Below are last week’s events in Chris’ words.

Johannes Moser poses with some AMP Students

Last Tuesday was an exciting Valentines Day for the students at the Atlanta Music Project – cellist Johannes Moser came to visit our Gilbert House site! Mr. Moser was kind and generous enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to perform for and work with AMP kids. As he was in Atlanta to perform Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, he performed selections from the concerto:

The kids were wowed and so was I! It was incredible to be in the presence of such a talented and generous musician. After his presentation, Johannes was able to work in a lesson setting with my AMP cello students.

Johannes teaches AMP cellists Shaniya and Wonderful

There was even an impromptu duet with Kailah Corney and Mr. Moser during Kailah’s lesson:

I had a moment to discuss cello technique with Mr. Moser. One of the things I noticed during his performance for the students was that his right hand (bow hand) was extremely lose – to the point where his ring finger and pinky were no longer on the bow! Johannes explained to me that in order to play the fast spiccato passages from the second movement of the Elgar, he needs to have an extremely loose and relaxed bow hand. Having those fingers off of the bow help give the grip some additional flexibility and allows him to play at an extremely fast tempo. Looks like it’s back to the practice room for me!

Chris sets up his student Kailah Corney for her lesson with Johannes Moser.

Finally, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was able to provide my cello students and their families tickets to see Mr. Moser perform with the orchestra on Sunday. The AMP kids were extremely excited and couldn’t wait can’t for the performance!

Mr. Moser posing with AMP cellist Wonderful, after his Elgar Cello Concert to performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Thanks to the ASO and Johannes for working with us here at AMP – we won’t forget your visit!

Johannes Moser poses in his new AMP T-Shirt with Atlanta Music Project Executive Director, Dantes Rameau (L) and Cello Teaching Artist, Chris Thibdeau (R)

From Dantes:

Thank you the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for setting up Mr. Moser’s visit to AMP and for the concert tickets, to the Gilbert House staff for their assistance and to Chris Thibdeau for this guest blog post. Finally, a special thank you  to Johannes Moser for reaching out to the Atlanta Music Project to come spend time with our students.  A technology-savvy musician, Mr. Moser posted a video of his trip to the Gilbert House on his YouTube channel which you can see here!

A big moment for AMP! On January 30, 2012 Atlanta Music Project Choral Teaching Artist, Aisha Bowden and Atlanta Music Project Executive Director, Dantes Rameau, had the honor of both meeting Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu at the same time at the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s El Sistema Symposium, “Take A Stand.” The symposium attracted over 300 leaders, artists and teachers from El Sistema-inspired programs from around the world. Maestro Abreu, founder of Venezuela’s El Sistema (on which the Atlanta Music Project is modeled), was thrilled to learn of the Atlanta Music Project’s progress, stating “You can count on me [for my support]” as Aisha and Dantes offered him the Atlanta Music Project t-shirt and medallion, the same combination that AMP students wear for their performances.We stand on the shoulders of a giant.
Gracias, Maestro!

Katz Foundation Awards AMP $50,000

We are proud to announce that the Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation has awarded the Atlanta Music Project a grant for $50,000 for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. This grant marks the second year running that the Katz Foundation has supported the Atlanta Music Project. The Atlanta Music Project wishes to thank the Katz Foundation for their ongoing support of our mission of inspiring social change through music.

AMP Orchestra and Choir Perform at The Dream Art Contest

On February 4, 2012, the Atlanta Music Project Orchestra and Choir from our Gilbert House site took the stage to perform for a crowd of 500, including dignitaries such as Honorable Congressman John Lewis and Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Erroll Davis. The occasion was The Dream Art Contest Gala Award Ceremony, celebrating the winners of a city-wide art contest – “Visions of the Civil Rights Movement and America Today” – for Atlanta’s youth. The AMP Choir performed one selection, while the AMP Orchestra performed two selections, including a rendition of We Shall Overcome, arranged and conducted by AMP Trombone Teaching Artist, Marc Boehm. Click on the video above to watch! Special thanks to Richard Karz of Karz Productions for inviting AMP to perform and to our colleagues at the Gilbert House for the video footage and their support.

