IT'S ELEMENTARY

The Santa Rosa Symphony Institute for Music Education, with innovation and imagination, continues to seek ways to engage young people with the healing power of music and music making. More than ever before, the Institute is dedicated to its mission to provide quality music education throughout Sonoma County, a mission that is vital to the health and well-being of our community.

It's Elementary continues to provide a two-year-long suite of music education opportunities and services to six deserving Sonoma County elementary schools, reaching over 2,600 students. A highlight of the program is visits to the schools from small ensembles of the Santa Rosa Symphony.

The It's Elementary music immersion program is designed to support the partner schools in their efforts to integrate music into their curricula as encouraged by the CA state Common Core practices.

Each school year, three new schools are selected to participate for two years free of charge. A total of six schools participate annually; three It's Elementary schools are in their first year and three are in their second year of the program. The designated campuses participate in on-site music education activities provided by the Santa Rosa Symphony.

Every student in participating schools will receive a free season pass admitting the student, with an adult, to all six Discovery rehearsals for the 2021-2022 season. Discovery rehearsals are at 2 PM on the Saturday of the Classical concert weekend. Dress is casual and no one under age seven is allowed. Discovery rehearsals are at Weill Hall at the Green Music Center. The Youth Discovery Card can also be used at all of the Youth Orchestra performances at Weill Hall.

The Youth Discovery Card (YDC) Application is available here. You must print the email confirmation upon submitting the application and bring it to the first concert you attend to receive your YDC card good for the rest of the season. 

Incentive: If the same teacher is listed on five applications, that teacher receives a voucher for two tickets to a Santa Rosa Symphony Classical Series concert!

UPDATE: The 2022-2023 It’s Elementary application is now available. Deadline to APPLY is February 28, 2022

It's Elementary sub-programs and activities include the following:

Elementary School Listening Program

Daily classical music listening kits are provided for classroom implementation. Musical selections of approximately five minutes in length can be played over a school's PA system or provided to teachers individually to use in their daily classroom activities. DETAILS
 

In-School Performances

Each participating school receives four 30-minute "Meet Our Families" assembly performances, which introduce the orchestra's instruments by section. Offered are a String Quintet, a Woodwind Quintet, a Brass Quintet and a Percussion Trio, consisting of SRS professional musicians. DETAILS
 

SRS Youth Ensembles Tour the Schools

One of the SRS Youth Ensembles performs at each It's Elementary school at an assembly in the spring.
 

Youth Discovery Cards

This program provides free access for community youth to the Symphony's Discovery Series rehearsals and all Youth Ensemble concerts. Parents can fill out an application here. You must print out the email confirmation and bring it to the first concert your student attends, where they will receive a Youth Discovery Card good for the rest of the season. 

To learn more about the Discovery Series, click here. 

Every student attending a current It’s Elementary school is eligible to receive a Youth Discovery Card. Parents can fill out an application here.
 

Free Concerts for Youth

SRS ensembles perform six concerts for young people annually at Weill Hall at the Green Music Center. We encourage schools participating in It's Elementary to attend these concerts. We hope to resume free busing to the Green Music Center in Spring 2022 for all IE schools. DETAILS
 

Curriculum Support and Professional Development

Opportunities for integrating music into regular classroom activities are available to teachers in the form of lesson plans or after-school workshops. Please contact the education department for more information on upcoming workshops at (707) 546-7097 x 225. DETAILS
 

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:
 

Syar Foundation
Rotary Club of Santa Rosa East West
Clover Sonoma
Safeway Foundation