tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25568425797862856292024-03-13T12:37:30.172-07:00...El Sistema Continues...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-49902976855400474702011-02-10T14:43:00.000-08:002011-02-10T14:58:41.289-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(69, 69, 69); line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:medium;"><dt class="quote" style="margin-left: 50px; font-size: 17px; margin-right: 100px; "><a title="Click for further information about this quotation" href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/27099.html" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;">The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.</span></a></dt><dd class="author" style="font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 150px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><br />Oscar Wilde</span></b></dd></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-70595801662995755912011-02-01T13:49:00.000-08:002011-02-01T17:01:19.902-08:00Crossing the Corpus Callosum - Part 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Last Saturday I went to a conference at Harvard on </span><a href="http://thelaboratory.harvard.edu/event/crossing-the-corpus-callosum-ii-neuroscience-healing-music-a-symposium-hosted-by-longwood-symphony-orchestra-and-the-laboratory-at-harvard/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">neuroscience, music, and healing.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> I will try to summarize what I got out of it into parts.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.childrenshospital.org/cfapps/research/data_admin/Site2547/mainpageS2547P0.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Nadine Gaab</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Currently her lab is researching the effect of "musical training on language processing and execution function in the typical and atypical developing children." Her findings are preliminary, and should not be generalized to the population. </span></div><div><ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Rapid auditory processing</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> is the ability to hear subtile changes in auditory stimuli (ex: say, stay). Its believed that children who have language and reading imparements can't sequence 2 tones at rapid presentation rates.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Music acquisition skills and language have a positive correlation - verbal/memory skills, phoneme awareness, spelling and writing skills.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Hypothesis: children musician possess better auditory processing that children who are not musicians. </span></li></ul><ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Executive functioning</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> (E.F) - "the CEO of the brain" - responsible for self regulating behaviour, emotions, resist impulses and discipline. Being able to control yourself means you are less likely to commit to negative life outcomes (drop-out, crime). Do musicians show better E.F. skills compared to non musicians (adults)?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">E.F. skills can be improved by musical training. Preliminary research shows that music skills may lead to improved verbal fluency, cognitive flexibility, verbal working memory.</span></li></ul></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cool article "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; font-family:georgia, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control"</span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76838288"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76838288</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Here is a video of a program called "Tune into Reading" used by Dr. Gaab, I thought was really cool.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YrOC_PBphbI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-59133213520699267902011-01-31T20:16:00.000-08:002011-01-31T20:17:37.569-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”</span></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">G.B.Shaw</span></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-52071183981294982232011-01-27T08:07:00.000-08:002011-02-10T14:34:01.516-08:00update<blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2DFdC2_3Y/TUJfrwCxcGI/AAAAAAAAADU/saGZ1X_XRrs/s1600/abreu%2Bcorp%2521.jpg"><br /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2DFdC2_3Y/TUGYxGhS1MI/AAAAAAAAADM/UQ7G4gE8Ey0/s1600/100_4577.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2DFdC2_3Y/TUGYxGhS1MI/AAAAAAAAADM/UQ7G4gE8Ey0/s320/100_4577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566898583737914562" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This is what most of Boston and the street we live in looks like. I remember <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Jamie Bernstein</span> saying how much she loved snow in NY: because the city never looks that clean - until you get all that slush! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I have never seen so much snow in my life! Thanks <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Marie</span> for the pic. She was brave enough to go out this morning. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Last week we had to go get our shots. Not at the bar, but the doctor - no need to explain the pain some fellows were experiencing. Ah, sacrifices. So here are some of this weeks highlights.</span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Monday we went to </span><a href="http://www.communitymusicworks.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Community Music Work</span></a><a href="http://www.communitymusicworks.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">s</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> and it was inspiring to see all these human beings come together for a collective purpose. Thank you so much for opening your doors and showing us some CMW hospitality. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">So here are some of the things I got out of our visit:</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">open lines of communication in the community you are planning to move into (through some type of survey) in order to see the needs and challenges that community might be facing</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">the hardest job is to manage people - and it is a skill that is learned</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Hiring</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Create a process so that you know what you want to get out of the applicant (clear job description), know what they are about. