Making Music in Kitchigami 2011
1). Making Music: Bemidji Symphony Orchestra tour
Thirteen musicians from the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, under music director Beverly Everett, presented a concert in each of our branch library communities. The program was the original orchestration of Copland’s Appalachian Spring and a new composition by young Minnesota composer Joseph Adams, Quiet Landscape. Before each of the concerts Ms. Everett held a workshop on the origins of both pieces of music. Joseph Adams was able to be at four of the workshops/concerts to meet the public and talk about the art of musical composition. Ms. Everett introduced each piece at the concerts with educational material about the music and the composers.
2). Making Music: Todd Green – multi-instrumentalist
Tod Green introduced people to world instruments and world music, and the use of current technology for improvisation.
3). Making Music: Northwind Crossing
Northwind Crossing is a northern Minnesota Irish music band, which also utilizes some non-traditional instruments. Their usual concert format of song and music was customized to include workshop material on traditional Irish instruments and famous Irish folk composers.
4). Making Music: Minnesota Percussion Trio: Clips,claps and clunk!
This innovative trio of professional percussionists presented a program on percussion instruments using unusual instruments made of found objects, paper, or homemade technology. The program purpose was to demonstrate through modeling the role of music in our everyday lives and its accessibility to anyone with creativity.
Measurable Outcomes may be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, pre-test/post-test, observations; Describe proposed end user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status.1). Making Music: Bemidji Symphony Orchestra tourSurvey respondents will indicate that they learned something about classical music and its connection to place.Survey respondents will indicate that the concert increased their exposure to Minnesota composers.Workshop respondents will indicate that they better understand the inspiration for the music presented.2). Making Music: Todd Green – multi-instrumentalist3). Making Music: Northwind Crossing4). Making Music: Minnesota Percussion Trio: Clips,claps and clunk!
1). Making Music: Bemidji Symphony Orchestra tourThe majority of respondents had not attended this type of concert in their community. For the majority of respondents, this was their first exposure to new classical music composed in Minnesota. The majority of respondents for the workshop indicated that they had learned about the origin for the Quiet Landscape piece. For the four concerts attended by composer Joseph Adams, the overwhelming majority indicated that they had never met a living composer.2). Making Music: Todd Green - multi-instrumentalistAlthough opinions on this program were more divided, some of this is the large proportion of students who attended a program. The outcomes of introducing people to world instruments and world music, and the use of current technology for improvisation were strongly met. 75% of attendees remarked on the new and different instruments that they experienced, middle- eastern sounds and the technology. 3). Making Music: Northwind CrossingThe response to these concerts was overwhelmingly positive. People had a wonderful experience of Irish music. More than 90 % of respondents in all locations gave it strongly agree ratings for expectations, family appropriate, and enhancing their knowledge of Irish music and its growth in Minnesota. More than 75% said that they would recommend the program to other people and that it increased their awareness of their libraries as a place to experience cultural heritage programming.4). Making Music: Minnesota Percussion Trio: Clips,claps and clunk!A large majority of attendees found the program met their expectations: only 20% indicated that it did not. The majority of attendees felt that the program was meaningful for people of all ages, but the majority of these agreed but did not strongly agree. 3% disagreed; comments indicated that it was a better program for children, but not very young children. 95% of attendees indicated that the program enhanced their knowledge of percussion instruments and expanded their idea of the role of percussion in music.