MORRISTOWN

In the fall of 1998 the Colonial Symphony entered into an "Orchestra in Residence" program with the district. This program began with programs provided at the grade levels requested by the teachers, and has continuously developed and expanded.

The Morristown programs are funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Chase Manhattan Bank, the Colonial Symphony Composer-in-Residence program, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Morris Education Foundation, and the Colonial Symphony basic operating budget.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

This program is designed to stimulate an interest in music and instruments. The first part is a "Meet The Orchestra" program for third graders. Three performing ensembles visit each of the three elementary schools to demonstrate the components of an orchestra, the characteristics of individual instruments, and basic elements of music.

In the second part of the program, fifth graders are bused to the Community Theatre in May to attend a "Young Person's Concert". The Colonial Symphony prepares three weeks of curriculum study to be used prior to the trip. The host for the concert is David Sampson, the Colonial Symphony Composer-in-Residence.

In the spring of 2004 a new element was added to the fifth-grade program: a poetry component. This is an innovative, interdisciplinary project that was wildly successful. Students were asked to compose their own poems for the animals included in Camille Saint-Saéns's Carnival of the Animals (the orchestral work featured in the program). Poems were selected equally from the four participating schools, and were used as a new narration for the work.

Yet another element was added by Chatham and Madison schools: art. Students were given the opportunity to create artworks that enhanced the experience, and some remarkable creations resulted - several were three-dimensional.

The result of this expanded program was a heightened appreciation for both the music and the synergy among art forms. This program is expected to continue to grow.

FRELINGHUYSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Colonial Symphony musicians provide workshops for students in the Frelinghuysen Middle School band and orchestra. Six to ten musicians (depending on funding), requested by the music staff, each give two workshops. The classes are designed as workshops instead of master classes, but as at the high school level, the workshops help instill discipline and expand the teachers' ability to develop students with the proper skills. This program has proved to be a crucial step in the development of the high school music program.

Frelinghuysen has two performing ensembles - one for the sixth grade and one for combined seventh and eighth grades, and Colonial Symphony musicians help the students prepare for their spring concert.

In addition, the new principal at Frelinghuysen has requested a visionary, afterschool mentoring program for disadvantaged students in the instrumental program, modeled on a similar program in math and science. This program is appealing to everyone, and we are currently working to find adequate funding for it.

MORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

In a program similar to that at Newark Arts High, Colonial Symphony musicians give master classes to students in the high school band and orchestra. This ensures that students will learn the fundamentals from professionals who really know the instrument, and will feel the excitement that comes from interaction with a professional musician. Ten musicians, requested by the staff, give two master classes each. This program ends in a Joint Concert, which is expanding each year as funds become available.