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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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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

Beyond Music Releases Fourth Album of Songs for Social Change

09-03-2025

Beyond Music, a global organization uniting musicians from all cultural backgrounds through collaborative projects, just released their fourth volume of songs for social change.

New Documentary Film Tells Story of Deaf Musicians

09-03-2025

The new documentary El Canto de las Manos goes behind the scenes of a 2022 production of Beethoven’s Fidelio, performed in sign language for the first time in honor of the deaf composer.

In Oregon, a More Neighborly Approach Brings Joy

Neal Spinler, Executive Director, BRAVO Youth Orchestras

09-03-2025

The majority of the population is in Portland, at the northern border, with most everybody else residing along the “I5 Corridor”—Interstate 5, a major north-south highway that runs from Portland to California. BRAVO serves a region at the very northern tip of Portland; JOY serves students in Yamhill County. North Portland is a diverse blue-collar area with shipyards, warehouses, and port terminals; Yamhill County is the heart of Oregon’s famed Willamette Valley, a region known best for its fabulous wineries. But while the county boasts fancy vineyards and tasting rooms, it is also filled with farms and the hardworking farmhands and families.

Just 46 miles apart, our landscapes could not be more different. And yet the work we do could not be more aligned.

Sistema Toronto Brings Music to Toronto’s Libraries

09-03-2025

One of Sistema Toronto’s newer programs brings musical opportunities to young people across the city through a partnership with Toronto Public Library.

Presser Foundation Grants for US Music Initiatives

07-09-2025

The Presser Foundation offers $5,000–$25,000 special project grants to US-based music programs in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions (NY, PA, DE, MD).

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.

Last Call! Apply for the Fire Up – The Field Teaching Artist Residency

07-09-2025

Fire Up – The Field is a free five-month program from the Academy for Impact through Music (AIM) in collaboration with LA Phil’s Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) and its National Accelerator program.

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