RECORDER
Evan Alboum teaches students the recorder using breathing and concentration exercises and activities for developing hand-eye coordination. In addition to playing simple tunes, students learn personal practice skills, performance etiquette and the fundamentals of music sight-reading.
JOURNEY ON DRUMS
Master percussionist Linda Austin "travels" with students to Africa and the Caribbean to explore the dynamic sounds and rhythms of African and Afro-Caribbean percussion music. Students learn numerous Caribbean rhythms such as Calypso, Samba and Bataka using clave sticks, hand, voice and body percussion. Through their participation in various call and response activities, students become attuned to timing, rhythm and sequencing and create their own rhythms through an exploration of the personal as well as social meanings of drumming within numerous cultures.
MUSIC-MAKING USING VOICE AND PERCUSSION
Phyllis Bethel, musical director of ASE Drumming Circle, is a percussionist, composer and vocalist as well as a certified music therapist. She combines her musical skills and talents with her well-honed therapy skills to create a safe and stimulating learning environment for students. Students learn music-making using traditional songs from many cultures of the African diaspora, drawing upon music from folk and children's traditions as well as a wide body of original compositions. Students learn to play in an ensemble rotating among a variety of instruments including xylophones, drums, small percussion instruments and basses. They also learn to sing and create original lyrics. The program culminates in a student sharing.
VIOLIN PROGRAM/STRING ORCHESTRA PROGRAM
Under the leadership of violinist David Burnett , early childhood students study string instruments in small groups. Students learn violin technique including posture, bowing and beginning music theory. In addition to the creation of a violin ensemble, students may also be given the opportunity to develop a string orchestra.
CHORAL MUSIC
Vocalist Michael Eisenberg teaches students that there is more to choral music than singing! Students learn to experiment with rhythm and pitch, work on breathing, vocalizing and voice projection exercises and experiment with different registers. The residency can culminate with the students performing a vocal music concert.
PERCUSSION RESIDENCY
ArtsConnection artist Rubén Gonzaléz provides students with a hands-on introduction to percussion music and the cultures from which the music originates. Students learn how to play rhythmic patterns and songs such as Oye Como Va using a diverse range of percussive instruments such as conga, xylophone, claves, bells and djembes.
STRING ORCHESTRA PROGRAM
Under the leadership of cellist David Gotay, early childhood students study the cello in small groups. Students learn string techniques including posture, bowing and beginning music theory. In addition to the creation of a cello group, students may also be given the opportunity to develop a string orchestra.
RECORDER
Students learn the origin of the recorder, fingering and the fundamentals of musical notation with Marco Granados Every student is able to play simple tunes on his or her own recorder.
PERCUSSION RESIDENCY
MBIRA
Musician Kevin Nathanial Hylton teaches students to build and play the mbira (also known as the thumb piano), a traditional instrument of Africa. Students learn African history, geography and culture as it relates to the mbira. They also listen to recordings of traditional mbira music.
JAZZ MUSIC RESIDENCY
VOCAL PERFORMANCE
Using student ideas, vocalist Branice McKenzie creates original songs and teaches students to perform them. Ms. McKenzie encourages children to explore themes such as connection to their community, appreciation for their families, respect for other cultures and a love of music. Students learn to sing in unison and to be accurate in pitch, phrasing and rhythm. They learn the vocabulary of music, develop listening and collaboration skills and make artistic choices in creating songs. Throughout, Ms. McKenzie creates a safe and warm working environment that encourages experimentation, playfulness within a structure and cooperation. Students discover the joy of vocal singing and musical expression.
JAZZ MUSIC RESIDENCY
VOCAL MUSIC RESIDENCY
Working with Dassi Rosencrantz, students will learn to sing and play music from several Caribbean countries. Ms. Rosencrantz will introduce students to the history of Latin and Afro-Caribbean music, exploring the instruments, dances, song styles and noted artists. Students will learn basic melodies and harmonies and rhythmic patterns of the selected songs and can choose songs that express hope and strength to them.