AMP Welcomes Three New Board Members

We are thrilled to announce the addition of three talented and accomplished individuals to the roster of our board of directors. Desiree Scales, who studied vocal performance in college, is Founder and CEO of Bella Web Design, Inc. Jim Williams, a native of Chicago and life-long music aficionado, is Founder and CEO of M.O.R.E. Computer Supplies. Peggy Still Johnson, singer, composer, arranger and successful businesswoman is Founder of the Peggy Still Johnson School of Music. To Peggy, Desiree and Jim: welcome to AMP!
Click here to learn more about our new board members.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Musicians Visit AMP

In January, several musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra visited our Gilbert House site to perform and coach our students. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s visiting musicians were: Christina Smith, Principal Flute; Thomas Hooten, Principal Trumpet; Karin Bliznik, Associate Principal Trumpet; Richard Deane, Horn; Nathan Zgonc, Second Trombone; Michael Moore, Principal Tuba and last but not least, Christopher Rex, Principal Cello. Thank you to these wonderful musicians for volunteering the time and services to be with our students.

AMP Student Spotlight!

Kiara Barber

Name: Kiara Barber
Grade: 4
Instrument: Cello (started October 2011)
AMP Site: Coan Recreation Center
Favorite Musician:
Jessica Kornhoff (her AMP Cello Teacher)
Favorite Piece of Music:
Old Mac Fiddle (She’ll perform it on March 2)
What I Like Best About AMP:
Singing and playing my instrument

AMP Announces Next Three Concerts

AMP invites businesses to become concert sponsors.
Click here for levels and perks!

Friday March 2, 2012 at 7:00pm:
The Atlanta Music Project at Coan Recreation Center students perform at the Coan Recreation Center.
SPONSOR THIS CONCERT!

Saturday March 3, 2012 at 2:00pm:
The Atlanta Music Project at Gilbert House students perform at the Emory University Center For Ethics. A photo exhibit by AMP Photographer, Carlton Mackey, will be unveiled following this performance.
SPONSOR THIS CONCERT!

Saturday May 19, 2012 at 2:00pm:
The Atlanta Music Project wraps up the 2011-2012 school-year in style, combining the students from our Coan Recreation Center and Gilbert House sites for one, mega, end-of-year concert! Special guests and surprises to be announced soon!
SPONSOR THIS CONCERT!

Not that game changers are rare these days.  About 2 weeks into the fellowship, Stanford Thomson told us “this program will change you”.  Before I had even left Atlanta, Dantes Rameau told me how the program would change me.  Even my oldest brother, far removed from the world of El Sistema, recognized that I would be a different person after my time in Boston.  Boy – were they right! Only halfway into the program, I have had unexpected growth as an activist, educator and musician.  That is why it is absolutely essential that I pause and post my thoughts tonight. I know that even 24 hours from now, my eyes will have been opened once again and I will see the Sistema in a new way. This symposium, next week in LA, will bring together the entire Sistema family – from 20 states and 10 countries. I feel change in the air and already I like it.  But before I go “Sistema crazy” in LA, which, at this point is a guarantee, I must pay tribute to some groundbreaking game changers that I’ve experienced since my last post.

Fall Internships were long ago, but still important! I compiled my thoughts into this cute video…

MICS – Music In Charter Schools

The fellows went on “tour” December 15-16 in Philadephia -serving as guest clinicians at Play On, Philly and the annual “Music In Charter Schools’ Festival. I served as alto section leader, seminar leader with Stephanie and choir director along with Alysia for MICS. See the choir pic below. The video here shows students sharing what they gained from our seminar on embracing the music within you. As always, I learned more from these courageous students than they did from me. Embrace the weird!

The New England Conservatory African American Roots Ensemble (AARE)

I have to tell a story to accompany this video. I randomly met a student named Kim who shared with me that NEC would soon start a Black Student Union. Naturally, I was intrigued, and was happy that the next time I ran into Kim was the day of the BSU’s very first meeting. During the meeting, there were several references to a rehearsal afterwards – for an ensemble featuring the artistic contributions of Black Americans. Stephanie, David and I definitely had a deadline to meet that night, but couldn’t resist “stopping by” for “just 3 minutes”. Well, we walked in and sat down in the back, and before we knew it we were proud members of the AARE. This ensemble was an answer to prayer! It gave me just the outlet I needed (I miss SINGING), not to mention befriending some incredible NEC students and gaining invaluable knowledge from our director, Nedelka Prescod. The moments that were shared during those intimate Tuesday rehearsals will forever be with me. So thank you, AARE, for welcoming us into your space…here’s a clip from our culminating performance.

