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

A Tool for Teaching Music Listening

05-04-2021

When you think about the music practice triumvirate of performing/composing/listening, do you ever feel that third element is getting neglected?

Two Reports on the Arts’ Impact on Community and Mental Health

05-04-2021

The National Endowment for the Arts recently published a report on social cohesion entitled WE-Making: How Arts & Culture Unite People to Work Toward Community Well-Being. This is especially important as we move beyond the pandemic, which inflicted trauma and exposed social, racial, and health inequities across the U.S. Music for social change programs are designed to bring communities together and increase well-being, so this report speaks directly to our field.

Two ASCD Articles to Inform Your Teaching

05-04-2021

This article in the March issue of ASCD’s Educational Leadership, titled “‘Radical Care’ to Let Black Boys Thrive”, offers practical tips for teaching Black boys. The teaching advice may not be unfamiliar, but the article (including reference material and reflection questions) by Tyrone C. Howard and Jaleel R. Howard helpfully reminds us of important pedagogical priorities.

ESUSA Offers ‘Resource Hub’

05-04-2021

El Sistema USA has redesigned its former website store into a new “Resource Hub.” Members have full access to its items, including some new resources. Non-members may purchase items for a small fee.

Amplifying Youth Voices during the Pandemic

Christopher Schroeder, Executive Director, Boston Music Project

04-06-2021

For over a year now, our team at Boston Music Project (BMP) has worked to develop new and creative ways of engaging with youth virtually, using music and art to offer a first step in social-emotional learning (SEL) and healing during the pandemic. Because we are a Social-Emotional and Wellness Portfolio Partner with Boston Public Schools, the district-wide pivot to remote learning provided an opportunity for us to expand our existing music to more students throughout the city. Through a new partnership, a group of 25 eighth-graders from Boston Public Schools worked alongside two BMP teaching artists (Minjin Chun and music technology specialist Josh Wareham), a collegiate intern (Brandon Volel), and me to compose original music aimed at capturing the creative spirit, diversity, and youth perspectives during remote learning. This three-month residency resulted in two multi-movement digital music compositions, Caged Bird and Reflections, released on BMP’s SoundCloud channel on February 4, 2021.

In Toronto, a Student-Driven Social Curriculum Inspires New Learning

Alex McLeod, Academic Manager and Parkdale Centre Director, Sistema Toronto

04-06-2021

When Toronto’s schools closed in March 2020, we knew we were in for a challenging spring of adapting to the technological and musical challenges of remote learning. We also knew that students would be struggling with feelings of isolation, anxiety, and boredom, and it would be vitally important for us to offer help with these emotional and social challenges. Luckily, we were somewhat prepared for the transition, thanks to our Social Curriculum activities. These activities had the potential to be a key support for our students and staff—as long as we could figure out an effective, accessible way to adapt them to the online format.

Ensuring Equity and Anti-Racism in SEL

Graciela Briceno, Founder, Boston Music Project; and Senior Associate, Center for Education, U.S. Agency for International Development

04-06-2021

Social-emotional Learning (SEL) has served as a foundational tenet of the El Sistema movement for over two decades, even before that acronym became widely known. Sometimes referred to as character strengths, soft skills, or life skills, SEL encapsulates a desire to instill children and youth with the non-academic emotional and social skills necessary for school and life success. El Sistema programs can enhance social-emotional learning through a number of means that have been described here, here, here, and here (and in the feature article of this issue here).

TAKE ACTION: Sign the 10/20/30 Pledge

04-06-2021

We urge readers to look at and sign the 10/20/30 Pledge for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in the performing arts. Recognizing the urgency of this moment, APAP (Association of Performing Arts Professionals) invites organizations and individuals to join this field-wide commitment to repair systemic inequities within the arts.

Los Angeles Philharmonic Launches Partners in Music Learning Grant Initiative

04-06-2021

Thanks to an anonymous donor, YOLA and the LA Phil are launching a new regranting initiative for creative youth development and music programs across the U.S.

Apply for the Future of Music Faculty Fellowship for Black and Latinx Music Professionals

04-06-2021

A first-of-its-kind career development initiative for Black and Latinx music professionals, the Future of Music Faculty Fellowship will spotlight and prepare exceptional future faculty leaders, taking aim at the representation gap on music faculties nationwide.

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