 | Kids Compose! -- co-sponsored by the Bloomington Community Arts Commission, Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana) Jacobs School of Music and the Community Chamber Music Association -- allows hundreds of schoolchildren between second and sixth grades from Monroe County to use their imagination to compose melodies. At one of the participating schools, St. Charles Boromeo School, IU composition students help the youngsters write the scores and later perform the winners' pieces at an orchestra concert or band performance for children, teachers and parents. |
| "The main delight in all of this is sitting in the auditorium with hundreds of kids who are mesmerized by the fact that they are hearing one of their friend's pieces on stage. I hope that's one of those experiences one never forgets," says Don Freund, professor of composition in the IU Jacobs School of Music. More than 200 melodies, each less than a minute in length, were submitted for the competition this year, reflecting a substantial increase in participation since last year's Kids Compose! kickoff. A total of nine Bloomington area schools and home-schooled children entered the competition in fall 2007. School teachers at St. Charles, who are "excited about any music project," find the competition valuable for both children's music education and their overall growth and development. They recall success stories of shy children who never thought they could compose, yet ended up writing melodies and becoming active in their music classes after working with IU composition students and participating in the competition. "It really develops a lot of self-confidence in students. We encourage them to keep a journal of all their melodies -- just like a written diary," says Kathy Gorr, a music teacher at St. Charles. "The children take pride in their melodies and IU students have been wonderful in working with them." "One of the parents said that ever since last year, her son is listening to every single noise outside. This project is sparking the creativity and interest in children, and they listen to music in a whole different way," says Debbi Ponella, artistic director of Stages Bloomington. Kids Compose! not only enables imagination, encourages creativity in children and allows IU composition students to practice their professional skills, but it also opens up a new world of music to the Bloomington community and a new kind of appreciation for it. "Composing music is a celebration of our humanity, and having it happen to young people, is probably one of the greatest gifts you can give," said Freund. The next performance of winners' pieces will take place in the Musical Arts Center at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 as part of a Jacobs School of Music outreach program that brings area students to musical and dance events. The IU Wind Ensemble will play four melodies composed by schoolchildren from second, fifth and sixth grades. Date: 10 a.m. March 5 (Wednesday), 2008 Location: Indiana University Musical Arts Center 1201 E. Third Street Bloomington, IN 47405-2200 |
| SOURCE: Kids Compose! Indiana University Jacobs School of Music News Room |
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