And if you liked that, here’s another. Shout out to “Tie Tuesday” Rob jamming on bass

Until next time…

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s visiting musicians were: Thomas Hooten, Principal Trumpet; Karin Bliznik, Associate Principal Trumpet; Richard Deane, Horn; Nathan Zgonc, Second Trombone; Michael Moore, Principal Tuba and last but not least, Christopher Rex, Principal Cello. Check out their bios to see the caliber of musician that our Atlanta Music Project students got to interact with!

The day started off with the Atlanta Symphony Brass musicians performing several brass quintet pieces. Additionally, Principal Cellist, Christopher Rex,  performed a couple of movements from a Bach Cello Suite. Our students loved every minute of the musicians’ playing.

Musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's brass section perform brass quintet pieces for the students at the Atlanta Music Project's Gilbert House.

Following the performances and a question and answer period with our students, the Atlanta Symphony musicians worked with the Atlanta Music Project students that played their instrument:

ASO Principal Cellist, Christopher Rex, works with Atlanta Music Project cello students at the Gilbert House

From L to R: AMP cello student Wonderful, ASO Principal Cellist Christopher Rex, AMP cello student Kailah

Atlanta Music Project trombone student, Jeffrey Epps, poses with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Trombonist, Nathan Zgonc (left) and Atlanta Music Project Trombone Teaching Artist, Marc Boehm (right).

From L to R: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Associate Principal Trumpet, Karin Bliznik; Atlanta Music Project substitute Teaching Artist, Derrick Montgomery; AMP trumpet students Daniela and Darrius; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet, Thomas Hooten

Thank you to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and their musicians for coming out to the Gilbert House to spend time with the Atlanta Music Project students!

1. Atlanta Music Project first public concert ever on February 10, 2011 at the Museum Bar. Attended by close to 150 family members and supporters, the students from AMP’s Gilbert House site bring the crowd to their feet (and to tears) with performances on their instruments and as a choir. AMP students sing World’s Greatest at Museum Bar.

First AMP public concert at Museum Bar. Photo by Carlton Mackey. www.mytruevision.com

2. AMP Choral Teaching Artist, Aisha Bowden, gets accepted into the Abreu Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory. A result of Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu (founder of Venezuela’s El Sistema) winning the 2009 TED Prize, the Abreu Fellows Program is a post-graduate fellowship that trains gifted young musicians and music educators in non-profit management and the philosophies of El Sistema. The fellowship includes of a residency in Venezuela to study El Sistema. NEC Press Release about 2012 Abreu Fellows.

AMP Choral Teaching Artist and 2012 Abreu Fellow, Aisha Bowden. Photo by Carlton Mackey. www.mytruevision.com

3. Atlanta Music Project Spring Concert at the W Atlanta Midtown. AMP students perform brilliantly for a crowd 200. Several students of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestras of Atlanta performed with our students of music mentors and Councilmember Kwanza Hall awarded AMP a Proclamation on behalf of the Atlanta City Council.AMP article about 2011 Spring Concert. AMP video summary of 2011 Spring Concert, courtesy of Reve Productions.

AMP Flute Teaching Artist list the AMP Orchestra at W Atlanta Midtown. Photo by Carlton Mackey. www.mytruevision.com

4. AMP partners with City Of Atlanta’s “Camp Best Friends” for summer program. We were fortunate to be able to keep AMP classes going through the summer months at the Office Of Cultural Affairs’ Gilbert House. Students received three hours of music instruction daily, along with regular camp activities such as swimming, outdoor games, field trips and arts and craft. The classes ended with a summer concert at the Gilbert House.

Camille Russel Love, Director of the Office Of Cultural Affairs addresses the audience before the start of AMP's 2011 End Of Summer Concert at the Gilbert House. Photo by Carlton Mackey. www.mytruevision.com

5. Coca-Cola Foundation awards Atlanta Music Project $50,000. AMP is chosen as a recipient of a grant from Coke, notably, in the category of Education and Youth Development (instead of the usual Arts and Culture). Coca-Cola press release about grantees.

