|
Vivaldi Project
A Pedagogical Training Program Providing Practical and Community Experience for Performance Degree Students
Idea
A Vivaldi Project combines teacher training for aspiring instrumental professionals with community outreach to disadvantaged children. It has the following goals:
- Teach Instrumental Pedagogy to University music students in the high school, college, and post-graduate programs
- Supervise a Teaching Internship for these students within a community music school, where they will teach individual and group instrumental instruction to children
- Provide the community with a quality program of music instruction for disadvantaged children.
Philosophy
Early musical instruction is essential for successful instrumental training and for encouraging a love of music. Thus the Project is directed at children of kindergarten age, between four and seven years of age, and particularly to children who have not had previous exposure to opportunities of this kind. Working with children from disadvantaged environments encourages in aspiring musicians social commitment and artistic involvement between University music students and community care-givers and educational organizations and institutions. The Project presently achieves its goals through instruction in string instruments, using the violin as the most effective instrument for young children. An early beginning with this instrument provides a significant advantage. However, the Project can accommodate many other instruments. Pedagogical skill is a desirable attribute in every professional musician and contributes to the development of other musical skills.
Implementation
- The teacher training program occurs over a period of two years and will be staffed by University staff, lecturers, and the artist-in-residence.
- University music students in the training program will receive classes in basic instrumental teaching methods specialized for their own instrument. They will also receive instruction in early childhood development and in the proven music pedagogical methods for children.
- Each student teacher will be assigned two to three children who will receive weekly individual lessons, taking place either on campus, at the Community School, or in day care facilities for children from disadvantage environments. These lessons will be observed and supervised.
- Group instruction is an integral part of the educational plan for both the students and the children. Group instruction for the children will take place at regular six week intervals, being led by student teachers under the guidance of professional staff.
- In addition to basic instrumental instruction, lessons will include training in ensemble playing, rhythmic work, and improvisation.
- After completing the two year program, children showing interest and talent will be encouraged and supported to continue studying their instruments at a community music school.
- Student teachers will complete teaching qualifications required today by both school and orchestral positions.
- The Project will be promoted through brochures and advertisements sent to the target groups, personal outreach to community groups, and a presence on the Websites of the university, collaborating partners, and sponsors.
Experience, History, Partners and Structure
The original Vivaldi Project was founded by Ida Bieler, Professor of Violin and chamber Music at the Robert Schumann University of Music, Duesseldorf, Germany. She and two assistants currently staff the current program.
In this program, nine student teachers have graduated with Pedagogy Certification; three immediately received positions in music schools in Germany, including in the C. Schumann Music School. Twenty-five children were accepted into the program from sixty applicants. Seventeen children have graduated from the program and are continuing to study music at the C. Schumann Music School. The Project has received Germany’s “Ideen fuer die Bildungsrepublik”-Prize in 2011.
The program has been a collaborative, involving many partners, including:
- The Robert Schumann University of Music Duesseldorf, providing staff, pedagogic expertise and lectures, student teachers, facilities, and achievement recognition
- The Clara Schumann Music School, providing instruments, and acceptance of Vivaldi Project children for further study
- The Education and Social Services Department of the city of Duesseldorf, providing contacts to schools and care centers for underprivileged children and financial support for transportation, music books, and operational expenses
- The BHF-Bank Duesseldorf, the “Duesseldorfer Weißfraecke” society, donating scholarships for the continuing musical study of gifted children
The Project is inspired by and bears the name of the great composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi. Vivaldi was actively involved with the “Ospedale della pieta,” an orphanage for girls in Venice, Italy, from 1703 to 1716. Antonio Vivaldi was the first to offer musical instruction to girls and founded a children’s orchestra that became famous far beyond the gates of Venice.
|