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Looking at CV = Sebastian equated it to being INTEL. Check for references, but also relevant work experienced that are not mentioned as references</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">During the interview create a scenario relevant to the work they will be doing to see how they respond to pressure</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Hire on strengths of individuals, and assign them on tasks that emphasize those areas</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Organization</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">create a learning organization</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">are you creating space to learn? (teachers, students, staff)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">conflict is inevitable - train staff to resolve conflicts. This, in my opinion, is vital to the success of the organization</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">share leadership - be clear about the role and job assigned</span></li></ul><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2DFdC2_3Y/TUJfrwCxcGI/AAAAAAAAADU/saGZ1X_XRrs/s320/abreu%2Bcorp%2521.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567117294618898530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 33px; height: 33px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Something our educator director </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Erik</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> has always emphasized when making decisions in the fellowship is reaching consensus, not voting for ideas. We move slow, but that is the way CMW operates in some organizational decisions and I think that's why they are successful at what they do.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Another organization that Adrianne pointed out to me was </span><a href="http://www.as220.org/front/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">AS220</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">, which is also in Providence. I am interested to see how they are applying the juvie hall detention art programs, so I am looking forward do doing an internship at AS220 and CMW. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">On some other news... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">our trip to Venezuela has been postponed but we are still definitely going. I was hoping not having to deal with any more mountains of snow, but oh well - regla venezolana numero uno: ser flexible ;)</span></span></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-20253671899836720642011-01-19T19:21:00.000-08:002011-01-21T05:57:28.527-08:00your brain on improv<!--copy and paste--><div>So I am a super dork - but one of the areas that has always fascinated me is the brain and music. Charles gave this TED talk about using technology to see the difference of a brain when it is improvising and compare it to your brain when it has learned/memorized something.</div><div><br /></div><object width="446" height="326"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/CharlesLimb_2010X-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/CharlesLimb-2010X.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1046&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=charles_limb_your_brain_on_improv;year=2010;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=a_taste_of_tedx;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=spectacular_performance;event=TEDxMidAtlantic;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;"><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/CharlesLimb_2010X-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/CharlesLimb-2010X.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1046&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=charles_limb_your_brain_on_improv;year=2010;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=a_taste_of_tedx;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=spectacular_performance;event=TEDxMidAtlantic;"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-55073747186285565922011-01-19T17:30:00.000-08:002011-01-19T17:39:14.797-08:00"The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How to make a movement in under 3 minutes<br /></span></span><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V74AxCqOTvg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br />It takes guts to follow and stand out! Nurture your first follower as equal.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">A movement must be public, you must show the followers.</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Leadership is over glorified!!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-33456970273181015152011-01-19T17:19:00.000-08:002011-01-20T16:57:51.387-08:00The force is within us<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At-risk populations move around a lot. If current/future fellows align locally with other nucleos, it would create higher possibility of success, because we would be able to reach that population regardless of were they go and remain connected with them over time.<br /><br />Similar to an epidemic spreads, El Sistema will be more effectively “contagious” by conglomerating in highly populated areas, rather than sporadic segregated growth throughout the country. Maybe comparing ES to an epidemic is not an elegant analogy, but both operate socially. That is, we look at our surroundings and follow trends. The perfect example: Facebook began by connecting a community of students, enabling instant communication between friends, leading folks to acquaintances, mutual friends, and total strangers. Your friends have it, and so do you in order to keep up with them. Like Ben Zander would say: This opens a world of possibilities.<br /><br />I am excited that some of the fellows and myself are thinking of staying in Boston. The communication between CLCS, Zumix and others would become more fluid, perhaps sharing venues (a particular hall). Seemingly small things like these could really start a movement.<br /><br />Initial conversations were of starting ES Boston, however the amount of capital necessary would have been enormous. No one has forbidden us from settling where other programs have settled, and perhaps we can think of the proximity of other programs as an advantage that can help narrow the search for a location.<br /><br />One of the reasons El Sistema works is that it has created a continuum. Programs in Venezuela are coordinated through FESNOJIV, at local, state, and national levels. If a child moves, there is a nucleo accessible to them. This is how they created perpetuity - starting locally. This has to be our long-term goal as an ES community.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-74839162509613330202011-01-14T10:42:00.000-08:002011-01-14T11:11:12.833-08:00<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EKpeyN7h6jk?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EKpeyN7h6jk?