6. The Atlanta community responds to AMP’s 2011 Instrument Donation Drive. Throughout the summer, AMP receives over 60 music instrument donations from the general public. The drive leads to AMP being featured on WSB-TV, WABE 90.1 and to the Artmore Hotel and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra launching a cocktail event in support of AMP. Ron Sachs Violins and Carrere Music also chipped in for instrument appraisals and repairs. Thank you ATL!

7. Atlanta Music Project at Gilbert House African Drum and Dance Residency. Sponsored by the Woodruff Arts Center Enterprise Education and featuring Master Drummer Weedie Braimah and guest Teaching Artists Christian Poret and Mark Poret, AMP students spend four weeks learning African Drum and Dance. The residency culminates in a pulsating performance at the Gilbert House. Watch a video of the AMP students getting down on African drums.

African Drum and Dance concert. Photo by Carlton Mackey. www.mytruevision.com

8. Atlanta Music Project launches second site in Edgewood neighborhood. The second site hosts a strings-only at the City of Atlanta’s Coan Recreation Center. The Zeist Foundation, Inc. is a major funder for this location.

AMP Violin Teaching Artist, Elizabeth Oladele, shows a new AMP at Coan Recreation Center student how to hold a violin. Photo by Carlton Mackey. www.mytruevision.com

9. Atlanta Music Project Teaching Artists perform at TEDxPeachtree 2011. The performance of three chamber ensembles brought the audience to their feet. Click here to watch the entire performance.

AMP Clarinet Teaching Artist, Bryan Crumpler, performs at TEDxPeachtree 2011. Photo courtesy of TEDxPeachtree.

10. Atlanta Music Project students Chantania Shackelford and Kailah Corney perform and are featured in media. Kailah Corney and her parents Deadra and Khalid were featured on CBS Atlanta’s Peachtree TV, while Chantania Shackelford performed solo for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and was featured in an article for the Huffington Post.

Kristi Wooten writes about AMP for the Huffington Post

11. Atlanta Music Project students perform 2011 Holiday Concerts. Our Gilbert House students had the honor of performing at the Woodruff Arts Center while our Coan Recreation Center students performed admirably at the Coan Rec Center. Bravi to all our wonderful students, Teaching Artists, Music Mentors and partners.

AMP at Coan Rec Center students at their holiday concert.

AMP Choral Teaching Artist, Grant Harville, leads the AMP at Gilbert House students at their Woodruff Arts Center Holiday Concert. Photo by Carlton Mackey. www.mytruevision.com

Wishing you all a fantastic 2012!

Dantes

I’m very proud of our Coan Rec Center students for the work they’ve done this semester. They will be presenting their progress in public for the first time this coming Thursday December 15 at 7:00pm at the Coan Rec Center. I hope you join us! See concert details here.

Here are some pictures and videos to show you what’s been happening at the Atlanta Music Project’s Coan Recreation site. Enjoy!

As per usual, we always introduce our students to music and ensemble through African Drum and Dance. Above and below you can see the students performing their African Drum and Dance concert in September 2011, after only three weeks of rehearsals.

Following the African Drum and Dance we held instrument petting zoos so the students could try all of the string instruments. In the picture above AMP Teaching Artists, Dr. Bill Johnston and Jessica Kornhoff, present the viola and cello to some anxious students.

Jessica Kornhoff,  AMP Cello Teaching Artist, gives a student her first try at the cello during our instrument petting zoo.

The same AMP student as above, now tries out the viola with Dr. Bill Johnston, AMP Viola Teaching Artist. She eventually chose the cello.

In the picture above, Elizabeth Oladele, AMP’s Violin Teaching Artist at Coan Rec Center, teaches one of her very first violin group lessons.

Along with the group lessons, AMP holds musicianship classes where our students learn to read notation and rhythms. This helps facilitate the learning procress on their instruments. In the video below, one of our bass students claps a rhythm:

Katrina Roman, AMP Double Bass Teaching Artist works on posture and positioning with one of her beginner students.

In the above video, two of our bass students rehearse their part to Good King Wenceslas, which they will be performing as a string ensemble at their Holiday Concert this coming Thursday December 15.

Here at the Atlanta Music Project we are very big on mentorship and peer-to-peer learning. We believe these two elements help develop a sense of empowerment and ownership of the program amongst the participants.

In the picture above, AMP Music Mentor and rising high school junior Elijah Kirkland-Andrews, works with an AMP viola student.

