Education West Michigan Symphony and The Block offer a host of programs that address access to arts learning and education. Music and the arts furnish young people with important skills they need to better navigate through life. These include creative thinking, problem solving, motivation, and collaboration—traits that boost both academic performance and employability. WMS education programs impact toddlers through young adults and are provided free or at very low cost to ensure access to all. These combined programs reach over 5,000 area youth in more than 50 schools. All WMS education programs offer needs-based scholarships so no child is denied an opportunity to participate simply because they cannot afford tuition. Grants are actively sought throughout the year and this funding allows the WMS to bring a selection of their music education programs to local schools, community events and nonprofit organizations. CLICK CLACK MOOSIC Created by WMS, Click Clack Moosic is a four-concert storybook series for young children and their families. Based on books by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin, Click Clack Moosic features original music composed for the series by Phil Popham. Children attending these events, held at The Block, meet WMS musicians, view instruments up close, and learn new music skills through fun and interactive skits. In these performances, children listen to a narration of one of the Click Clack Moo series of books while symphony musicians perform music composed specifically for the Click Clack stories. All four Click Clack stories give children a fun way to learn musical concepts and experience how music can tell a great story. (Please see schedule on p. 10) DEBUT AND PREMIER STRINGS Debut Strings introduces beginning and intermediate students to large ensemble performance through challenging and diverse repertoire. Students in Debut Strings have at least two years of playing experience and strong note reading skills. Debut Strings rehearses once a week throughout the fall and spring and performs two concerts annually at The Block. Premier Strings is an ensemble made up of intermediate to advanced string players who are part of the Debut Strings program. Premier String members have the opportunity to perform on stage with the West Michigan Symphony at the spring Link Up concerts. For those string players who are looking to challenge their abilities and experience additional performance opportunities, this is THE group! Both ensembles are led by Angela Corbin, Orchestra Director at North Muskegon Public Schools. Corbin earned her Master’s in Music Education from Michigan State University and has studied violin with Minghuan Xu at Grand Valley State University. As a private and class music instructor for over fifteen years, teaching music through string instruction has been one of Angela’s deepest passions.
52 WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY SEASON MAGAZINE
