Music Education Through Discovery and Play
by Heidi Turnquist, Director of Education
Experiencing a wide range of musical styles and instruments enriches our lives. All too often we hear stories of people being “stuck” with the wrong instrument as a teenager with no option to try something different, so they stop playing instead.
Our unique Music Box class and SongFest Summer Camps introduce the amazing world of music with hands-on explorations of different instruments, songs, and musical styles, while sneaking in some music theory basics along the way.
Students can join our popular “Drop-In” Music Box option on Wednesdays, as well as the continuing Tuesday/Thursday class. During the summer, we also offer seven week-long camps, each with a unique theme, that emphasized play and discovery along with music education. By the end of the term they have had hands-on experience with different instruments and movement styles and may even have found one that they want to pursue.
Each session starts by putting both traditional or rarer instruments into the student’s hands right from the start. Students have the chance to explore and discover before they are told the “right” and “wrong” ways to play instruments. They experience the “joy of making things happen” when they blow, bow, or beat on something new – sometimes unexpected things!
The Music Box and SongFest also incorporate song into each class to promote the idea that music is not precious, but a thing to be enjoyed and shared by everyone. Students are encouraged to sing, not to sing “well” just now, but just to sing and have fun singing. Singing together, learning music basics, getting historical and cultural context for songs, and the hands-on experience with a variety of musical instruments can foster a lifelong appreciation for music.