Pacific Symphony's Class Act Program

Class Act Schedule 2009-2010, click HERE. 

For questions, more information or to volunteer, contact Sandi Koblin or Robin Steinmetz

Ladera has proudly been chosen for the 2009-2010 Class Act Program.  This program links the Pacific Symphony with 28 elementary schools throughout Orange County. Schools are selected to participate in this unique partnership program through a competitive and rigourous application process. Pacific Symphony Musicians, known as Teaching Artists, provide students with a variety of assemblies, lessons, related activities and a Youth Concert focused on the Composer of the Year. Program goals are to enrich the quality of music appreciation in schools through interaction with professional musicians and to encourage lifelong learning and interest in the arts.

 

Class Act is sponsored by Howard F. Ahmanson, Jr. and has been selected as one of the nine most exemplary music education programs in the United States by the League of American Orchestras and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM - Pacific Symphony’s Class Act Partnership

 

Pacific Symphony’s elementary school partnership program, Class Act, will celebrate its sixteenth season in 2009-10. From serving 5,000 students in 1994, to 23,000 students in the current season, the program’s growth is the result of a partnership between the Symphony, schools, and parents dedicated to bringing quality music education to Orange County’s elementary students.

 

The Pacific Symphony’s core purpose is to enrich the human spirit through world class symphonic music and community engagement. The Symphony maintains an ardent devotion to music education and works to foster deep connections with both its audience, and the community as a whole.

 

Tying into these values, Class Act strives to enhance existing school music programs through additional musical experience with the Symphony. Focusing on five main “contact points” with schools, the program works to increase awareness of, and involvement with, classical music for elementary school students and their families.

 

Class Act schools are selected through a competitive application process. Each year students form a relationship with a new Class Act teaching artist (and Pacific Symphony musician) through activities including classroom lessons, ensemble performances, and assemblies. The students’ year then culminates in a Youth Concert at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (or with the Interactive Musical Experience for students in grades K/1).

 

Parent and teacher volunteers form the backbone of each school’s Class Act Team. These individuals are dedicated to promoting arts education in schools, and have been actively involved in Class Act from the program’s inception. Teacher Workshops, given onsite at partner schools, foster high quality classroom instruction and offer curricular materials designed to enhance the objectives of the program.

 

One of the Pacific Symphony’s primary goals is to lead the nation’s orchestras in energizing current, and engaging new, audiences by presenting innovative educational programs that lead to a deeper understanding and love of music. With this goal in mind, Class Act is looking towards an exciting future with the creation and implementation of new initiatives.

 

CLASS ACT GOALS

  • Form close relationships between school communities throughout Orange County and the Pacific Symphony.
  • Enrich the quality of music learning and enhance availability in schools through sequential interactions with professional musicians.
  • Develop a foundation for lifelong learning through the arts.
  • Enhance the school’s learning environment via repeated exposure to the expectations of a concert and guest artist environment.
  • Facilitate the teaching of and exposure to the arts in the classroom.

 

CLASS ACT PROGRAM ELEMENTS

 

Prelude Assembly (Assembly Date TBD)

Objective: to introduce students to their musician, composer, and musical element of study through storytelling, instrumental performance, and active involvement.

 

This 30 minute presentation and lesson is designed to launch the Class Act program at schools. This assembly, hosted by a professional storyteller, is held in October, November, December or January and is attended by the entire student body. Students meet their Class Act musician, watch a performance, learn about the composer of the year’s history, culture, and music, and build enthusiasm for Class Act. The year’s musical element (melody, rhythm, or form) is also introduced.

 

Grade Level Musician’s Lessons (ongoing throughout the year)

Objective: to share the music of the composer of the year through the study of orchestral music, musical elements, and active music making.

 

Class Act musicians teach a 30-45 minute lesson to each individual class. Students in grades K/1 receive a half hour lesson, while older students receive a 45 minute lesson. Students develop a relationship with their resident musician though grade level appropriate, interactive lessons focused on the historical importance of the music of the composer, specific musical concepts, and terminology. Students are prepared for their lesson with their Class Act musician through work with their classroom teacher.

 

Orff Schulwerk Lessons (ongoing throughout the year)

Objective: to teach students in grades K-3 basic music skills through singing, dancing, and playing basic rhythm instruments.

 

Class Act musicians, trained and certified in the Orff Schulwerk method of early childhood music education, can provide anywhere from 3-20 lessons to students in grades K-3. Orff lesson programs may be custom designed for each school and a recorder program can be added for third grade students. Schools will be assessed the full cost of Orff lessons, which serve as a supplement to the traditional Class Act program. Orff lessons may be of particular interest to schools looking to strengthen their lower grade music programs to better prepare students for upper grade instrumental study.

 

Family Night (Date TBD)

Objectives: for the school community to learn more about the music of the composer of the year, through the performance of a Pacific Symphony chamber ensemble, lead by their Class Act musician.

 

Held at the school, or other nearby location, on an evening between January and May. Family Night is a 45 minute chamber music performance featuring the school’s Class Act musician. This event provides the entire school community (parents, students, teachers, community members) with the opportunity to see their musician perform in an ensemble, learn about musical instruments, and meet other musicians from the Pacific Symphony. Parent Coordinators are responsible for working with the Symphony’s Education Staff and school staff to coordinate, promote, and host this event. School’s are also encouraged to invite board members or other local VIPs to attend this special event.

 

Interactive Musical Experience (for students in grades K/1)

Objective: to provide a developmentally appropriate culminating experience for the youngest Class Act students, combining musical performance, active music making, and the music of the composer of the year. New this year, the IME will be a hybrid between a concert and a class, created especially for students in K-1. More details about the IME will be provided during the summer.

 

Youth Concert (for students in grades 2 and higher)

Objective: For students to hear the music of the composer of the year played by a full orchestra, to hear “their” musician in the context of a full orchestra, and to reinforce concepts and musical works taught throughout the year.

 

Held at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. A culmination of the students’ experiences in Class Act, the Youth Concert is a 45 minute performance presented to students in grades 2 and higher by the Pacific Symphony at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in late May and early June. The performance provides the entire student body with the opportunity to see and hear their Class Act musician performing as part of a full orchestra.

 

Teacher Workshops

Objective: to provide all classroom teachers with the tools they need to integrate the Class Act curriculum into their classroom.

 

Conducted by arts specialists in the fall and early winter, these workshops provide teachers with grade level appropriate activity ideas to help supplement the Class Act program in the classrooms. Workshops address state and national music content standards and help teachers to integrate music into other core subject areas. The application of what teachers learn in their workshop later guides them in developing a meaningful Bravo Assembly activity for their students.

 

Bravo Assembly (Assembly Date TBD)

Objective: To provide a meaningful culmination to process based learning through a presentation that incorporates elements of the Composer of the Year’s music.

 

During the year end Bravo Assembly, students use musical performance, drama, creative writing, dance, and visual art as forms of expression to demonstrate what they have learned from their participation in Class Act. All students participate in this special assembly, coordinated by the Teacher Representatives. Often parents are invited to attend this special school wide event

 

Check back often for updated information on this program.  For questions or more information, contact Sandi Koblin or Robin Steinmetz