Local musicians and music enthusiasts are connecting with listeners in some surprising ways. We'll hear how various educational programs in the area are catering to students' respective stages of development.
First, we’ll hear from Monte Skelton, a local jazz musician and elementary school music teacher. Skelton took music classes through the Evansville public school system, but it was one music education outreach program in the first grade that inspired him to pick up the saxophone. And nearly 20 years later, he's still jamming.
The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra has been hosting Lollipop concerts to thousands of preschool children annually for more than a decade. In Maestro Alfred Savia's 25 years as conductor, he's witnessed children who first interacted with the orchestra become professional musicians in the years ahead -- and others who excelled in other rigorous careers like medicine. We'll listen in on one of these concerts and hear Savia's take on why more and more musicians are splitting their time between performing and teaching.
Then multi-instrumentalist and founder of the New Harmony Music Festival & School Christopher Layer will talk about his partnership with Historic New Harmony to provide a music outreach program for 8th grade students. Layer says he is focusing on this particular age group because those students are searching for identity, and regional heritage music plays a huge part in this.
Finally, we’ll meet music therapist Amy Miller. She created a music education endowment fund in memory of her music-loving four-year-old son, who died due to complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Miller and her son took a semester of music classes designed for children and parents, which she says created lasting memories that live on.
The New Harmony Music Festival & School
"Field, Forest & Stream" Concert
Where: Historic Thralls Opera House | When: Saturday, Nov. 2 2013 at 7pm
Tickets and info: 646-456-7762
http://www.newharmonymusicfest.com/
Music Together
Parent/child music & movement classes
Casey Depriest, owner and senior therapist 812-491-9400
www.facebook.com/musictogetherevansville
Isaac’s Day of Music
Fundraising event for the Isaac Miller Music Matters Endowment Fund
Where: First Christian Church in Newburgh, IN | When: Sunday, Nov. 3 from 1-5pm
Liked a song you heard on the show? Here’s who was featured:
Monte Skelton (live improvisation in studio)
Christopher Layer, flute and pipes, from the album "Stones Unturned Returned"
“The Session Jigs”
“The Morning Star Set”
Kris Miller, cellist (live improvisation in studio)
