MYA’s Community Enrichment Program consists of three initiatives: the Adopt a School Program, the MYA Music in the Schools Day, and the newly developed Chamber Music Project. The goal behind these three arms of outreach is to foster a positive relationship with schools in the Chicago metropolitan area by offering a unique and enriching musical experience for students.
Adopt a School Program:
Musical success takes supportive parents or a network of people who encourage excellence and discipline, private lessons with teachers who can advance the student to the next level of playing, access to a quality instrument, and transportation to programs that are advanced beyond what students may have access to in their schools. With this in mind, MYA is in a unique position to provide assistance to teachers and music departments as well as to students who are passionate about music. This is accomplished through removing financial barriers for participation in MYA ensembles by being able to securing instruments and scholarships for private study. Adopt a School Program targets students from schools in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Music in the Schools Day:
On February 18, 2005, MYA participated in the first Music in the Schools Day. Ten MYA student ensembles traveled to 4 Waukegan Public Elementary Schools (Carman-Buckner Elementary School, Cooke Magnet School, Glenwood Elementary School, and Lyon Magnet School) and presented 2-3 programs lasting 2-3 hours in length. Each program consisted of a performance, an instrument demonstration, and a question and answer segment.
MYA has done similar programs in the Chicago Public Schools and in the Waukegan Public Schools.
Chamber Music Project:
The Chamber Music Project
is an 8-week program that involves student participation in a chamber
ensemble. Led by one of MYA’s accomplished chamber music coaches, the program is designed to assist current and existing school music
programs and their music teachers/directors by providing additional small
ensemble instruction and exposure to small ensemble playing and singing.
During the 8-week project an MYA coach will visit a participating school at a time that is convenient for both the students and coach for 1 to 2 hour period each week. Additional enrichment opportunities will be available to all music students and the school in its entirety (i.e. MYA student ensemble performances). The project culminates with a final concert of all participating ensembles.
If your school is interested in participating in one of the programs listed above, please contact mya@mya.org.
