What is Music Partners?
Music Partners brings weekly, intensive music instruction to students who otherwise would not have music as part of their day. Music Partners programs include recorder ensemble, music and movement, choir, string ensemble, and band. In recent years, the program has expanded to include teacher training, both to provide professional development to current Department of Education music teachers and to help develop new teachers and address the severe shortage of music teachers in the New York City public schools.
Our Outreach Programs
MUSIC IN SCHOOLS
Music Partners has been offering creative and energetic group music classes at New York City schools for more than 30 years. Music classes can run both during the school day and after school, and include PreK – 2nd grade Early Childhood Music and Movement, as well as a broad menu of programs for 3rd – 12th grade, including recorder, ukulele, guitar, bucket drumming, band, strings, chorus, percussion of the Americas and West Africa, film scoring and songwriting.
MUSIC IN SENIOR CENTERS
Singing in a choir, learning (or relearning!) to play an instrument, developing the skills to translate your memories, stories and emotions into song — participants in our Music Partners programs at community centers around NYC can experience all of these joy-producing and health improving activities.
MUSIC IN CHILDCARE CENTERS
Music Partners offers early childhood music programs at daycare centers throughout NYC. Our developmentally sensitive program integrates singing, movement, instrumental play, body percussion, speech, poetry and drama. Our very popular and always growing song repertoire includes games, chants and dances from the diverse cultures that make up our city.
Outreach Map
For more than 125 years, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music has served our community by cultivating musical opportunities. We reach more than 7,000 students and clients through our community outreach programs, which provide music education and music therapy programs at 80 partner sites across all five boroughs, including public schools, homeless shelters, senior centers, and other community and faith-based organizations, empowering students with tools and experiences unique to BKCM.
Interested in bringing a Music Partners class to your school?
Contact our Program Director, Dorothy Savitch, to learn more!
Music Partners Classes
Early Childhood – 2nd Grade
Our program integrates singing, movement, instrumental play, body percussion, speech, poetry and drama. Children play pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments and experience the basic principles of ensemble playing. The children recognize written notation combined into rhythmic patterns.
Our very popular song repertoire includes games, chants and dances from the diverse cultures that make up our city. Listening, producing a sensitive tone, maintaining a steady beat, starting and stopping together are concepts that are positively reinforced by our devoted team of early childhood music specialists.
Recorder Program
A highlight for the third-grader is learning the recorder. At this age, children are prepared developmentally to undertake the challenges that go into playing the recorder. Learning proper fingering technique, breath control and basic notes allows students to play solos, duets and canons on the recorder.
Band
Our program invites 4th-graders and up to choose flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or percussion study and hand drumming. Throughout the year, students learn to read notes and rhythms, develop good posture, breath support, and ensemble skills.
We introduce students to popular repertoire and styles from the many diverse cultures of our city and the world. Beginning students work in individual instrumental groups while they achieve a basic proficiency on their instrument. After several weeks of practice, students are also given the opportunity to combine with the other instrumental sections to broaden their listening and ensemble skills.
Strings
For ages 7 and up. Students can study violin, viola or cello, learning the basics of technique, rhythm and note reading skills, intonation, tone control, and ensemble.
Chorus
Students sing, learning breath support, articulation, good vocal habits, part singing, and ensemble skills. Repertoire may include popular, jazz, and classical music.
West African Drumming
Students learn traditional West African repertoire on the Djembe and the Songba drums and sing songs as they learn about the culture from various regions. Students practice basic hand rhythms, drum etiquette, technique, form, style and improvisation.
Guitar
Students will learn the fundamentals of guitar performance, including chord shapes, strumming patterns, reading chord diagrams and following lead sheets. Repertoire includes both accompanying singing with the guitar and playing individual parts within a guitar ensemble
Ukulele
For ages 8 and up. Ukulele has increased in popularity in recent years due to its small size that makes it ideal for young musicians and provides an easy and satisfying entrance into the world of music. Students will learn how to accompany themselves singing a wide variety of songs while developing musicianship skills such as rhythm and group performance.
Interested in bringing a Music Partners class to your school?
Contact our program director below to learn more!