Commerce City – John Lange remembers how quiet the high school graduation ceremony was the year the music died in Adams County School District 14.
School officials had eliminated all music programs in the 6,500-enrollment district during the 1995-96 school year because of a fiscal crisis. Lange remembers those bleak days as principal at Adams City High School.
“There was no band to play for the departing seniors. It was strange,” he said.
But the music would return to Adams 14, when voters restored music programs in 1997 after they passed a $4.8 million tax increase. Since taking over as superintendent eight years ago, Lange has expanded music education in the district to ensure that every elementary student gets full-time general music instruction and access to band and string instruction.
Older music students, meanwhile, are served by full-time vocal and instrumental music teachers at each of the district’s three secondary schools.
“I’m just here to try and keep the music education going,” said Lange, himself a guitar player.
Lange’s work to broaden music education has earned him national accolades. Today, he will receive the Administrator Award for Distinguished Support of Music Education in San Diego.
Sponsored by VH1 Save The Music Foundation and the International Music Products Association, the award is given to school administrators who fight to restore and keep music education in their districts.
VH1’s program provided the district with $53,000 to buy band instruments in 1997 and tracked Lange’s effort when he took over as superintendent the following year.
“Dr. Lange’s commitment to continuing music education programs in Adams County District 14 truly embodies the intent of the award,” said Paul Cothran, executive director of the VH1 foundation.
Under Lange, the district has received more than $300,000 in grants and donations to provide more music classes. He partly attributes a steady rise in test scores in the district – considered one of the poorest in Colorado – to the music courses because such instruction enhances the learning of reading, writing and mathematics.
Music encourages self-discipline and critical thinking skills in students, and offers a positive outlet for their energies, Lange said.
“Music gives these kids an opportunity they have never had in their lives,” he said.
Adams City High senior Korey Berthelette is sure that he would have dropped out of school if music had not been part of the school’s curriculum. “School would have been really boring and I’d have nothing really to look forward to,” he said.
This fall, Berthelette is enrolling at Colorado State University with hopes of one day becoming a music teacher.
“Music allowed me to expand my mind,” said Berthelette, a vocalist and trombone player. “I hope to teach those same things to other kids.”
Now that’s a refrain Lange wouldn’t mind hearing over and over again.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
