Weill Music Institute "Link Up" Program

Next month, I will load 10 school buses with 2nd and 3rd grade students from Chets Creek Elementary and take them downtown to the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts where they will experience a "live" orchestral concert by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

In preparation for this field study, the Weill Music Institute (Carnegie Hall, New York City) sent us educational outreach materials for our students, free of charge.  These booklets provided musical scores to read, an orchestral instrument review activity and several songs for us to learn prior to the concert on May 16th.  An audience sing-along will include "Simple Gifts" by Aaron Copland, "Ode to Joy" by Ludwig van Beethoven, "Going Home" (a spiritual based on the largo movement of Dvorak's "New World Symphony" and "I Bought Me Cat" by Aaron Copeland.

I have been working diligently with my students to prepare them for this concert experience.  For most of them, this will be their first symphonic concert and I want it to be something they will always remember.

Thank you to Paula Thornton, Tony Kamnikar and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for coordinating this event for our elementary students each year and to Duval County Public Schools for providing bus transporation for our students at no cost to us.  Many thanks to the folks at Carnegie Hall for providing us with educational materials through their "Link Up" series.  We have thoroughly enjoyed them!!

Until next time...