JUST FOR U MUSIC PROGRAM - SPRING 2009
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Music allows everyone to express themselves and to communicate with
others. Each person who listens to or plays music finds a personal
meaning in the experience. But this experience is also shared: music
allows people to create relationships between performers, between members of an audience, and between performers and an audience. JUMP invites the audience to join the collaborative, creative process of music making. JUMP performers help the audience to identify and distinguish musical elements, and then guide the audience in applying those elements to another musical context, or to their own personal experience. Through the use of musical "games," the audience is asked to use their imagination to create stories, pictures, and other
responses analogous to the music. Our aim is to encourage each listener to come away with their own opinions about the music they hear and what it means to them.
FALL 2008 ACTIVITIES
Building communication and listening skills through music was the theme of the Fall semester outreach performances by JUMP! Graduate student coordinators David Richmond and Matthew Roitstein led three interactive programs featuring performances by a variety of chamber ensembles made up of Shepherd School students.
JUMP! performed for the kindergarten class from Piney Point Elementary School on November 13. The children were introduced to the harpsichord, the piano and several instruments from the woodwind family. Works by Bach, Telemann, Mozart and Rachmaninoff were featured.
On December 4 students from Collins Elementary and Woodson K-8 School visited Rice. Classes of 5th and 8th Graders heard two woodwind ensembles play music of American composers George Rochberg and Irving Fine. Shepherd School string players performed a movement from Quintet in G Major, Opus 111 by Johannes Brahms.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The inreach (in-house outreach concerts) concept was conceived by students and faculty from the wind chamber music class at the Shepherd School. Student coordinators soon expanded the program to include student performers from all departments at the school. Each year two graduate students coordinate JUMP! as an independent study course. In the process, they learn such valuable skills as concert programming, production, promotion, presentation and peer mentoring.
Rachel Buchman, head of the Young Children’s Division at the the Shepherd School, teaches participating students the special performing skills needed to create a fun and informative classical music experience. Other Shepherd School faculty coach the chamber music groups and advise student leaders on planning and administration.
Student coordinators find many benefits come from the JUMP! program. Sharing music with children is exciting, energizing, and brings a fresh perspective to their art. In addition to attending a free concert in the intimate setting of Duncan Recital Hall, some school groups include a campus tour in their visit to Rice.
For many, it is their first experience on a college campus. As one faculty member observed, “Who knows what dreams can come from these experiences? If even one or two children can be inspired to go to college, it will be worth it.” |
