YourClassical MPR: Class Notes Program

Even in Minnesota, where we have a vibrant performing arts culture, we cannot take for granted access to great music in daily life and as a fundamental part of our education system. As a regional and national leader in classical music programming, YourClassical MPR helps connect students to high-quality music experiences.
The Class Notes program is the flagship music education program produced by MPR and reaches more than 25,000 students annually as well as employing Minnesota musicians to deliver the program. The Minnesota artists who participate in the program represent the breadth of talent in the state of Minnesota with over 50% of them being female and/or BIPOC. By raising appreciation of classical and contemporary music in students' primary years, we are helping to grow the next generation of audiences to enjoy Minnesota music.

Class Notes artists are a mix of traditional Classical and musicians from different disciplines who partner with YourClassical MPR to provide free in-school concerts and residencies in K-12 schools across the state, supported by MPR-created curricula. The program is available at no charge to participating schools and the curricula is posted on YourClassical's website for use, free of charge, by anyone.

Because Class Notes partners with different schools each year all over the state, we are always reaching new audiences. Nearly every county in Minnesota has been visited by the Class Notes program. We make a special effort to reach both rural schools and those that have significant student populations who receive free or reduced cost lunch and have a greater ethnic diversity than the state average. Class Notes staff work directly with teachers to arrange school visits, either in-person or through live virtual experieces.

The pivots that Class Notes made to digital concerts and lessons as a result of Covid-19 made it possible for us to extend our audiences beyond students and teachers more directly to families. In addition to the traditional Class Notes in person residencies, we will continue to offer digital resources accessible across Minnesota and beyond at any time.