News and Resources

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

ArtsEdSearch and Khan Academy Offer Free Resource Libraries for the Arts Education Community

12-16-2020

Are you sometimes looking for solid research to back up your claims about your program’s value? ArtsEdSearch is the largest online clearinghouse for reliable arts education research to support practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the U.S. This searchable database (sort by age level, arts discipline, kinds of providers, and more) now holds over 300 studies gathered over eight years by the Arts Education Partnership. Many of the studies address relevant issues such as social and emotional learningschool engagement, and civic and community engagement.

Help Creative Generation Re-Think ‘Mentorship’—deadline Jan. 15

12-16-2020

Do you have useful definitions of mentorship that are not solely based on age, title, or perceived level of expertise? Creative Generation will publish a series of papers that disrupt and interrogate long-held ideas of mentorship—promoting youth-centered, multilateral, intergenerational, and/or cyclical mentorship models in arts and cultural education.

Finland Shares Music Education Goals for Next Decade

12-16-2020

While Finlanders are usually modest about claiming accomplishments, a Vision 2030 publication starts with the statement, “Finnish music education is the best in the world.” Many agree. You might be interested in looking at this one-page summary of what the best music education nation envisions for its next ten years.

Last Day to Apply to National Youth Orchestra—deadline Dec. 1

12-01-2020

Today, December 1, is the LAST DAY TO APPLY for Carnegie Hall’s 2021 National Youth Orchestra programs. Their NYO2 ensemble might be in reach for some of your best players. This free program, which focuses on recruiting from communities that are underrepresented in classical music, brings together young musicians ages 14-17 for “intensive training and performance opportunities.” The selected students will work with professional orchestral musicians as well as teachers from top conservatories. For now, the program is set to take place in person in New York City in July 2021. Nominations from teachers, directors, administrators, or community leaders are due today, December 1; complete student applications are due December 10. Application details can be found here.

Connect.Adapt.Thrive! El Sistema USA Releases Theme for 2021 National Symposium and Seminario

12-01-2020

El Sistema USA has released the theme for their 2021 National Symposium and Seminario, charging the field to “Connect.Adapt.Thrive!The event, now in its third year, will be held virtually and will be hosted by the Sistema-inspired program Miami Music Project. It will take place from February 15-19, 2021, and focus on three main areas: Racial Diversity and Cultural Understanding, Musical Excellence during the pandemic, and Team and Family Support pre- and post-pandemic. Requests for session proposals are due December 15. Proposal submissions can be made here.

Institute for Composer Diversity creating a Database of Underrepresented Composers

12-01-2020

Building a comprehensive repertoire of diverse composers remains an unfortunate and lingering difficulty in our field. The Institute for Composer Diversity (ICD) is working to actively address this issue, creating a database of thousands of composers from historically underrepresented groups and marginalized communities. The database includes both living and non-living composers and includes orchestral, wind ensemble, choral, and vocal art song works, with grade level designations. It also identifies repertoire trends of major orchestras to help arts institutions shift their programming.

Progress Made Toward Virtual Ensemble Playing

12-01-2020

We may be close to real-time virtual ensemble playing. Listen to this NPR segment on new tech from Audio Movers and Jack Trip that may make it possible for musicians to play together online. There are still glitches, especially with distances beyond a local area, but this is a hopeful update on a technological breakthrough that would benefit our work profoundly.

Grace Moore Became the Youngest Composer Performed by NY Phil

12-01-2020

Last month, Brooklyn, NY native Grace Moore became the youngest composer to have their composition performed by the New York Philharmonic. Grace is a 7th grader who recently participated in the Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers program. Grace talks about her upbringing, her passion for music, and the significance of being a young woman composer of color in this feature article from PIX11.

AMP Academy of Rare Instrument Program

12-01-2020

The Atlanta Music Project has announced a refreshing new initiative: the AMP Academy Rare Instrument Program. Virtual one-on-one lessons for instruments, including oboe, bassoon, viola, percussion, French horn, and voice, are available tuition-free to any young person in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, regardless of their prior experience. Students admitted to the AMP Academy Rare Instrument Program will receive weekly virtual lessons with an AMP teaching artist, perform solo recitals, and even participate in masterclasses with renowned artists. Learn more here.

Article from Edutopia Walks Through Ways to Increase Student Engagement

12-01-2020

An article on Edutopia shares some practical measures for moving toward more “student-centric” framing during online learning. The article, titled “How to Choose Words That Motivate Students during Online Learning,” walks through practical scenarios and language shifts that help create an environment where students experience self-motivation, ownership, and engagement. All educators who miss their classrooms might find this useful.

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