Hi! My name is Mr. Gist and I am the orchestra director here at Klein Intermediate School.

Our program begins in the fifth grade at our neighboring elementary schools where I and several other KISD Orchestra teachers hold twice weekly before or after school strings classes. Students continue to develop their skills on Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass in more advanced classes at Klein Intermediate. These classes are held during the school day and provide the students not only with an opportunity to improve their playing, but also to participate in concerts and competitions such as Solo & Ensemble, All-Region Orchestra, the Galveston Isle Orchestra Festival, and UIL Concert and Sightreading Competition.

Most of our students continue their studies in the orchestra program at Klein Forest High School. Klein Forest Orchestra is well-known for their accomplishments including performances as the Texas State Honor Orchestra, performances at Carnigie Hall and awards from the Grammy Foundation.

I am looking forward to a fun and productive year. Welcome to our web site!

Fine arts courses tied to higher academic ratings, lower drop out rates
Click here: www.tmea.org/025_Advocacy/FineArtsCourseImpactPressReleaseandSummary.pdf

For the second consecutive year, the Klein ISD has been named one of the best communities for Music Education in the U.S. This year's list contains 110 school districts in 29 states. From Texas, ten school districts were recognized including Arlington, Carrollton/Farmers Branch, Coppell, Denton, Lewisville, Plano, and Pasadena.
The 110 designated school districts exemplify community commitment to include music education as a part of a quality education for all children. These school districts also encourage lifelong participation in music making.
School districts participated in a detailed survey answering questions about funding, enrollment, student/teacher ratios, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, private music lesson participation and other relevant factors in their communities' music education programs. Congratulations to the music educators of the Klein ISD for earning a second commendation from the NAMM Foundation for excellence in music education.

www.namm.org/press-room/news/news-releases/2008April29a/view


Monte Mast
Fine Arts Program Coordinator
Klein Independent School District

...the arts are a core academic subject under the No Child Left Behind Act. I believe the arts have a significant role in education both for their intrinsic value and for the ways in which they can enhance general academic achievement and improve students' social and emotional development."