Honolulu – The Honolulu Symphony today announced an innovative new music education pilot program, the Music Acceleration Program (MAP), to expand the Symphony’s music literacy programs in Hawai‘i’s schools. The first school selected to participate in the 2008-2009 school year is Nānākuli Elementary School, where all fourth, fifth and sixth grade students – more than 190 children – now have access to regular music lessons with Symphony staff and musicians. MAP strives to improve the Symphony’s service to outlying and historically underserved communities, while increasing the frequency of educational services for each individual child.
 
As part of MAP, each student will have the opportunity to learn how to play the recorder and read music in classes taught by Honolulu Symphony education staff, including Norma F. Chun and Dr. Jon Magnussen. Symphony musicians will teach in the classroom as “Symphony Mentors,” and will offer personalized instruction to strengthen each child’s listening skills as they nurture their enthusiasm for learning. The new program also introduces children to five different Symphony Ensembles: String Quartet, Wind Quintet, Brass Quintet, Percussion Trio, and Mixed Ensemble with Harp.
 
“Here in Hawai‘i, where we enjoy a wealth of musical traditions and cultural influences, it is crucial that new generations have the chance to share this legacy by learning the fundamentals of music – and that is the foundation of the Symphony’s music education program,” said Tom Gulick, Executive Director, Honolulu Symphony. “We are honored to work with the educators of Nānākuli Elementary School as Honolulu Symphony staff and musicians bring new educational opportunities to Nānākuli students.”
 
“Music education is an essential component of each child’s academic, cognitive and social development,” said Dr. Jon Magnussen, director of education and community outreach, Honolulu Symphony. “The goal of MAP is to give each child the high-quality teaching and mentoring that makes a lasting and positive impact in a young person’s growth.”
 
Nānākuli Elementary School has not participated in Symphony programs in past years. Among the criteria for its selection for the program was the existence of a full-time Music Specialist at the school, Mr. Ben Cavato, which puts the school in a position to continue the work and the Symphony partnership in future years.
 
Magnussen said, "The collaborative response from Principal Wendy Takahashi and her staff, especially Curriculum Coordinator Kalaukieleula Hergenrader, has been very positive.  This has made it possible for the Symphony to bring this new opportunity to the children of Nanakuli Elementary."
 
The MAP curriculum, which has been adapted from The Weill Music Institute of Carnegie Hall’s Communities LinkUP! Program, gives students a deeper understanding of music, including listening, playing and reading. Following a review at end of the school year, MAP will expand to schools in outlying and historically underserved areas.
 
As a culminating event of MAP, Nānākuli students will perform with the full orchestra at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on April 29, 2009. Works on the program will include Hawai‘i Pono‘i, an arrangement of melodies by the late Nona Beamer, Kahuli Aku, Pupu Hinuhinu, and Simple Gifts (as featured in Copland’s Appalachian Spring).
 
Riely Francis, one of the participating Honolulu Symphony musicians, adds, “Outreach to public schools is crucial everywhere, but especially in the underserved neighborhoods of our island community.  There shouldn’t be a monopoly on youthful talent, curiosity, and potential.  We owe it to ourselves to invest in that potential.  Equal access to the finest educational resources, like those that the Symphony provides, is an important step toward economic justice for all of O‘ahu’s children.”