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 current 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.


Applications for It's Elementary will open in January 2024 for the following school year.


TESTIMONIALS:

“Our experience with the Santa Rosa Symphony's "It's Elementary!" program has been remarkable. Our students had consistent and varied access to a genre of music that they most-likely have not had access to before! Opportunities to explore the musical arts is a gift that was given to our students. They learned to listen to music selections, learn about composers and history, and experience live music. These opportunities have opened doors for our students in the areas of art appreciation, social-emotional learning, audience decorum, and more. I would recommend this program to any and all educators!”
   – Margaret Jacobson, Principal, Taylor Mountain Elementary School

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 bring your card from the email confirmation to the concert (either on your phone or printed out).

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. The Symphony provides limited reimbursement of bussing costs to these concerts for It's Elementary 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:
 

Rotary Club of Santa Rosa East West
Active 20-30 Healdsburg #205