Meet the Instruments

“Okay, guys I’m going to play some music for you,” says Colleen Gilligan, a senior USC student, balancing her bass in front of a class of 2nd graders at 32nd Street School in Los Angeles. There is an audible “Yessss!” from the students, and some crane their necks and shift in their seats so they can see Colleen better as she begins a jazz song. One boy pretends to conduct.

When she finishes, the class erupts into applause.

USC Senior, Colleen Gilligan, demonstrates a walking bass line for a 2nd grade class at The 32nd Street School in Los Angeles.

“Meet the Instruments” is a program that brings USC music students into classrooms of local elementary schools where they can give a small lesson about their instrument and their positive experiences with the arts.  In one morning, Colleen gets to meet four different classes of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. They are excited to listen to her play, but also to ask her questions:

“How tall are you?”
“What is that stick for?”
“When did you start playing?”
“Is the bass like a big violin?”
“When is your birthday?”

Colleen answers all of the questions with a smile. At the end of her hour long mini-tour, she says, “Today made me want to go into music education. I was already interested, but that was so much fun.”

After Colleen leaves to go to another classroom, Jesse Freedman, a second year masters student, walks in with his classical guitar.  He takes one of the 2nd grader-sized chairs and sits in front of the kids, looking comically comfortable so close to the ground.

Second year USC grad student, Jesse Freedman plays a selection of classical guitar music that his 2nd grade audience called, “spooky.”

Jesse takes some time to describe his guitar and how it makes sound. “The guitar is like a giraffe,” he says. ”It has a round body and a looong neck.”  He introduces the song he is going to play, and tells the class that it was written in Spain in the 18th century. “Does anyone know when the 18th century was?” A boy raises his hand. “A long time ago,” he answers. “Before cameras.”

Before Jesse begins his song, he asks the class to close their eyes and think about how the song makes them feel. They immediately put their heads down on their desks.  While Jesse plays, their faces scrunch in thought, and when he is finished, they rush their hands to the air, eager to tell him how they feel about the song.

“It’s so great to see that moment,” says Jesse afterward, “when they get quieter and stop hitting each other and during my song, reach this deeper level of hearing.”

Later, I ask some of the kids what is their favorite part of “Meet the Instruments.”

“I like the flute because it is the leader of the woodwinds,” says one little girl.
“I like to hear music in real life,” says a boy sitting near her.
“Yeah,” his friend agrees, “And to see the instruments in real life!”

Everyone in the class gets excited by this answer. It’s pretty obvious that “Meet the Instrument” has been a huge hit.

To get involved with “Meet the Instruments,” contact USC Thornton Outreach at outreach@thornton.usc.edu.

Christina Wolfgram is a Master of Professional Writing student at USC. She writes for her own blog at christinawolfgram.wordpress.com and can be contacted at thecwolf@gmail.com.

Hooray for Foshay!

The sounds of celebration started early in the evening as festive music played in the parking lot leading up to the red carpet entrance of the newly renovated James A. Foshay Learning Center Auditorium.

What had been a long time coming was finally a reality. The journey for a new auditorium began over 12 years ago, and based upon the smiles throughout the evening, this was truly the celebration of a dream come true.

Vince Womack conducting the Foshay Concert Band

Vince Womack, the Foshay Music Director and leader of this long journey to a new auditorium space, kicked of the night and led the evening’s festivities with the Foshay Concert Band. The evening was filled with numerous types of art and sound including poetry, chamber music, choir, and even a Deep Purple rock number by Middle School Rocks.

Foshay Learning Center is one of the many “USC Family of Schools” that the USC Thronton School of Music Outreach program works with on a regular basis, so it was quite a privilege to have the USC Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble under the direction on Ryan Kienstra, share the stage for this wonderful evening of all things performance art.

Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble

The evening came to a close with a rollicking number by members of the Foshay school faculty that had people on their feet and dancing in the aisles.

Eventhough Mr. Womack mentioned that there are still a few things to iron out such as a nagging problem with pigeons in the ceiling that existed before renovations and continues to haunt the space, this was truly the start of something new, fresh, and longstanding…and a celebration of all things art in L.A.

For more information on the USC Family of Schools and information on ways in which USC builds local community, please visit http://communities.usc.edu/neighbors/schools.html

JazzReach Winter Concert – December 16, 2012

Who thought up this crazy idea called “stage fright”? 

Because one would have never known it existed by the way the students of the 32nd Street School and Science Center School JazzReach Choirs strutted out onto the stage, heads held high with huge smiles on their faces, waving to friends and family members in the jam packed Alfred Newman Recital Hall on the campus of USC.

