Fun and Engaging Music Outreach
Clurie Bennis Children’s Outreach Program
CityMusic teaching artists provide free, high-quality music education experiences to K-4 students in underserved Cleveland schools and communities. These interactive programs tell diverse cultural stories through music, theater, and dance, broadening the lenses through which students experience music and the arts. Each program features professional musicians, dynamic storytelling, and comprehensive curriculum materials for classroom teachers.
Interested in having CityMusic artists come to your elementary school? Contact director Kimberly Zaleski for more information.
“The Clurie Bennis Children’s Outreach Series did an excellent job of presenting multi-cultural stories and culture through a kid-friendly, colorful, and entertaining format. I was excited to have various cultures represented, especially since our school is a newcomer’s building which includes a student population of over twenty different countries. The students were thrilled to see performers who also represented various ethnicities. The performances kept them engaged and interested.”
Jerod Tate’s MoonStrike
“MoonStrike is a work composed for Apollo Chamber Players, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and featuring American Indian stories with a live narrator. American Indian legends are very colorful and have a tendency to take twists and turns within the narrative. Regarding the Moon, it is very consistent that the traditional tales involve trickster characters and competitions for ownership of this precious object. MoonStrike involves three diverse American Indian legends, includes traditional songs and is bookended with an arrangement of a Calusa Corn Dance. For Southeast Indians, the Green Corn Dance took place during the annual, fall Harvest Moon.
MoonStrike is dedicated to the memory of Margo Aragon-Herrington. It was Margo’s wish that John Herrington and I would collaborate with American Indian astrological stories and it is my joy and honor to realize this dream.”
— Jerod Impichaachaaha’ Tate, composer
We’re Thrilled to Perform at These Schools & Libraries!
Mound STEM School, St. Stanislaus School, Stonebrook - White Montessori Campus, Noble Elementary, Newcomers Academy, Thomas Jefferson School, Cleveland Public Library - Fleet Branch
Want to schedule a performance at your institution? Get in touch with us here!
Apollo Chamber Players presents the world premiere of 'MoonStrike' by Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH), September 27, 2019.
Previous Musical Programs for Schools and Libraries
Daniel and the Snakeman
Cleveland composer Margaret Brouwer explores empathy and acceptance in this work for chamber ensemble, puppet show, and narrator. An 11 year-old boy named Daniel lives in a future time called the 7th World Order, when people have learned to live together peacefully, respecting each other’s differences — mostly. Snakeman, half animal and half human, believes that those who are different should be kept separate, and has imprisoned many people in his fortress. Daniel and his bat friend Wiggy journey to free those imprisoned, learning about friendship and accepting difference along the way.
Each character is represented by an instrument — Daniel by trumpets and horns, Wiggy by the clarinet, Malik by drums, Fadumo and Elizabeth by the oboe and violin, and Snakeman by the trombone with lots of glissandi — allowing children to readily connect the music with the story.
Get Your Groove On
Do you love music? Do you want to learn how to produce a beat? Do you like to dance to new beats? If so, this workshop is for you! The classical/pop/fusion trio IN2ATIVE and dancer Christian Townsend present an interactive workshop for Grades K-7 combining music, dance, rhythm, and art.
The Rabbit on the Moon
A modern-day retelling of the folk story of the Jade Rabbit, this charming Asian harvest tale teaches young audiences about friendship and empathy. It tells the story of the Jade Emperor who, disguised as a beggar, searches for an animal to come to the moon and help make an elixir of life for the immortals. The music features the erhu, an ancient Chinese stringed instrument, combined with string quartet, narrator, and traditional Chinese shadow puppetry.
Oi! An Adventure to Carnaval
A child visiting Brazil is guided by a Carnival fairy through the history, musical rhythms, and dance steps of the Carnaval do Brasil. This interactive piece teaches Portuguese phrases, samba dance steps, and samba rhythms, and concludes with a Carnival parade or dance.
Online Resources for Music
New York Philharmonic
KidZone
Creating Music
Creatingmusic.com is a children’s online creative music environment for children of all ages. It’s a place for kids to compose music, play with musical performance, music games and music puzzles. Discover fun and easy ways to make music!
League of American Orchestras
http://www.americanorchestras.org
Dallas Symphony for Kids
www.dsokids.com