Arts Learning
ACHF Arts Education
325 Minneapolis public school string students will receive coaching and mentorship from the professional musicians and educators of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra. 3,700 audience members will be entertained and inspired by student performances prepared by Kids Play coaching. The students will increase their technical skills on their individual instruments, public school instrumental ensembles will perform with increased precision and musicality, and student musicians and Pops Orchestra professionals will play a high-quality, inspiring concert at Lake Harriet in July. Evaluation includes counting attendance at coaching sessions and concerts, collecting evaluation questionnaires from students, Pops Orchestra coaches, and school teachers, and collecting anecdotal responses from audience.
School-year Kids Play served all students enrolled in band and orchestra at South High School, and in orchestra at Southwest High School. Participants, coaches, and audience were as outlined in the proposal. Southwest High School orchestra received 40 hours of sectional coaching sessions for strings. Two Southwest High School orchestras received a total of 20 hours of string instrument coaching, and 3 bands received a total of 16 hours for woodwinds and brass. Summer Kids Play reached our intended participants, although not as many as we had hoped for. 12 coaches worked with 22 students last summer for 3 sectionals and a full student orchestra rehearsal. Diversity in both School-year and Summer Kids Play reflected the diversity in the school ensembles. South High School Orchestra: 2 orchestras, 24 and 28 students each. Minority students served included 7 Hispanic, 4 African American, 3 Asian, 1 Native American. South High School Bands: Wind Ensemble (45 students, 40 white, 5 African American or Asian), Symphonic Band (40 students, 34 white, 6 Asian or African American), Concert Band (39 students, 29 white, 10 Asian or African American). Southwest High School Orchestra: 60 students, including 5 African American, 10 Asian. The basic goals for openness and accessibility were met. However, it was difficult to meet our enrollment goals for Summer Kids Play. As the orchestra director at Southwest High School said, “Honestly, I don’t see how the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra could work better because I have LOVED the way we do it at Southwest. I’d love to get more of our kids going to the summer orchestra opportunity but both transportation and getting kids to commit to the rehearsals is tough with other camps and work.” In 2017 Summer Kids Play enrollment increased to 32 students (not within this granting period); we will continue to work on increased enrollment for 2018. 236 students enrolled in band and orchestra at South and Southwest High Schools participated in coaching sessions held throughout the school year. 22 students received sectional coaching and performed in Summer Kids Play in 2016. Students and teachers reported that students increased their technical and musical skill levels, as well as their overall enjoyment in musical performance.
Other, local or private