Training Musicians to Perform for and Work With Children: Case Studies of Innovative Programs at the Eastman School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the New England Conservatory

During the 1990s, music departments throughout the U.S. have shown an increasing interest in developing programs that bring students out of the practice room and into the community. Many music schools are considering new ways of attracting and educating their future audiences, as well as making sure that graduates of their school have a variety of career options available. The involvement of orchestras in community and educational work has also expanded the skills needed by orchestra musicians. This study provides background information as well as case studies of innovative college-level programs that train musicians to perform for and work with children at the Eastman School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the New England Conservatory. All three of the schools have developed concerts for children, musical workshops with individual classes, and ways of enhancing school music programs. To train the conservatory students in this work, all three schools use courses, coachings, and practical experience. However, each school has chosen to focus more in-depth on certain aspects, resulting in three very different programs. The Eastman School of Music has made major curricular renovations, involving every student in discussions about the future of music and in at least a small amount of outreach work. The Manhattan School of Music has a highly structured program that brings a huge number of live chamber, orchestral, jazz, and opera performances into the schools in a sequential format. The New England Conservatory is deeply involved in the local schools, using music to enhance learning in all curricular areas, and evaluating the effects of their work with careful research studies. All three of the schools have experienced continuing growth of their innovative programs, which perhaps can serve as a model for other schools wishing to develop or expand similar programs.

Name thesis:degree_name

D.M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Plourde, Alina Wattenberg

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nancy Ambrose King

• Education, Higher

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9971164

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/85882