Music Literacy Outreach & Service Learning Project
"I love music because it is the one thing that always makes sense. Sometimes, words do not convey what you really want to say, but with music, there are no defined rules, so you can't be wrong. I believe that music should be a part of everyone's life because it can cure hearts and open the mind. Everyone can understand music if they try, and once they do try, they can not every live with out it." - Gigi Ruiz
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"Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education,
because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.” – Plato
because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.” – Plato
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”-- Confucius
"Our classes loved the tie-in with the book and the instruments. Thank you for all you do for us!
We are looking forward to next Friday." - Second Grade Teacher at Sunburst Elementary
We are looking forward to next Friday." - Second Grade Teacher at Sunburst Elementary
"When are you coming back?" - First Graders, Second Graders, and Fifth Graders at Title One School
"For four years, I have worked to develop a music literacy program for Title 1 elementary school students in order to enrich their knowledge of not just music, but also the world around them. This project began as simple outreach that involved the reading of a story while kids made sound effects with drums or their hands and voices. However, as I started to develop my love for ethnomusicology, it occurred to me that these kids really have no music classes. They also have no exposure to other cultures, so their knowledge of their world is unintentionally limited. I began incorporating world music into my lesson plans as a way to teach them how unexplored their world was and how music can be considered in a global context and extends outside the concepts of the theory that I teach
them (such as rhythm and dynamics). I have the opportunity to share different cultures’ folk tales and teach students music styles of different regions. I am so appreciative of this because the kids always have so much fun and they are genuinely excited about learning about my passion.
This outreach has always been one of my favorite projects to lead because I can impact my community with my passion for music. As I am preparing to graduate and leave my outreach to two students, I hope that they, too, will be able to find a passion in this project. I hope they find a way to change the outreach to find their own purpose in leading it. I see PLAYMATES as being broadly a musical outreach, but the content taught at each event will be determined based on what student leaders feel is important to educate the kids on. I believe this will result in passionate lessons that are beneficial to both the student leaders and the kids they are teaching." - Student Coordinator of the HYSA Thespian Society PlayMates Musical Outreach
them (such as rhythm and dynamics). I have the opportunity to share different cultures’ folk tales and teach students music styles of different regions. I am so appreciative of this because the kids always have so much fun and they are genuinely excited about learning about my passion.
This outreach has always been one of my favorite projects to lead because I can impact my community with my passion for music. As I am preparing to graduate and leave my outreach to two students, I hope that they, too, will be able to find a passion in this project. I hope they find a way to change the outreach to find their own purpose in leading it. I see PLAYMATES as being broadly a musical outreach, but the content taught at each event will be determined based on what student leaders feel is important to educate the kids on. I believe this will result in passionate lessons that are beneficial to both the student leaders and the kids they are teaching." - Student Coordinator of the HYSA Thespian Society PlayMates Musical Outreach