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Here is a video of my time in Argentina these past weeks. The first clip is from a tango show, the second is jam session in a conventillo of la Boca, Bs. As. Guillermo (bass) called me and said, how would you like to go to a jam session of candombe and tango? I said I’m there. Mamma, nos metimos en la boca del lobo!! We got there with my mum, and my uncles and they said, we should go back! But, for some reason we decided to go in - as scary as the neighborhood looked, the hosts of the house were wonderful! </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I also made a contact of a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandoneón">bandoneón</a></span> player called <a href="http://www.brunoferreccio.com/">Bruno Ferreccio</a>, a wonderful teacher and performer. I took a couple of lessons and got excited about learning bandoneon seriously, however they are a wee expensive (US$4,000), and I don’t really have the commitment to change profession. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; ">bandoneón</span> is a magnificent instrument, and tough to play! Maybe I will - when I am 64!</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-25348478488769048182011-01-10T09:19:00.000-08:002011-01-10T09:20:31.550-08:00Apply Now!<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Please allow me to share information about the <b>Abreu Fellows Program</b>, based at New England Conservatory.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; min-height: 15.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The Abreu Fellows Program provides <b>tuition-free instruction</b> and a <b>needs-based living stipend</b> for outstanding, young postgraduate musicians and music educators,</span><span style="font: 13.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"> “</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">passionate for their art and for social justice,” who seek to guide the development of El Sistema programs in the U.S. El Sistema is Venezuela's celebrated youth orchestra program that has given us Gustavo Dudamel and the amazing Simón Bolívar</span><span style="font: 11.0px 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Youth Orchestra.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px 'Lucida Grande'; min-height: 16.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The academic year-long program provides Fellows with in-depth knowledge of the mission and musical methodology of the El Sistema vision, so brilliantly pioneered in Venezuela. In addition, the Fellows are instructed in music education methodologies, leadership, organizational development and management, fundraising and working with underserved youth and communities. The program includes a three-week U.S. internship as well as shorter visits to U.S. El Sistema-inspired programs, and a two-month residency in Venezuela. <br /><br />Pending confirmation of funding, the program will start <b>August 29, 2011</b>. We would appreciate it if you would distribute the information </span><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>below</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b> </b>to Advisors, Faculty members, Career Services personnel, Deans, Alumni Officers, and anyone else who has direct contact with graduating seniors, graduate students who are completing their degrees this year, and alumni who graduated approximately ten years ago or fewer. We are looking for only ten Fellows, but we want to publicize the opportunity widely so as to attract those individuals most suited to our program<b>. The Application Deadline is February 14, 2011.<br /></b><br />If you would like more information about the Abreu Fellows Program, please email me at erik.holmgren@necmusic.edu. Thank you for your collaboration. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><br />Best wishes,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><br />Erik</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; min-height: 15.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Erik Holmgren</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Education Director</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Abreu Fellows Program</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">New England Conservatory</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; color: #053df5"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="mailto:Erik.Holmgren@necmusic.edu">Erik.Holmgren@necmusic.edu</a></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; min-height: 15.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-59683744263111888322011-01-03T22:01:00.000-08:002011-01-04T09:19:26.898-08:00Harmony Program<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4NIiMRWn2gA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4NIiMRWn2gA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />Here is a video of our visit to the Harmony Program Christmas Concert in NY. Thank you so much to Anne and the staff for opening the doors of the program!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2DFdC2_3Y/TSNVHVH-fwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/uyyA57bU4m0/s320/abreu%2Bcorp%2521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558379949523369730" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span><div>The Abreu 401 Corp. is the NY headquarter - where the Fellows go to debrief over cold beer & sodas, cigarettes, ice cream, and candy. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2DFdC2_3Y/TSNWaAHJMpI/AAAAAAAAADE/sUFSCyp0uJU/s1600/wine%2Bbar.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zU2DFdC2_3Y/TSNWaAHJMpI/AAAAAAAAADE/sUFSCyp0uJU/s320/wine%2Bbar.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558381369811874450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></span></div></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center;"> Jamie Bernstein, Anne, fellows, and Erik</div></span></span><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-85795948296982245772010-12-30T18:29:00.000-08:002011-01-03T23:02:38.829-08:00“how business principles can be applied to solve social problems”<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Old Year everyone! I just wanted to share this article: </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/12/30/132444322/change-you-can-invest-in-social-entrepreneurship"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.npr.org/2010/12/30/132444322/change-you-can-invest-in-social-entrepreneurship</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">David Wish advocates music education using popular genres in schools. The website has some </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">resources for the kids</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> that I had fun playing with:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://littlekidsrock.org/flash/kidsite/home.