BAAMS Fall Classes Starting Sept. 13

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires Academy for Advanced Musical Studies (BAAMS) is now offering registration for its Fall 2025 classes.
 
Music students of all levels, ages 10 to 18, will have the chance to study Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophones and Woodwinds, Guitar, Bass, and Drums along with Improvisation and Music Composition with a faculty who are also members of the Juilliard School, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" Band, and are multi-Grammy award- winning recording artists.
 
"BAAMS offers our students a unique music learning experience that teaches our kids not only how to improvise, and compose and record their own original music, but also gives our students the guidance to develop their skills and talents as developing instrumentalists and musicians and having fun at the same time," said Founder and Executive Director Richard Boulger. "No two students learn the same way — we pride ourselves in helping each of our students have success and develop confidence in themselves. While learning from a teaching faculty who are truly committed to helping each student grow, they're also being passed the torch of the American musical legacies of faculty that is second to none, featuring Guitarist Rodney Jones, Bassist Alex Blake, Drummer Tony Lewis, Pianist Dario Boente, Saxophonist and Woodwinds Master Ron Blake, and myself on Trumpet and Trombone."
 
BAAMS also features special guest masterclasses that have in the past included 7-time Grammy Award winner and Trumpeter Randy Brecker, Saxophonists Ada Rovatti, Alex Foster, Jay Rodriguez, Percussionist Mino Cinelu, Trombonist Steve Davis, Vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis, Guitarist David Gilmore the Allman Brothers Band original founding member and drummer Jaimoe, among others.
 
Classes at BAAMS begin Saturday September 13 from 10:30am to 3:30pm and after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Click here to register: https://www.berkshiresacademyams.org/class-registration

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Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 
 
The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.
 
"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.
 
A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 
 
Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 
 
Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 
 
They will submit those with a school picture to the governor. 
 
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