JAMM's Youngest Teaching Assistants Give New Students a Boost

 JAMM's youngest teaching assistants help new students learn how to play the violin during the first month of school.

Over 150 students have signed up for JAMM's after-school club at Glacier Valley! Twenty-five of those students are new to Glacier Valley or the JAMM program. These photos document a peer-mentoring program that acted as an intensive Beginning Violin class to give new students a boost, while making friends in their new school. What made it such a success? JAMM students in Grades 3 and 4 signed-up to be "Teaching Assistants" for these beginning students. I hope the pictures below capture the pride, community, and relationship-building that occurred during those lessons.

TED Animated Film: How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain

Thank You, JAMM 2013 - 2014 Sponsors!

Thanks to the support of the Juneau Community, JAMM will be 500 strong next year.

The entire JAMM family would like to thank the following individuals, organizations, and businesses for their generous contributions. Without their support, JAMM would not be able to expand its programming to more kids.  Next year, JAMM will reach over 500 students district-wide! 

2013-2014 JAMM SPONSORS

$2,500 and Above

Alaska State Council on the Arts

Classics for Kids Foundation

Douglas-Dornan Foundation

Great Blue Heron Fund

Juneau Community Foundation

Machamer Foundation

Northern Light United Church

Rasmuson Foundation

$1,000 - $2,499

Duane Callahan

DeeAnn and Michael Grummett

Holland America Line

Ron and Kathy Maas

Dr. William Palmer

United Way of Southeast Alaska

$500 - $999

James Bibb

Mandy and Anthony Mallott

Full Circle Music

NorthWind Architects

Linda Rosenthal

Lynn Williams

$250 - $499

Stephanie Allison

Julie Moe

Sally Smith

$100 - $249

Annie Calkins and Dave Hunsaker

Lorraine Heagy

IBEW Local 1547

Peter and Mary Katzenstein

Philanthropy Northwest

Jetta Whittaker

$50 - $99

Jane and Peter Brye

David & Stephanie Means

Kevin Ridges

Kalei and Gina Wery

JAMM and the Juneau Community

JAMM after-school students stand with the Attacca Quartet.

Public performance and community outreach are important elements of JAMM's program.  From playing in the school hallways to concerts on stage, students begin to see performing in the community as a natural part of their musical life.  This 2013-2014 school, JAMM performed nearly twenty concerts in the school and community, including the Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities, the Juneau World Affairs Council, the Juneau Community Foundation Annual Event, the Nugget Mall, the Philanthropy Northwest Conference, and the University of Alaska Southeast's Community Day. 

Rebecca Ricker and Meghan Johnson stand proudly with JAMM 1st graders from Auke Bay and Riverbend Elementary Schools.

Here are some other highlights:

Juneau Jazz and Classics:  The Attacca Quartet (see photo above) sponsored by Juneau Jazz and Classics performed at all three JAMM schools.  JAMM@Glacier Valley was thrilled to have the Attacca Quartet visit them after-school where JAMM students performed for the quartet and then the quartet for JAMM students and families.  There was mutual admiration between both groups!

University of Alaska Southeast Honors Program:  David Miller, a violinist and student at UAS, chose JAMM as his Community Service project for his honors program.  David volunteered 40 hours of service by working closely with JAMM's in-school classes of kindergartners and first graders. We hope to see David again next year!

David Miller poses with Mrs. Sigler's kindergarten Class.

Many JAMM students participated in Tlingit Dance and Drumming, which performed at this year's Celebration.  In the photo below, the students performed for Glacier Valley in their full regalia under the direction of Hans Chester and Glenda Lindley. 

Glacier Valley's Tlingit Dance and Drummers

President of New England Conservatory Visits JAMM

Representatives from JAMM's 3rd Grade Program at Glacier Valley Stand with Tony Woodcock and Principal Ted Wilson at KTOO Studio.

Tony Woodock, President of the New England Conservatory (NEC) in Boston, visited Juneau to see Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) in action.  NEC is the music conservatory that helped train fifty musicians passionate for music as a vehicle for social change.  Tony presented at a Juneau World Affairs Council event and shared JAMM's role in the globacl music education movement called El Sistema.  JAMM students were thrilled to open and close the show with live music, which aired on 360 North on June 20th.  Tony was impressed with JAMM's programming and size, as well as the joy, commitment, and discipline the students demonstrated throughout his stay.  Thank you, Tony and Viriginia Woodock, for visiting our beautiful community of Juneau!

JAMM 3rd Grade Orchestra Stand with Tony and Virginia Woodcock After Their Rehearsal

A Milestone: All Fifty Sistema Fellows Graduate

Celebrating the graduation of the final class of Sistema Fellows at New England Conservatory

It's hard to believe that nearly five years ago I started this blog to document my experiences as one of ten musicians selected to help realize Dr. Abreu's TED Prize wish of training fifty musicians passionate for music as social change.  This May, the last class of Sistema Fellows graduated from New England Conservatory marking the realization of Dr. Abreu's wish.  To celebrate this milestone, many Sistema Fellows attended the graduation and symposium that followed where we shared successes, lessons learned and ideas for sustaining our work in Sistema initiatives all across the country.  I was honored to attend and share how my training at the New England Conservatory prepared me for the work I am doing in Juneau through JAMM:  Juneau Alaska Music Matters.