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://littlekidsrock.org/flash/kidsite/home.html</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Another site worth looking at </span><a href="http://www.seachangecap.org/portfolio.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.seachangecap.org/portfolio.html</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This website confirms what Beth Babcock spoke about making non-profits look more like for-profits.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally, Ashoka is an association of social entrepreneurs.</span></div><div><a href="http://www.ashoka.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.ashoka.org/</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is an interesting post:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#66FFFF;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">he first part of my answer is always that the process is organic and that the right approach for one person might be completely different for another. Let’s face it –we’re all different and our ideas are a reflection of that unique individuality. Nevertheless, I think there are a couple things that apply across the board that can contribute to a solid foundation for new idea. Here are five things to consider:<br />• Self-reflect - you are looking for that sweet spot where your passions, talents and abilities meet an existing need. The first step in mastering that is understanding yourself and taking the time to reflect.<br />• Step outside your comfort zone –escaping your normal routine and experiencing new things produces the perfect backdrop for idea generation – you are more likely to look at things differently, notice things you haven’t before and feel that ‘spark’ you’re looking for.<br />• Write everything down – this allows you to store and revisit everything you’ve come up with. It’s important not to be picky with what you record, though - this limits the possibilities.<br />• Constantly review your earlier ideas – this gives you a chance to organize, combine and prioritize all of your thinking. More than anything it gives you the opportunity to expand upon ideas with strong potential.<br />• Surround yourself with the right people – perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of this process is the sounding boards you line up. You want to surround yourself with people who are both encouraging and constructive – these shouldn’t be people shoot your idea down prematurely nor people who blindly endorse everything you propose.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;"><br /></span></span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">This post was submitted by Arthur Woods. He is a Co-Founder of </span></span></span><a href="http://compasspartners.org/fellowship/" target="_blank" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">Compass Partners</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">, a social business incubator with fellowship programs for college students dedicated to training social entrepreneurs across the country. Learn more about Compass Partners </span></span></span><a href="http://compasspartners.org/fellowship/" target="_blank" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">here</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CCFF;">.</span></span></span></em></p></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-15090360790217966602010-12-01T19:34:00.000-08:002011-01-10T20:07:27.914-08:00When I teach, I learn; when I learn, I teach.<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Conductor as defined by Wikipedia: the act of directing a musical performance by way of physical gestures.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Max Rudolf has a better description in his book The Grammar of Conducting. In his preface he writes: “Part musician, part actor, the conductor pursues a craft which is not easily defined.” He goes on by explaining that if a musician sees a competent conductor s/he can become competent at conducting without formal instruction.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The introduction delves into the complexity of conducting; the conductor has knowledge of composition, musical styles, basic knowledge of instruments, ability to score read, play piano, perfect pitch (helpful, not a necessity), talking/working with people, knowledge of psychology, and technique. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So why is it that not ALL musicians consider themselves conductors? At some basic level all musicians receive this knowledge, especially as one continues up the educational ladder. Why is it that only few musicians have the privilege to be called conductors? Shouldn’t all musicians be encouraged (by their teachers) to follow up on all the skills mentioned by Rudolf?</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">Take a look at this guy....</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OyE3MLEk6BQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OyE3MLEk6BQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">In the documentary T<b>he Gift of Music</b>, Lenny says "When I teach I learn, when I learn, I teach."</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;">Exemplary teaching below....</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q38ZLodjvwg?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q38ZLodjvwg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The conductor is a role model: someone that is continuously developing their human capacity; </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s/he are guided by her/his own role models into autonomy</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. The student taught in this manner is not a subordinate (or oppressed, as Freire would say) of the conductor, rather, the student conductor makes a choice to follow another fellow conductor. I want to believe that the most amazing orchestras in the world are organisms that have self directed and autonomous individuals! I believe Rudolf is on to something when he states that it is possible to learn how to be a conductor if you have a wonderful conductor role model. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Students have to be guided through the process of becoming, they have to be taught how to practice and problem solve. In order for those to happen, you have to foster reflective listening skills - the student plays and the teacher asks what they heard - and practice practicing with the students. Always ask: WHY? Why they did that? Why did that work, or not? Then, HOW? How can you make this better? </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I take Bernstein's words very seriously. If you want someone to learn something, you have to understand how that individual (or group of individuals) learns. It has to be a conversation in order for a meaningful exchange or change to happen - and not in lecture form (don't do this, that bowing is wrong).