A group of about 30 freshmen music education majors from UMass Amherst have visited STEM Academy music classes four times this year as they immerse themselves in the school’s successful—and non-traditional—STEM Beats music program.
With these school visits now completed, the next step is for STEM Beats musicians to meet with university students one more time in May, this time on the UMass campus. While there, STEM Beats will run a review rehearsal with the UMass students, and then they will together perform the piece that Holyoke students taught them during their visits at STEM. Afterwards, Holyoke students will set off to explore the campus, including trying some of the many meal options available to them in the UMass dining commons.
“The intent is to expose UMass students who are taking an Introduction to Music Education class to our unique approach to music so they can develop more diversity in their own teaching and lesson planning,” said Holyoke STEM Music teacher Aaron Di Pilla. “It’s been a successful partnership. These classroom visits allowed us to showcase how we teach and learn here, and they also allowed our students to inspire and share what they know with college students who are working to become music teachers.”
STEM Beats’ success is drawing interest from university educators and students alike, he explained.
“UMass and other universities are seeing our inclusive and accessible approach to music education and the results of this in our incredible STEM Beats members. Professors and students alike are eager to learn and execute the STEM Beats approach.”
While he was still a student on the UMass campus, Mr. Di Pilla was also substitute teaching at HPS, where he soon realized the immense talents that Holyoke students possess. “The students I met demonstrated extraordinary skills,” he said. “I couldn’t understand why they didn’t have a strong music program already in place to showcase their talents.”
He knew then what he wanted to do when he graduated college: Teach at Holyoke and develop the music program he knew would unlock students’ full potential and showcase them as some of the most talented musicians anywhere. His persistence paid off: In 2018, he was hired to teach at Holyoke STEM Academy, right after he graduated UMass. He quickly earned a reputation for his teaching style and the strong performances he coached from his students in grades 6-8.
Mr. Di Pilla has maintained close ties with his former university professors who have been following his journey as a music educator in Holyoke. He has been an invited guest speaker at DePaul University, University of Boston, and UMass to talk about his philosophy and the success of the STEM Beats program.
He’s also made connections with UMass students, including two who are now teaching music at Holyoke Public Schools. “I met Emma Rose when she was a student in a UMass class where I was the TA. We bonded over our love for Holyoke as she is a graduate of our district,” he explained. “When she completed her degree at UMass, she was hired to teach music at Lawrence Elementary, and our collaboration has been growing from there.”
Holyoke’s music staff also includes another UMass music education graduate: Maya Powe completed her student teaching in Holyoke last year and was hired this year as the second director alongside Mr. Di Pilla to teach STEM Beats.
“We are extremely lucky to have these three dedicated music teachers on our staff,” Superintendent Anthony Soto said. “They came to Holyoke because they wanted to be here, to teach here, to inspire here.”
While still a university student, Ms. Powe knew she wanted to student teach at Holyoke, but she was encouraged by some to look elsewhere instead. “Being a western Massachusetts native, I was familiar with Holyoke and was set on teaching here. I had to be persistent in order to receive the placement I requested,” she said.
Ms. Powe majored in music education with a focus on classical voice and grew up singing gospel in church. Still, she said, she “felt a bit stuck because of the traditional approach taught in music education.” Those feelings are now behind her, as her vision for how music should be taught closely aligns with the STEM Beats approach.
Both Ms. Powe and Mr. Di Pilla agree that the partnership between UMass and STEM Beats has helped break down stereotypes and stigmas around Holyoke as a place to teach and learn.
“UMass students are stunned by what our kids can do,” Mr. Di Pilla said. “They are in awe. They want to know how we teach them, because they want to be able to teach like that, too. We are making Holyoke a destination for the arts and a prime location for student teachers to learn, grow, and hopefully join the HPS team.”