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Big Noise Trains Students at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

10-01-2025

In 2018, Big Noise developed a module for undergraduate students with staff at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

EDITORIAL
Stronger Together: An Enduring Leitmotif

Christine Rhomberg, Director of Music for Social Change at the Hilti Foundation, 2013-2025

10-01-2025

More than 12 years ago, during my first visit to the then-fledgling Sinfonía por el Perú program, I met a boy—let’s call him Juan—who stood out from the crowd of children. Not only because his double bass was more than twice his size. It was also his charisma, the joyful enthusiasm with which he played his giant instrument, and, even then, his social skills and his attentive devotion to his fellow musicians at his núcleo in the La Victoria district of Lima, Peru.

El Sistema Oman Launching This Fall

09-03-2025

A new Sistema program is coming to Oman this fall.

New Guiding Pillars Amplify Our Collective Voice

Elizabeth Moulthrop, Executive Director, El Sistema USA

09-03-2025

Nearly two decades ago, a handful of United States programs that were inspired by El Sistema in Venezuela opened their doors. Since then, El Sistema USA® has become a network of more than 150 organizations—the largest such network in the world. Our members represent a diverse array of music programs from dozens of states, as well as international programs in adjacent countries from Canada to Haiti. Given the diversity and breadth of our network, it’s reasonable to ask: What is the common thread between these programs? And why does this collective work matter? Watching and helping this coalition grow and evolve, we have been able to isolate a few distinct qualities that unite us and affirm the power of our collective voice.

EDITORIAL

A Space to Be: What One Classroom Taught Me about Art, Listening, and Inclusion

Giovanni Acquilino, 2025 Cohort Member, Global Leaders Institute

09-03-2025

This was a Mus-e session at a public primary school in Genova, Italy, in a room filled with light, nervous energy and about 20 children in motion. Some moved eagerly. Some hung back. Some followed Olivia Giovannini, the teaching artist leading the session. Others wandered in their own rhythm. Throughout it all, something subtle was happening: no one was being excluded. 

Teacher Learning through the Spark of Action Research

Francis Gagliardi, Program Director, Nucleo, London, England; member of first Firebird team at the Academy for Impact Through Music

09-03-2025

How can I contribute to making something that’s already great even better?

That was the question I asked myself when I took on the challenge of carrying out the first Academy for Impact Through Music (AIM) Chispa, in Caracas, Venezuela, in December 2024.

 

Can Young Children Learn to Identify Harmonic Progressions by Ear? Yes, They Can!

Dr. Eric Rasmussen, Chair, Early Childhood Music Department at Peabody Conservatory; educator, author, and researcher

09-03-2025

Unfortunately, many music teachers rely on a notation-first approach, teaching students to read music symbols before they have a strong foundation in listening, singing, and rhythmic chanting. Because we jumped the notation hurdle, often relying on math and puzzle-solving skills in addition to our propensity for learning music, we sometimes assume (incorrectly) that most children will have the same capacities.

The principles of MLT guided my teaching at OrchKids (the El Sistema-inspired program in Baltimore, MD, USA), and the results were extraordinary.

The Glenn Gould Foundation Hosts First World Congress on Social Impact of Music

09-03-2025

Goalkeepers Event Showcases the Power of Music across Africa

07-09-2025

In early June, the Gates Foundation hosted its first Goalkeepers event in Lagos, Nigeria, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and artists to address Africa’s progress in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and showcase the power of music to unite people.

Arts in Action: Case Studies by Global Leaders Institute Fellows

Meagan Hughes, Journal Coordinator, University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine; Music Therapist; Content Coordinator, The Ensemble

07-09-2025

A shining example of the program’s wide-reaching impact is Arts in Action, an online journal of in-depth case studies crafted by GLI Fellows as a result of their fieldwork collaborations with arts organizations around the world. With over 25 studies addressing both common and unexpected issues facing arts organizations, this collection is a treasure chest of actionable advice for arts practitioners to maximize their social impact. GLI Fellows take care to embed a relationship-oriented approach within their systematic analysis, ensuring that these studies speak with an authentic voice while holding timeless value for readers. Read on to experience the depth and breadth of Arts in Action’s library through three case study examples, which we believe will resonate with our equally diverse Ensemble readership.

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