Education & Community Engagement
“Students in high-quality school music education programs score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs, regardless of the socioeconomic level of community.”
Serving a culture that embraces and encourages arts and creativity, the Colour of Music Festival’s education mission is to:
• Deliver lifelong learning experiences to people of all ages with emphasis on works
composed by black composers and classical artists of African ancestry
• Enrich lives and stimulate creative minds in a variety of programs and formats
• Create unique moments of relevance in people’s lives
Programs that generate passion for orchestral music by black composers are at the core of the Colour of Music Festival. The Orchestra services Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties and cities across America where the festival is presented annually.
Education concert themes included:
• Charleston’s Symphonic Contributions to the World
• Historical Measures: A 300-year Musical Timeline of Black Composers
• Rhythm Around the World
• Celebrate Multiculturalism in American Orchestras
• Notable Numbers: Patterns, Rhythms, and Form in Music
• Eventful Music: Symphonic Stories of Black Orchestral History
We can also take these concerts on the road! School districts and/or individual schools who are interested in hosting an Education Concert should contact Julia-Ellen Davis, Education Engagement Coordinator, JuliaEllen@colourofmusic.org for pricing and booking information.
Educational Partners
Allegro Charter School • Charleston Development Academy • Chicora School of Communications • James Simons Elementary • Mary Ford Elementary • Sanders Clyde Creative Arts School • Cross Elementary School • St. Stephen Middle School
OBJECTIVE
The mission of Make Music Count is to increase elementary and secondary students’ mathematical skill development through piano playing and reducing their math anxiety. By incorporating music into each lesson, students become engaged through music while simultaneously learning mathematical concepts. Each lesson is based on learning musical notes in a song. Each note is derived through a mathematical equation that varies from addition and subtraction to algebraic equations. Therefore, solving math equations leads directly to playing the piano, and a more positive attitude towards math.
How Children Benefit from Music Education in Schools
Children who study music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than their peers who do not participate in music lessons.
— Arete Music Academy. “Statistical benefits of music in education.”
Schools that have music programs have an attendance rate of 93.3% compared to 84.9% in schools without music programs.
— The National Association for Music Education. “Music Makes the Grade.”