Fourth graders performed at the Link Up Concert with Fresno Philharmonic at the Saroyan Theatre.
Hundreds of students from across Fresno Unified had the opportunity to play music with world-class musicians as part of a Link Up Concert.
Superintendent Michael Hanson made the welcoming remarks.
Link Up is a partnership with the Fresno Philharmonic that began last year to accomplish more than simply bringing students to a concert.
District music teachers use the Carnegie Foundation-designed Link Up curriculum to teach lessons that not only align with all five strands of the California State Music Standards, but prepare students to perform successfully with professional musicians.
“I think any opportunity you have to expose children to music results in a good thing. Music is proven to increase mathematical scores, it’s proven to increase creativity, between left and right brain incorporating a lot of aspects we don’t get to do in the classroom. A worldly view of education as opposed to do page 71 number 12 A.” – Lori Prentice, 4/5th grade combo teacher, Walters Elementary.
To prepare for their concert, students have studied basic music theory, history, notation, and applied that knowledge and skills to a recorder instrument or voice.
“I’m playing the recorder. We spent half a year rehearsing. ” – Ciara Cerrato, 4th grader, Leavenworth Elementary
The theme of the curriculum is melody and the concert itself will be a music lesson where students will engage in music learning and performance.
“I think it’s very inspiring for most kids in the world to experience this moment that most kids don’t have.” Julianna Garcia, 4th grade, Walters Elementary.
The Fresno Philharmonic will use classic orchestra repertoire to demonstrate melody and form that the students have studied.
The narrators will allow selected students to make their own choices with instrumentation, or to determine how a musical phrase will be performed.
