The mission of the Farmington High School Music Department is to prepare students to become compassionate thinkers using their independent musicianship to confidently communicate and perform in their community.  Student musicians work in collaborative teams to design real-world settings for performances that address societal needs. Student musicians gain an awareness and appreciation of cultural, historical, and technological world issues through the creation and performance of music.   

To support this mission, the department provides a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for contemporary challenges, new technologies, post-secondary arts programs, and relevant job skills such as creative problem-solving, team collaboration, confidence in communication, compassionate leadership, and a love of learning.  

In the Harvard Gazette, physicians state that performing music develops the skills of teamwork, communication, and empathy needed in the medical field (Finding Harmony in Music and Medicine, 2016.) Scientific research states that musical training increases brain neuroplasticity and boosts language, mathematical, and reading abilities in all age groups (Neuroscience News:  Neuroscience of Music: How Music Enhances Learning Through Neuroplasticity.)  In the arts industry “nationally, 673,656 businesses are involved in the creation or distribution of the arts, and they employ 3.48 million people. This represents 4.01 percent of all U.S. businesses and 2.04 percent of all U.S. employees—demonstrating statistically that the arts are a formidable business presence and broadly distributed across our communities.” (Americans for the Arts)