</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ultimately, we are our own masters. As teachers we can only hope to say the right thing for students to have an AH moment. Students could be having those moments a lot more often if they discover how to seize control of their own learning experiences. Educators must have a personal commitment to guide and cultivate those habits of mind.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have this crazy idea that if we were to teach all of our students the conductor model that they would prosper, not only as musicians</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, but as human beings.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-48990046117971721452010-11-21T16:48:00.000-08:002010-11-21T16:52:38.732-08:00Pasión y compasión<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Passion with compassion” was the phrase </span></span><a href="http://necmusic.edu/faculty/norman-bolter?lid=2&sid=3"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Norman</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> used a couple of weeks ago when referring to El Sistema. This play on words (con pasión in Spanish means with passion) is to me fundamental to any nucleo, you just gotta hear them playing!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Arial; color:#00661b;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">"Compassion is that which makes the heart of the good move at the pain of others. It crushes and destroys the pain of others; thus, it is called compassion. It is called compassion because it shelters and embraces the distressed."</span> - </span></span><a href="http://www.compassion.ancientfountainofyouth.com/about.html"><span style="font: 16.0px Arial; text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Buddha</span></span></span></a></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The two speakers that have made a deep impression in my thinking have been </span></span><a href="http://www.change.org/liveworkthrive/videos/view/beth_babcock_featured_on_neighborhood_network_news"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Beth Babcock</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (interview link) and Sebastian from </span></span><a href="http://www.communitymusicworks.org/about.htm"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Community Music Works</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. Beth advised that the most difficult thing to do is to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">continue</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> running a successful organization throughout the years. She came in with passion and was “in your face” about the struggles of non-profit organizations. Sebastian and Chloe from Community Music Works - completely different energy, but equally passionate - presented a model that really interests me. This work is embedded in the community (RI) and the program has grown very organically - Community Music Works (CMW) has been around for 14 years! </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Beth said that running a non-profit resembles for-profit in a lot of ways. So lets analyze the cookie cutter </span></span><a href="http://www.quickmba.com/entre/business-model/"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">business model</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You have to offer a product that is unique: El Sistema - </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">pass</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span></span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You have to offer it to the right market: at-risk-youth population - </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">pass</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span></span></li> <li style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Value (exceeds costs): Offers life skills, community and individual empowerment, self-esteem - “</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">for everything else there is a credit card”.</span></span></i></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Questions</span></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How can we put a value on humanity development? That is a tough question to answer because </span></span><a href="http://www.hdf.com/dotnetnuke/humandevelopment/Introduction.aspx"><span style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">equity, sustainability, production and empowerment</span></span></span></a></span><span style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">are difficult to measure.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Why does assessment matter? For funding purposes. Your data has to support your claim that your business is yielding concrete results in your product. El Sistema inspired programs located in the US cost an average of $3,000 child yearly (varies by state). In the traditional school system the input output ratio of cost per student is determined by measuring it against a parameter such as school performance or attendance. If the mission of the program is to transform lives, how can you measure that output in measurable outcomes?</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Don’t get me wrong I think art education can be assessed and I am all for it, however I have a problem with the model we are using in education. The teacher is the source of knowledge and kids receptively listen, then they have to take a test to see if they understood the material, if they didn’t understand it they fail the test. If you are interested in crazy-genius perspectives go </span></span><a href="http://www.radicalteacher.org/about.asp"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It wasn’t until I started studying music education that I started having radical ideas. I had never heard of </span></span><a href="http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color:#0225a3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Freire</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> until this summer, and then BAAAM it made perfect sense! How come we didn’t learn about him in our education courses?!! </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am ranting, my apologies!</span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sebastian put it perfectly - How can we assess the impact music has on a person (intrinsic vs extrinsic)? In CMW they are looking at self-esteem, motivation, and participation in the community. Civic engagement is a large factor; students create their own performance in the community about an issue that affects them and thus their community. In the self-esteem assessments, teachers interview students six times in a term and complete a follow up interview with family of some of those students. CMW is interested with how to get students interested in their own learning! </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Very succinctly stated by one of the fellows: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The business approach seems to grow fast, its worried in production- (</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">seems to be against Freire ideology</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) - community music works took very long to build because its built on respect and human growth.