Detroiters take care of Detroit. Outlier takes care of Detroiters. Make a gift today so we can keep showing up for you. Get connected to a caring community of readers like you! The Outlier Collective brings together hundreds of members for volunteer events, happy hours and community gatherings. There are a few more perks, too. The Outlier Collective is free to join. Get the info you need to navigate Detroit β and thrive. Outlier Media reports for you. Donate now to keep accountability in your community.
This story was co-published with the Detroit Free Press. As told by the eyes, it was a quiet classroom on a Thursday morning. But according to the ears, it may as well have been heaven. Its alumni have gone on to careers nationwide, playing in major orchestras β including for the Detroit Opera β and accompanying musical legends like, ahem, Frank Sinatra.
They usually rise to the occasion. Maintaining student interest in playing the harp has proven to be a logistical challenge in recent years, Cleaver said.
Class scheduling presents the largest hurdle in keeping students in the program and giving them the time to practice and hone their skill. Students are able to choose their curriculum when entering Cass Tech, but this structure provides little flexibility for students looking to explore other areas of interest.
The music program is vying for student interest in competition with a litany of other specialties and advanced courses at Cass Tech, including architecture and design, marketing and chemical engineering, to name a few. This leaves Cleaver in a position where she often needs to refresh the curriculum to attract and maintain students.
