SHEPHERD PROGRAM EXPOSES HISD STUDENTS TO MUSIC

Office of News and Media Relations
Jennifer Evans
Media Relations Specialist
Email: jevans@rice.edu

Summers fly, winters walk. It’s an adage familiar to kids everywhere. But this summer, thousands of schoolchildren across Houston might be appreciating the rhythm of the year with a musician’s ear — summers are “presto,” winters are “andante” — thanks to a program presented by several faculty from the Shepherd School of Music in collaboration with the Houston Independent School District (HISD).

Over the past two years, Musiqa, a contemporary music ensemble with members tied to the Shepherd School, has touched the hearts and ears of nearly 8,000 HISD fourth-graders through “Around the World With Musiqa,” an interactive, multimedia program that offers lessons in music and its universal role in the human experience.

Singing along with folk songs from around the globe, including such familiar tunes as “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” and “Down by the Riverside,” the children learn how these shared songs of a people are collected, arranged, invented and even re-invented, and how such music builds community, expresses thoughts and feelings and even transmits tradition.

“Every culture throughout history has had folk songs,” said Anthony Brandt, assistant professor of composition at the Shepherd School and composer for Musiqa. “By using some of them, we want to give children a stronger understanding of music and its evolution and how a modern composer’s imagination can add yet another dimension to the rich folk tradition.”

The fast-paced program wows the students with a sing-along and discussion backed up by costumes, props and lighting. The program is a part of an overall educational outreach initiative of Musiqa and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, where the event is held, and is provided to the students free of charge. “The response from our children is not to be believed,” said Neal Wiley, director of fine arts strategic initiatives at HISD. “Ninety-five percent of them have never been in a downtown theater before, so just walking into the theater is an incredible experience, and they are just awed.”

Brandt said one of the event’s primary objectives is to encourage creativity in young minds, unlock their imaginations and inspire a sense of curiosity about the cultural opportunities that surround them. It’s an objective that fits hand-in-glove with ideas voiced by HISD Superintendent Abe Saavadra in his 2006 “State of the Schools” address: “While math and science are priorities, we know that the fine arts are important too. When students have the opportunity for self-expression and creativity — whether in music, painting, dance or other artistic fields — it strengthens all learning.”

As a complement to the Hobby Center performances, the teachers receive a CD and study guide to prepare the students, and the students attend preconcert workshops presented by some of the Musiqa artists.

“The artists travel to the schools and teach the children some of the folk songs and give them background on them,” said Karim Al-Zand, an assistant professor at the Shepherd School and Musiqa composer. “Then at the performance, all the children can sing along and actively participate. The kids have loved it.”

At a time when limited education dollars are impacting funding of fine arts, Wiley said HISD is particularly interested in programs that involve the entire arts community in Houston, the business community, parents and students. “Around the World With Musiqa” has been underwritten by the Citigroup Foundation and Smith-Barney Community Development Fund.

“We are bringing fine arts back into HISD through the good graces and incredible generosity of the community,” Wiley said.

Musiqa plans to expand the program to include Spring Branch ISD and, between the two districts, expects to share the music with 7,000 children in the spring.