</span></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am still wrestling with thoughts on how to combine and balance both approaches in order to sustain and serve.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-78958485600968274232010-10-26T15:27:00.000-07:002010-10-26T15:28:45.202-07:00Rebecca y David<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Rebecca Levi and David Malek came today to talk about how they began in the Conservatory Lab Charter School. It was wonderful to be able to interact with two of the fellows from last year and to hear how they began their adventures. They discussed inquiries mostly about the hiring process, aligning beliefs with the curriculum, assessment, and scheduling. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">David and Rebecca believe in music literacy, and they structured their curriculum around this philosophy. David said musicians are trained to access music from the past, but have not been trained to have access to their own voice. The equivalent of only being able to speak the dialogues from plays and never being able to communicate your own thoughts.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Another thing that struck me was the amount of emphasis put teacher development and creating a nurturing environments for the teachers as well. The teachers are also learning continuously, and are always looking for ways to connect with one another. The teachers use the CATS framework, Citizen-Artist-Teacher-Scholar. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Citizen: The teacher has patience, self-esteem, perseverance, self-awareness, and develops the community through his/her teaching.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Artist: “The ability to learn and master artistic processes, resulting in highly skilled musical performance, composition, listening, analysis, reading, and reflective thinking skills, as well as knowledge of musical works, creative processes and learning skills”.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Teacher: “The ability and desire to provide musical effective instruction, coaching, and personal mentoring in wide range of musical settings that include the ability to present talks about musical works and advocate music education to general audiences and musical leaders”</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Scholar: “The ability and desire to research, reflect, advocate, and otherwise think about one’s personal, artistic and educational work while taking into account a wide range of historical psychological, social, and artistic perspectives and sources.”</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">The teachers were selected based on teaching auditions, not just on experience and CV. The cool about this program is that teachers are given flexibility with the way they teach. Rebecca said “ you get </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">great</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> teachers when they are in love with the content”, so they are creating ownership in the program. Also the teachers are evaluated and assessed just as much as the kids’ progress. David and Rebecca are awesome people, and I appreciated them sharing their thoughts and experiences with us! </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-39926068328068079192010-10-24T15:37:00.000-07:002010-10-24T16:05:00.944-07:00<p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thursday the Fellows attended the panel with the presidents of three leading institutions: Dean Benjamin Juarez (College of Fine Arts, Boston University), Robert Sirota (Manhattan School of Music), Tony Woodcock (New England Conservatory). The three questions were based on the topic: </span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline; letter-spacing: 0px; color:#0068cf;"><a href="http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/events/el_sistama_new_visions"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Discerning New Visions for Music Conservatories: Lessons from El Sistema</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></span></p><ol style="list-style-type: decimal; "><li color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The role of major institutions in an evolving field.</span></span></span></li><li color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Insight into how El Sistema has influenced the panelists and their institutions.</span></span></span></li><li color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How their institutions will empower their students and engage them in the community.</span></span></span></li></ol><p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This a summary of notes I took during the panel and my opinions. I would love to hear what readers have to say, so I encourage you to write comments.</span></span></span></p><p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mr. Juarez explained that students have a social responsibility similar to Dr. Abreu’s ideal of El Sistema. Mr. Sirota said that the conservatory is a model that has not changed. On a side note I am going to do what I call the “</span></span><a href="http://montalvoarts.org/participants/eric_booth/"><span style="text-decoration: underline; letter-spacing: 0px; color:#0068cf;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Eric Boothia</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">n</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">” approach: because conservatory comes from the word conserve, Mr. Sirota is correct, this model has not changed because its purpose is to preserve tradition.</span></span></span></p><p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have seen traditions disappear and evolve; and new ones appear faster than they can be documented. Everything about our lives has changed drastically in the past 100 years! The conservatory is running on a model based on 1797 France. In a nutshell - its outdated!