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Adopt-A-School
The Albany Symphony Orchestra’s Adopt-a-School program introduces students in the Averill Park School to the world of classical music and the instruments of the orchestra. The ASO provides knowledge, expertise, musicians, and enrichment programs. This program involves students in the 3rd and 4th grades growing in complexity, diversity and variety as their education advances.
Starting in the 3rd grade, Maestro
David Alan Miller visits each class and teaches the students about
his duties as the conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra. He
discusses the elements of music and teaches conducting patterns.
Several students get to work individually with Maestro Miller and
conduct along with him.
Once Maestro Miller sets the stage for this unique program, four more presentations from musicians are scheduled throughout the first year. This includes representation from the familiar instruments like violin, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, tuba and percussion.
Each presentation integrates science (how sound is produced) social studies (where
each piece originated from) language arts (how words affect a composer’s
choice of music) and math (note values and rhythms). Each student learns the
elements of music, much more so than a usual general music course.
In the fourth grade, students are exposed to those instruments that they did not see in the 3rd grade (oboe, bassoon, viola, string bass, trombone, French horn, and symphonic percussion). It is the hope that these students will sign up for the lesser-known instruments (oboe, trombone, French horn, double bass etc.) at the end of their fourth grade year to begin playing in the fifth grade.
Each year students in both grades are invited to the Albany Symphony Orchestra’s Monday Music for Schools program at the Palace Theatre. This is a great way for all students to see the full orchestra in action. |
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