Education

P.O. Box 22872 Brooklyn, NY 11202-2872 917-373-2882 806 Esplanade Ave. New Orleans, LA 70116 504-251-1405 Fax: 504-525-6652

PROGRAM NARRATIVE: MANAGEMENT AND IMPACT The project proposed is comprised of a weeklong series of music education programs held in public schools of underserved communities. These programs are appropriate for students of all ages. The programs are followed by a weekending concert structured for the entire family. Conducted by the Brooklyn Repertory Ensemble (B.R.E.), the programs and concerts are designed to bring the highest quality art to underserved communities. The B.R.E. is a 17 member aggregation directed by innovative drummer, composer, arranger and educator, Wade Barnes. Mr. Barnes has developed these programs for over twenty years. This project enables the B.R.E. to share their formidable knowledge and talents. The ensemble spends a good part of each weekday in one of the area public schools. Each program in the public schools will be two-fold. The first aspect of the program includes a lecture, demonstration, audience participation as well as a question and answer period. This aspect of the program is geared for the general school population. It explains and demonstrates the evolution of Jazz over the twentieth century. This part of the program can range from forty-five minutes to two hours depending upon time constraints. During these workshops, the B.R.E. not only explains musical developments, but also some of the social forces contributing to the music’s esthetic. The ensemble chooses musical material from all eras including: traditional, swing, bebop and contemporary styles. The B.R.E. fashions arrangements that demonstrate the progression of the music in an entertaining as well as educational manner. Pre-workshop lesson plans are available for teachers. These lesson plans afford the opportunity to teach in a variety of modalities. Team-teaching the subject with an interdiscliplinary approach is a possibility. An interdisciplinary approach can give the students a more circumspect view of their cultural legacy. The second aspect of the public school experience results from the members of the B.R.E. spending additional time among students with musical backgrounds. Each member of the ensemble has a chance to converse, in a more immediate way, important aspects of theory, composition, instrumental technique, and band cohesion. This part of the program can also vary greatly depending upon time constraints. The concert, at the end of the week, provides the opportunity for the ensemble to share their unique and considerable talents with the general audience. This concert will also give time for some lectures, demonstrations, audience participation, question and answer periods. However, the focus of this concert will be to share as much as possible musical material from all eras of this great music. The concerts give each musician the chance to share with audiences their own particular musical point of view. After all, the music of America should demonstrate the way individual excellence contributes to group excellence. *Evaluation forms available for teachers. *For additional information contact: brooklyn4jazz@hotmail.com