</span></span></span></p><p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mr. Woodcock (not </span></span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/78981672/Bob-Thomas-Sports-Photography"><span style="text-decoration: underline; letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">this Tony Woodcock</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">)</span> spoke about the NEC’s efforts in adapting to change through their<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.necmusic.edu/cppp"><span style="text-decoration: underline; letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Community Performance and Partnership Program</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, and the </span></span><a href="http://www.necmusic.edu/abreu-fellowship"><span style="text-decoration: underline; letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Abreu Fellowship</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. These are examples of how conservatories can foster the idea of the musician as skilled and valuable beings from which the community can benefit beyond the concert halls. In his words, “training organizations can ferment change” through their students. The ideal artist is a responsible citizen that serves as an outstanding model for its community, and it is a mirror from which the community can see themselves as. Art is at the service of the community, not solely based on ticket sale. This is one of the leading ideals of music in El Sistema.</span></span></span></p><p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">During the panel discussion, an audience member posed the question of how these ideal artists will find themselves drawn into these institutions if the admission criteria of conservatory focuses on students with technical ability, basing their decisions on tapes, and not on interviews? Clare Twohy succinctly stated, “who is an artist?”</span></span></span></p><p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The answer was along the lines of - product quality cannot be sacrificed. Conservatories and other schools have been seen as elitist, as Mr. Sirota himself said, but maybe it is time to stop seeing human beings for what they can produce, but for how they can be of service to society beyond the concert hall.</span></span></span></p><p color="#292929" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16.2px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The fellows were overflowing with questions, so then someone asked, “well what does that [who is an artist?] have to do with El Sistema?” I think it has much to do with El Sistema. If we have learned anything in these few weeks is to learn about your environment! We have to understand how these major institutions fit into the social ecosystem and find ways to partner in order to accomplish goals that benefit the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">community</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, not the empty seats in concert halls. We can only do this through an open atmosphere of collaborative dialogue, so I encourage these panels to continue flourishing.</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;font-size:78%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:9px;"><br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556842579786285629.post-43307747313481039012010-10-15T19:46:00.000-07:002010-10-15T19:54:41.363-07:00Cultureless?<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height:normal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“Everyone loves classical music…. they just don’t know it.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height: normal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">-Ben Zander-</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">One of the questions raised by Adrienne on Friday really intrigued me. Is classical music cultureless? To answer what is not, we need to answer what is, first. The word </span></span></span><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">culture</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> comes from the Latin </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">colere</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">, meaning “to cultivate”. Webster further defines it as:</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">2. The act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">5. The integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">It is important to note that the meaning of culture has evolved, and should not be confused with the definition of high and low culture that emerged during the 19</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">th</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> century. Matthew Arnold in </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Culture and Anarchy </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">(1869) saw culture as “[…] </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">being a pursuit of our total perfection by means of getting to know, on all the matters which most concern us, the best which has been thought and said in the world […]”</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> I believe these two ideals, </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">perfection</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> and the </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">best of</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">, have deeply influenced our thinking, creating a divide in our </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://viking.coe.uh.edu/~ichen/ebook/et-it/social.htm"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">social construct</span></span></span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">. The problem that I have with "ideal" when applied to music is how do we then decide what is the best of the best, or when a performance was perfect? Who are we to judge that the gamelan is less perfect (or more) than a symphony orchestra? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The other definition of culture provides a broader context by including knowledge, belief, and behavior. Through the process of socialization, culture takes shape first through the family and eventually through the community. It is in the family/community environment that music culture is communicated and becomes part of an individual. This process of communicating culture is very flexible and organic. Any type of interaction we have as humans involves communicating (from the Latin to make common; to participate, join, unite, impart, and to share), thus music is a form of communication. In order to make it successful communication, it has to be meaningful and engaging. I have vivid recollections of my mother's standing ovations after a performance, which would make me incredibly embarrassed as a teenager. In my standards I had not performed perfectly, but now I understand that my performance was meaningful to her and her standing was just her way of communicating and reciprocating feelings. Music cannot be cultureless, but culture-full, because it lives in, through, and beyond us. This is why it is so powerful and universal.</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4