Skagit Symphony Education Program
The Skagit Symphony is committed to the belief that exposure to a live cultural event helps a child develop an UNDERSTANDING of, and an APPRECIATION for, his culture. Classical music, an integral part of our culture, can be used to teach other subjects: art, history, geography, etc. Our goal is to offer the sights and sounds of live orchestral music to encourage curiosity about our cultural heritage and an interest in the universal language of music.
Each season, the Skagit Symphony performs concerts for children and families in McIntyre Hall on the campus of the Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, WA. Throughout the concert, the director speaks to the audience, explaining the music and the instruments of the orchestra.
The symphony education committee schedules an annual workshop where Maestro Roupen Shakarian presents the music for the upcoming concerts. Here, music specialists and fifth grade classroom teachers identify resource materials and appropriate activities for classroom use that reflect the Washington State EALRS requirements.
Concerts:
Public School Concerts January 22, 2010 Two public school concerts are held during a regular school day, for 1200 fifth graders from 6 public school districts in Skagit County. In their classrooms, students will have been introduced to the music, the symphony orchestra, and the background of the composers. The conductor provides explanations of the music and the instruments of the orchestra throughout the concert. Students will learn acceptable concert etiquette. Sponsors and generous donors provide all support for bus transportation and all McIntyre Hall concert costs. |
Family Concert January 24, 2010 The Family Concert is designed to appeal to all generations. The conductor provides explanations of the music and the instruments of the orchestra throughout the concert. The Children’s Museum of Skagit County provides pre-concert activities for children in the McIntyre Hall lobby. Children under 16 accompanied by an adult, are admitted free. Adult admission is $10. Tickets are available online at McIntyre Hall or the box office, 360.416.7727. For directions to McIntyre Hall, view maps and directions. |
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Educational Resource Materials:
- Program notes and biography of each composer: Verdi; Humperdinck; Wagner; Rossini
- MP3 audio links: La Forze del Destino; Hansel and Gretel Overture; Lohengrin Prelude to Act III; The Barber of Seville Overture
- Instruments of the Orchestra: Instruments and their seating arrangement
- Maps, Timeline: Italy, Germany, & Europe; Timeline of 19th century (pdf)
- Music Websites to Explore: Websites for learning, fun, games and activities
- Concert Etiquette: Concert Etiquette Guidelines (pdf)
- What we want to learn: Goals for learning; Link to music EALRs (external link)
Comments
Please assist us in making these events and materials more useful for students. Send your comments to skagitsymphonyed@gmail.com, attn: Education Committee.
Last update:
December 7, 2009