And apparently there’s no such this as “audience fright” either, because proud friends and family members happily waved back to those on stage and held their cameras high in the air to get a snapshot of their favorite performer.

The choirs were a welcome part of the annual JazzReach Winter Concert and were positioned between two jazz ensemble bookends of the James A. Foshay Jazz Ensemble and the Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble. 

32nd Street JazzReach Choir performing “Dry Bones”

32nd Street and Science Center JazzReach Choirs lead the audience in a sing-along.

The lively evening jumped around between a selection of traditional holiday tunes such as the audience participation sing-along’s of “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to standard jazz selections such as Duke Ellington’s “Harlem Airshaft”.  What started as a cold and rainy evening on the outside, quickly transformed into a warm, fast-paced evening of fun and lively music on the inside.

Ryan Kienstra directing the Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble

At the conclusion of the evening, Science Center parent Juana Flores noted that her daughter’s first year in the choir has simply been “…a great experience.  She really loves it and now wants to sing when she grows up.”

Tenor saxophonist Alec Wigginton’s mother Vicky also had nothing but great things to say about the evening’s concert, as well as what she has seen with her son’s involvement in the Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble.  “I am very grateful for the program.  Alec seems to have an even greater enthusiasm for the music…it’s at a whole different level.”

The Science Center School JazzReach Choir summed up the evening of music quite nicely with their lyrics of “It don’t mean a thing, all you got to do is sing”…and sing they did, to the delight of all.

Master Class with John Thomas

With Bill Evans and John Coltrane in the room, looking on from framed photographs lining the walls of the performance space, jazz was clearly in the air as notes bounced from every corner of the acoustically enhanced room, and the Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble (LAYJE) was warming up for an afternoon of music and education.  On November 18, a master class, free and open to the public, being taught by trumpeter and USC professor John Thomas was about to begin.

Not only were the greats looking on, but the event’s educational handout was proof that the Carson Television Building on the campus of USC was talking jazz.  “Slur everything until you have a really good legato tongue” and “Use tongue stops:  cut off all notes with the tongue.  The cut off is as articulated as the attack”…all words clearly spoken by an accomplished veteran of his craft.

Professional trumpeter and USC professor John Thomas was able to share stories of his years playing with the Count Basie Orchestra and Chick Corea to name a few.  Thomas first listened, then critiqued, and moved through the horn section one by one stressing the importance of legato tonguing.  He then moved on to the importance of rhythm, noting, “You always have to stay engaged with the music…you have to be ‘on’…a good drummer makes you want to dance with him.”  The exercise led to the entire ensemble playing cymbal patterns with their pencils.

Guitarist Julian Apter, a Santa Monica High School student in his first year playing with LAYJE, and member of local jazz quartet “Half-diminished”, noted how impressed he was with the experience.  Apter enjoyed experiencing Thomas’ “culmination of experience, mixed with his skill…he hears things that other people may not hear.”  Apter also noted how Thomas’ experiences playing with jazz legends bring to light “the difference between someone simply loving the music, versus actually living the music.”

The audience was just as engaged as the players.  The parents of Daniel Cole, a student of Millikan High School in Long Beach and trombone player with LAYJE, spoke highly of the LAYJE experience.  “The program seems to challenge him more than the high school band.  Today’s experience seemed to transition from learning, to feeling, the music.”  Daniel’s take on the day was more concise, “I loved it!  Awesome!”

LAYJE Musical Director Ryan Kienstra stressed the importance of the master classes, by adding, “The students get the viewpoints of someone who has played with different styles of jazz; who has lots of experience.  It’s nice for the students to experience someone who can demonstrate vocally, and then play that on the instrument.”  LAYJE Assistant Musical Director Liz Palmer adds, “With the master classes, music can be said in a variety of ways.  And with a third party instructor involved, it might all of a sudden click.”

The master class experience is all encompassing.  It combines musical skill, education, and an interaction with the local community.  Palmer sums it up nicely, “It’s great that Thornton has a relationship with local schools to keep arts going.  Master classes show the academic side of the music, not just as entertainment… it’s part of who we are as a culture.”

For more information on LAYJE and other Thornton Outreach Programs, please visit: http://www.usc.edu/schools/music/about/signature/outreach/.

Fun Competitions!

Attention USC Thornton student musicians and songwriters!

