Editorials

 
The Ensemble seeks to connect and inform all people who are committed to ensemble music education for youth empowerment and social change.

The Ambassadors’ Exchange: The Ensemble Ambassador Spotify Playlist

03-01-2023

This month, The Ensemble Ambassadors got together and began our first project with our new cohort leader: The Ensemble Ambassador Spotify Playlist. Each Ambassador was asked to submit three songs: a “hype” song, a song we love, and a song that represents our culture or country of origin. In addition to creating the playlist, each ambassador reflected on why we chose our songs; read those perspectives below. Sharing music is an amazing way to connect with new people, so we hope you can check out our playlist!

The Ambassadors’ Exchange: Introducing Your New Ambassadors Program Manager!

02-01-2023

Hello, everybody! My name is Pedro Ramos, and I am The Ensemble’s new Ambassadors Program Manager. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, and my parents are from Honduras and El Salvador in Central America.

Intergenerational Co-Mentoring Project

02-01-2023

What if we borrowed a principle from our shared love for the artistic discipline of theatrical clown, and adopted the position that we were both experts and that we both knew nothing, simultaneously? This dichotomy balances the resilience of the expert with the vulnerability of the newcomer. Our clowns know how to negotiate the movement from one to the other and back again.

We Are All Contributors

01-04-2023

I have asked contributors (students) to replace the words “music rehearsal” with other words of their choice that better reflect their values. Their responses are always varied and fascinating; they have ranged from “music jam,” “musical experience,” and “discovery session” to a “deep conversation” and “an exchange of ideas between my friends.” Words matter.

The Ambassadors’ Exchange: Improvising and Composing through an Online Relay

01-04-2023

During the call, we attempted a composition relay where the entire group tried to create a melody by “passing the mic” to each player. Each participant could play as long as they wanted or bring back tunes from a previous musician. After a few trial rounds and a slight learning curve, we were able to record two of our compositions.

Challenging Education and Nonprofit Systems through Youth Leadership

12-07-2022

Recently, I was asked, “What are your hopes for the El Sistema field in the future?” All the obvious answers came to mind—grow the field, serve more students, increase funding. But what really excites me about the future of El Sistema and the larger equity-based music education field is the potential for our students to take on leadership roles within the field—both now and as they begin to enter the workforce.

The Ambassadors’ Exchange: December 2022

12-07-2022

We Ambassadors are closing out the year with our Pen Pal Project, featuring 30 participants from all over the world! Outside of our shared activities, however, here are three ways we’re keeping busy in our respective programs.

El Sistema’s Emerging Power as an Agent of Cultural Diplomacy

11-02-2022

On one of the hottest days of this year’s historically hot summer, I was privileged to take part in an important step forward for global cultural diplomacy.

The Ambassadors’ Exchange: November 2022 Update

11-02-2022

This past month, the Ambassadors have been busy with different adventures—concerts, rehearsals, auditions, college applications, solos, and spending time with family and friends!

Ten Years

10-05-2022

Ten years is a powerful time span for many things, from children to marriages, partnerships to memoirs; the roundness of a decade has powerful meanings. In our field, it tends to signify the completion of two very important cycles. First, it represents our first generation of students (programs often start working with students when they are 7–9 years of age, meaning that many of those initial students are now graduating from high school).

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