Music Society collaborates with school district

FALLBROOK — As part of its commitment to youth music education, Fallbrook Music Society recently launched an innovative, multifaceted music program in collaboration with the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District.

Fallbrook Music Society has developed this program, entitled “A Curriculum of Musical Experiences,” to promote and support the existing music education programs in the schools as well as promote the diversity in the field of classical music.

During this first year of the program, the Westwind Brass and the San Diego Chamber String Quartet gave concerts to all students in grades K through six. For grades seven and eight, the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra from Budapest, Hungary, performed.

“Youth music education and literacy augment the cultural health of our community. In this rural setting, our young people are often disadvantaged by their geographic isolation from the many opportunities offered in larger cities,” said Brenda Montiel, president of Fallbrook Music Society. “This project is unique because it provides music education and interaction between the professional musicians and young children who would otherwise have much more limited access to musical learning and experiences.”

Dr. Janice Schultz, superintendent of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, welcomed the new program as an extension of Fallbrook Music Society’s community outreach efforts aimed at inspiring young people to maximize their full potential.

“A music school curriculum can impart knowledge and understanding of the elements of music,” said Schultz, “but an opportunity to hear live performances and speak with real musicians is what engenders a true love of music. That is what the Fallbrook Music Society has added to our program – a lifelong love of music!”

This intensive and engaging program consists of 35 age-appropriate music education assemblies presented on campus during the school day for teachers and approximately 5,500 elementary school students in grades K through eight, twice each year.

The concerts are closely tied to state curricular standards and provide local educators additional resources to augment their classroom efforts. The teaching artists explore musical concepts and terminology with hands-on interaction with the instruments.

This progressive program of music performances, when fully developed, will integrate with students’ classroom studies of music, social studies and history.

Fallbrook Music Society provides the assemblies at no cost to the students or the school district. Funding for the program is sought from grants, individual donations and local PTAs.

For detailed information about Fallbrook Music Society’s youth education outreach and its professional music concerts, call (760) 451-8644 or visit http://www.fallbrookmusicsociety.org.