In the picture below, which I love, we have one of our older students, teaching one of our brand new students her very first violin lesson. I love this picture because we have young people, safe and off the streets at one of the city rec centers. The older student has been busy learning the violin, so much so, that she is able to teach the basics to a new student. Together they will be performing this Thursday December 15 on a Holiday Concert. This is social change, AMP’s mission, coming to fruition right before our very eyes.

In this video above, students work on note reading and rhythm with xylophones. Led by AMP Musicianship Teaching Artist, James Dekle, they will be demonstrating the skills they acquired at their Holiday Concert this Thursday December 15 at the Coan Recreation Center.

Yesterday some of our Coan Rec Center students performed a couple of choir pieces at Atlanta City Hall! Here they are above, led by AMP Choral Teaching Artist James Dekle.

See you at the AMP@Coan Rec Center Holiday Concert this Thursday December 15, 2011!

“Given the reduction of music resources in many Atlanta Public Schools — particularly at the elementary school level — I felt that Atlanta needed a program that gives children the emotional and social foundation to not only learn a musical instrument, but to improve academically,” Meyers tells me in a recent interview.

After a little research and rallying of corporate colleagues for funding, Meyers hooked up with Dantes Rameau, an award-winning Canadian bassoonist (and alum of The Yale School of Music and the New England Conservatory, to name a few) who studied El Sistema in Venezuela as a member of the Abreu Fellows Program. Together, the two co-founded and launched the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) in October, 2010.

Atlanta Music Project student Chantania Shackelford (right) during a performance at Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center. Photo by Carlton Mackey. Photo courtesy of AMP.

“Just like a high school football team can galvanize a small town, our youth orchestras are galvanizing the areas that we’re serving,” Rameau, now AMP’s Executive Director, says of his organization’s after-school youth orchestra and choir programs, which serve dozens of kids in Atlanta’s Edgewood and Perkerson neighborhoods.

“We believe all children are musical, so we don’t hold entrance auditions or require students to have any musical experience,” Meyers adds. “The only thing required for a student to be in AMP is a commitment to attend all classes.”

This intensity and dedication to 5-days-per-week instruction – along with being mentored by world-renowned teaching artists and learning in a group setting – are AMP and El Sistema’s most effective methods, says Rameau: “Our students receive a minimum of 10 hours of classes each week. We want them to be safe and off the streets during after-school hours, but we also want them to feel ownership of the program and develop strong music performance ability and life skills.”

For one student, AMP has done just that.

“My daughter is slowly breaking out of her shy and timid shell”, says Beverly Shackelford, whose daughter Chantania, age 9, has been with AMP since its inception. “I have noticed a change in the way that I play my violin. It’s like I can feel the music and that makes me play it better. I really enjoy going to different places and performing,” Chantania says of AMP’s recent presentations at prestigious local venues such as Philips Arena, Woodruff Arts Center, and the W Hotel Atlanta Midtown.

“For the kids, they always tell me that the best part of the performing is the recognition and applause from the audience afterwards,” Rameau tells me. “For this reason, I believe it’s very important for us all to give all kids the opportunity to be great – and to let them know that we’re rooting for them.”

As AMP’s Board Chair, Meyers says he looks forward to documenting the program’s continued successful outcomes, which will be critical to sustaining funding from existing and new corporate and philanthropic foundations.

As for his own music instruction, Meyers says music lessons as a boy not only fostered his creativity but also helped him with the discipline and focus he needed to excel as a successful high school and college athlete: “It taught me how to make a commitment to something that would provide me with the tools to do whatever I wanted in life.”

Rameau is also thankful for the opportunities music afforded him (including attending top schools and performing great repertoire all over the world), but mostly for “the opportunity to pass the benefits of music on to the next generation” through his work with AMP.

As for Chantania and her fellow students, this Thanksgiving, there’s only one thing on their minds: perfecting Gioachino Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” for their upcoming holiday concerts.

“I am thankful that my grandmother is home from the hospital and she will be able to come to the holiday concerts to hear me play my violin. She said she always wanted to learn how to play, but she was never able. I get excited about playing holiday music, too, because I know that Christmas is on the way, “ says Chantania.

POST CREDIT:
Read original article Found on the huffingtonpost.com website.
Written by: Kristi Wooten
Photography by: Carlton Mackey