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More on Belinda Reynolds’s Manifesto: Where Art Thou Composition in Music Ed?
Those who know music education, know that for many years research has indicated that creative music making, meaning composition and improvisation, is taught at a distinctly lower frequency than other types of musical activities not centered in musical creation, but instead interpretation. So, as a a follow-up to Belinda Reynolds’s Manifesto, I thought it would…
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The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Ten
Click here for Part Nine Five American Pieces At this midpoint of the program, we perform the pieces written by the ‘Bridge’ students of New York City for their Young Composing friends of Venezuela. Isaac Draper: From New York to Venezuela. Immediately apparent is the driving rhythmic theme, closely chromatic with intensive percussion, giving way…
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The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Nine
Click here for Part Eight We enter the children’s world: Michelle Hernández: The youngest composer, at age eight, has written for her original “dream’ assignment” a story so touching and symbolic of the whole, that we have her read it to the audience: Cuento Sobre la Música tells of the magic power of music to…
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The Thomas Edison of Music Education and Composition: Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Eight
Click here for Part Seven Caracas, 17 de Abril As we gather the huge mound of music paper bequeathed to us by these children, I feel that we have been gifted with a beyond-precious trove of artistic diamonds, and that we have on our hands a task of near-impossible dimensions. The mood of celebration lasts…
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Guest Arts Education Blogger, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Six
Click here for Part Five Caracas, 13 de Abril, 2010 Having been so blown away by the rehearsal of the Simón Bolívar orchestra the previous Friday (see Part Three), and totally involved with planning these Young Composer classes, one might excuse me if attending the concert of the Mahler 7th Symphony this Tuesday evening would…
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Guest Arts Education Blogger, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Five
Click here for Part Four Caracas, April 13 Another day of wonders and the unpredictable. Today, Diana Arismendi, head of El Taller de Escritura Creativa, the Center for Creative Writing, and a prominent Venezuelan composer, returns from Puerto Rico to help us organize our efforts. I need her to feel that our program of starting…
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Guest Arts Education Blogger, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part Three
Click here for Part Two Caracas, April 9-10, 2010 The excitement builds. Also the nerves. Have you ever noticed how, when you travel to a completely new environment, all emotions are magnified? The joys are expansive, the fears are bottomless, each event rings clear, vibrates with color. I feel I should go to bed wearing…
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Guest Blogger, Jon Deak: Creating Music with El Sistema, Part One
I am really, really, really! pleased to bring to you one of my very favorite artists: the composer, bassist, and educator extraordinaire: Jon Deak. Jon has offered to provide a guest blog on Dewey 21C about his trip to Venezuela, as artist in residence with El Sistema, which considering all the attention it has gotten…