PEORIA — Without a classroom, teaching music at Thomas Jefferson Primary School is a challenge for Elizabeth Smiley.

“Everyday, I go to different classrooms around the building with my stereo cart and whatever materials I may need for the day,” said Smiley. “It is always a challenge to use larger equipment.”
Despite her unpleasant working conditions, Smiley strives to improve the music department at the school that has about 550 students.
After winning a grant in 2010 that allowed the school to purchase a set of 22 African drums, Smiley submitted a video for the Glee Give a Note contest that was advertised during commercial breaks of Glee, a popular musical comedy-drama television series, in 2011.
Along with several teachers, Principal Patsy Santen and several students, Smiley put together a short video to plead the school’s case that it needed some of the $1 million that sponsors of the Glee Give a Note contest, including Twentieth Century Fox Television, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the National Association for Music Education, planed to award schools with struggling music programs.
“The video contained many clips from our principal, assistant principal and teachers around the building, as well as shots of classes doing music activities all around the school,” said Smiley. “I showed the 2nd grade class playing a music-chasing-game outside, and on the stage, playing drums. There was a kindergarten class playing instruments and singing in their classroom, and a 3rd grade class doing a partner hand clapping game on their small classroom carpet.”
Over 400 videos were submitted for the contest and posted on www.gleegiveanote.com. From October 8, 2011 – November 8, 2011, the public could submit one vote a day for their favorite video. A panel composed of the National Association for Music Education members conducted a final round of judging and, together with the public vote, determined the winning programs.
Out of the over one million votes that were submitted, the Thomas Jefferson Primary School video received 1,764 votes.
On December 15, 2011, the winners of the Glee Give a Note contest were announced. Thomas Jefferson Primary school was one of 60 schools to receive a second place prize of $10,000. Three other schools won a grand prize of $50,000 and 10 other schools received a first place prize of $25,000.
According to Smiley, all of the funds from the $10,000 award will be spent on the Thomas Jefferson Primary School music program.
Smiley hopes to buy classroom space with the award money.
“The classroom space is the biggest hurdle,” said Smiley. “I have not stopped trying to get our own space with this grant.”
Smiley would also like to add classes, activities and programs to the music department, with the award money.
“I have been looking into many different music technology options to be used in the computer lab for general music classes or library computers for band and orchestra,” said Smiley. “I would also like to start a ‘Music Club’ choir program that would incorporate all kind of vocal and instrument music, as well as some movement activities. There are many staples in an elementary music program that we do not have.”