Click here for Part Nine Five American Pieces At this midpoint of the program, we perform the pieces written by the 'Bridge' students of New York City for their Young Composing friends of Venezuela. Isaac Draper: From New York to Venezuela. Immediately apparent is the driving rhythmic theme, closely chromatic with intensive percussion, giving way to equally intensive, … [Read more...] about The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Ten
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The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Nine
Click here for Part Eight We enter the children's world: Michelle Hernández: The youngest composer, at age eight, has written for her original "dream' assignment" a story so touching and symbolic of the whole, that we have her read it to the audience: Cuento Sobre la Música tells of the magic power of music to bring joy and to change lives. Dani helps Michelle read the … [Read more...] about The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Nine
The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition: Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Eight
Click here for Part Seven Caracas, 17 de Abril As we gather the huge mound of music paper bequeathed to us by these children, I feel that we have been gifted with a beyond-precious trove of artistic diamonds, and that we have on our hands a task of near-impossible dimensions. The mood of celebration lasts long enough to see the children's bus off: Not only have they … [Read more...] about The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition: Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Eight
Nice Work, California State Arts Advocates–An Arts Survey of Candidates for Chief State School Officier
I am getting the sense that the arts education advocates in the State of California are going are really getting their act together. And by that I mean, it is beginning to look like they are forging consensus, sharpening their tools, and taking a hard look at the sort of long-term fight necessary to hold the line and advance education in these tough times, in the toughest in … [Read more...] about Nice Work, California State Arts Advocates–An Arts Survey of Candidates for Chief State School Officier
Reflections on a New York Times Op-Ed on Charter Schools
In today's New York Times, Charles Murray of the American Enterprise Institute wrote an op-ed piece titled: Why Charter Schools Fail the Test.Mr. Murray makes a great case for the shortcomings of standardized tests (ELA and Math) as the singular measure of student achievement and school environment. In particular he sites the longitudinal study of charters and vouchers in … [Read more...] about Reflections on a New York Times Op-Ed on Charter Schools