MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS

an outreach program of Brevard Philharmonic

Music in the Schools is an outreach program of the Brevard Philharmonic, which annually provides a live musical program for all kindergarten through fourth grade students in Transylvania County, including home-schooled children. Local professional musicians travel to all four county elementary schools, plus Brevard Academy, to present interactive lecture-demonstration performances introducing the students to the various instrument families of the orchestra, i.e. strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion,
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with the focus being on a different area for each grade.

The kindergartners are introduced to all the instruments of the orchestra through a "Meet the Orchestra" quartet, containing one performer from each of the areas. The students are encouraged to listen to the different sounds made by each instrument, and after the presentation to get up close and personal, examining each one of them. With their natural curiosity at this early age many students get hooked by the sound and/or appearance of one of the instruments.

The first graders get additional visual stimulation with the appearance of Camerata Antiqua,
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a group of musicians dressed in Renaissance costumes playing recorders who, as a group, have appeared in many local venues. The brainchild of Sharen Hafner, they discuss the history of wind instruments from ancient to modern times and demonstrate on a wide variety of instruments.

Because of the sheer number of instruments involved, with the Scott Concert Hall stage filled with all conceivable kinds of percussion instruments which would be impossible to take into the schools, all second graders in the county are bused to the Porter Center for a one-time presentation by the Brevard College Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Franklin, Chair of the Division of Fine Arts. Percussion instruments literally fill the stage! The students are fascinated by the great variety of instruments, pitched and non pitched, to which they listen with rapt attention, often jumping to their feet with excitement at the end of the presentation.

Third graders are treated to a string presentation by the Opal String Quartet,
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a group who have performed together professionally in the Asheville area for several years, in addition to playing in area orchestras including the Brevard Philharmonic. The students, who now are in their fourth year of Music in the Schools presentations, are fascinated with the explanation of the history of string instruments, in addition to the sound of the different instruments in their various registers.

Pyramid Brass, who have also played together professionally for many years and who appear regularly in concert in the area, demonstrate, talk about the history of brass instruments, and play for the fourth graders. As can be seen from the photos on our website, they are anything but stuffy, known to dress up in beads and hats for Mardi Gras and play When the Saints Go Marching In.

In the past, to put all the instruments back together again, the Music in Schools program culminated with all fifth graders in the county being bused to the Porter Center for a special orchestral school concert created especially for them. We are currently seeking a benefactor who will once again give our school children this priceless musical experience - if interested, please contact Joan Yarbrough, Executive Director.

We are indebted to the very supportive teachers who are involved with our program, Sarah Moser, Laura Sullivan, and Sally Germanaro, and to Brevard Philharmonic volunteers Mary Sauerteig, Renee Braun, Jinks Ramsey, and coordinator Aleta Tisdale, herself a violinist in the Brevard Philharmonic. Over the years the program has been supported by BP donors, Duke Energy, and a NC Arts Council Grassroots Grant through the Transylvania Community Arts Council.