content area and just as important.
Q: How do you encourage Tri-M members to actively participate in music in and beyond school?
A: There’s different things that we do. One way is the way we supported and hosted students at the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) regional auditions this year. CMEA is a program that supports music in all forms in our region. Sometimes participation is having students volunteer and sing the National Anthem for an event, or going to support another band/ensemble at their concerts, or a brass group appearance at the Lamplight Stroll. I think it sends a really positive message to parents and younger students when they see that the high school students care enough to do that and it leads to supporting them musically on stage during performances.
Q: How would you say that Tri-M has evolved under your guidance, as you grow as a person, has Tri-M grown as well?
A: I would say that the biggest point of growth has been since Mr. Jason Stammen has joined us, and having a co-advisor that is really invested in the whole department. Tri-M has allowed us to do more fun things, like hosting movie nights, those events are discussed and planned by Tri-M students so that we’re bringing together all our ensembles and developing a broader sense of community. So it’s not just within the Band, or Choir or Orchestra, but trying to grow into the concept that we are a music department and a bigger whole.