If you are interested in making a difference with your music while working with children in the local community, now is the time to submit your work for the 2012-13 USC Chamber Ensemble Competition and the Children’s Song Composition Competition!

As a songwriter, enter the Children’s Song Composition Competition and have the chance to have your piece performed at the USC Neighborhood Children’s Choral Festival as well as winning a cash prize!

Or as a combo or chamber ensemble, create an educational assembly program and have the chance to win a residency at local schools, which includes musicians’ stipends!

USC Thornton student Jessica Guy entered her quintet in last year’s Chamber Ensemble Competition and came up a winner.  “My Quintet, The Sound of Five, wanted to come up with a fun and creative way to make music an exciting experience that students could be involved with, while simultaneously mirroring their current elementary studies.  We used the California State History Standards for grades three through six as a main platform to discuss and introduce musical ideas.”

Using costumes, narration, and of course music, Jessica adds, “The presentation took the students on a time traveling journey.  We used our imaginations to take us to various important time periods in California’s history, where we visited a member of the Chumash tribe, a monk who helped established a Mission, a real-life 49er in Coloma, CA, and a famous movie star during the Golden Age in Hollywood.  The objective was to show students how music can transport your mind to a different time or place.  By using specific sections of songs, we demonstrated how music can affect our emotions or tell a story.”

Not only is the competition a great way to present music in a new light and educate the audience, but Jessica also notes how one of the most important aspects of the competition is simply having fun.  “Having the opportunity to perform this presentation throughout Los Angeles was an amazing experience.  Watching the students participate and be excited for what was next on our time travel journey was priceless.  It was amazing to think about how our short presentation could inspire a young student to see the infinite number of possibilities that music can bring.”

In either competition, be it via songwriting or and ensemble performance, Jessica sums up the experience best by noting what many of us believe here at Thornton, by simply stating that “music education can be one of the most valuable resources in a young person’s educational journey.”   Be a part of this fun experience and enter your piece today as submission deadlines are rapidly approaching.

Help us spread the word by e-mailing or sharing this posting with other Thornton students who you think might be interested!

Chamber Ensemble Competition
Deadline for submissions:  November 16th
Click here for competition guidelines.

Song Composition Competition
NEW Deadline for submissions:  January 22nd
Click here for competition guidelines.

For more information, contact Nancy Wong, USC Thornton Outreach Program Administrator, at outreach@thornton.usc.edu or (213) 821-5375.

Good Neighbors Campaign 2012

How can one go wrong when giving to a campaign that can achieve all of this: “Providing music classes. Preventing cavities. Offering pro bono legal advice. Helping high school students conduct research for a hospital. Providing acting classes.” And this is only a small portion of what the USC Good Neighbors Campaign achieves as a result of generous contributions from the USC Trojan Family – mostly USC staff and faculty. They contribute a portion of their paychecks to the USC Neighborhood Outreach.

Over the past 18 years, the USC Good Neighbors Campaign has raised over $14 million and the goal for 2012 is 1.6 million. More specifically, the USC Thornton Outreach Program is funded in part by the Good Neighbors Campaign allowing us to bring music education opportunities to youth in USC’s surrounding neighborhoods.

On October 2, a celebration in Alumni Park at the University Park Campus kicked off this year’s Good Neighbors Campaign. A group of Thornton Outreach mentors performed jazz music throughout the event, including a collaboration with the Foshay Learning Center Jazz Band. Eduardo Mollinedo-Pinon, a current Thornton Outreach mentor and a former Foshay student, spoke about his personal experiences with the Thornton Outreach program when he was a student at Foshay and now as a USC student going back to Foshay to mentor students in the music program.

Eduardo Mollinedo-Pinon speaking at the Good Neighbors Campaign kick-off rally.

The giving process is quick and easy, by simply going online to https://giving.usc.edu/goodneighbors/Donation/Give where you can make a one-time contribution or set up a regularly occurring payroll deduction.

“Swim classes. Jazz instruction. Free computers. Safety training and tools for preventing violence. Opera.” The list goes on and on…

Where does your contribution fit in?

ATTENTION NEW AND RETURNING THORNTON SCHOOL MENTORS!!!

The dates have been set for the Thornton Outreach Program mentor information sessions!

- Wed, Aug. 29 @ 4-5pm, MUS 102B
- Thurs, Aug. 30 @ 6-7pm, MUS 102B
- Tues, Sept. 4 @ 5-6pm, Ramo 100

These info sessions are mandatory for new and returning mentors. At the info session, students will sign up for an interview time, which is also required for both new and returning mentors.