Even though the New England Conservatory no longer will offer the training program, they have committed to investing in its fifty graduated Sistema Fellows through professional development and networking.  TED has maintained an Abreu's Wish Blog to document, share, and update its community on the status of Dr. Abreu's wish:  the Sistema Fellows program.  JAMM was featured in one of its postings.  

JAMM Selected as a Collaborating Site for National Evaluation Project

Map of El Sistema Programs in the United States

WolfBrown Associates and Longy School of Music of Bard College have selected JAMM as a Collaborating Site for the National Collaborative Evaluation of Sistema-inspired Music Education.  This project will collaborate with experienced educators to develop 1) an understanding of the conditions under which Sistema-inspired programs have positive effects, 2) the assets that Sistema programs identify and build in children and families, and 3) the effects these assets have on key outcomes usch as achievement and pro-social behaviors.  As a collaborating site, JAMM will have access to the resources, as well as guidance in using evaluation strategies.  For more information on the project:  A National Collaborative Evaluation of Sistema-inspired Music Education.

Performing for the Community: 130-Member Orchestra Strong!

JAMM Students Perform for the Juneau Community (Photographer:  Michael Penn, Juneau Empire)

Over 130 first through third graders at Glacier Valley performed for the Juneau community on April 17th - our biggest orchestra yet!  As part of the program, JAMM students served as ambassadors and greeted guests at the door.  All kindergartner and first graders at Glacier Valley receive JAMM violin and Math in Motion lessons through specialist and classroom teacher teaming.

1st graders demonstrate their math skills using stability balls and drumsticks (Photographer:  Michael Penn)

Math in Motion is part of Academic Beats, a drumming program created to increase heart rate and give children a kinesthetic approach to math.  Susie Denton, Glacier Valley's physical education teacher, has brought this program to Glacier Valley and as you can see by the photos, the kids love it!  JAMM is a school readiness program that uses the experience of playing an instrument to help students learn how to work together as a team, experience success through daily practice, find learning purposeful through community performances, and understand that effort and resiliency helps them overcome life's challenges.  Here is the Juneau Empire article detailing the event:  The Littlest Big Band.  Thank you, Katie Moritz, for covering the event and Michael Penn for taking these beautiful photos. 

Lorrie Heagy asks the cello section to join the JAMM orchestra in a bow (Photographer:  Michael Penn)

Sistema Fellows from the New England Conservatory Intern at JAMM

Sistema Fellow, Hana Morford, works with Jemima during Rock Band

Two of this year's ten El Sistema Fellows from the New England Conservatory (NEC) interned at JAMM for one month.  Hana Morford (violist) and Megan Moran (violinist) chose JAMM among Sistema initiatives worldwide because of its reputation in best teaching practices.  Hana and Megan worked with our young string players and modeled strategies to encourage improvisation.  Juneau's musical community also benefited from having these exceptional musicians in town for one month.  Megan played in the pit for Floyd Dryden's musical, West Side Story, and both Hana and Megan performed with the Juneau Symphony.  Ladies, thank you for giving so much of your time and talent to our Juneau community.

Megan Moran works with a 2nd grade general music class.

A truly Alaskan experience for Hana and Megan:  Staying up for the Northern Lights!

Performing with the Juneau Student Symphony

Mr. Xia plays alongside Tahila and Ruby at the Juneau Student Symphony concert (Photo: Alfie Price)

JAMM partners with the Juneau Student Symphony and performed two concerts dedicate to Music in the Movies.  One was held at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center and the other in the Glacier Valley gym.  Third graders performed Rigoletto, Ode to Joy, and Shortnin' Bread alongside this multi-generational community orchestra.  As audience members, our young musicians were inspired byt the orchestra's performances of Star Wars, Star Trek and Jurassic Park and piano soloist, Kyle Farley-Robinson.  In preparation for the concert, the Thunder Mountain High School Orchestra visited Glacier Valley and performed for us.  Thank you, Tyree Pini and the Juneau Symphony, for continuing this wonderful partnership with JAMM! 

All eyes are focused on the music as JAMM students perform with the Juneau Student Symphony (Photo: Alfie Price)

Kyle Farley-Robinson, the Juneau Symphony Youth Solo Competition Winner (Photo: Alfie Price).

Tyree Pini and the Thunder Mountain High School Orchestra perform for JAMM students.

Dance Machine International Partners with JAMM

Ricci Adan of Dance Machine International works with JAMM students after-school.

Ricci Adan, Artistic Director, has brought her Broadway training to JAMM's after-school program and will join us again next year.  Members of Dance Machine International performed for our students and inspired us all.Ricci's mission is to pass the torch of Musical Theatre knowledge to the next generation.  Ricci is a dancer and choreographer specializing in preserving the great work of dance masters like De Mille, Kidd, Fosse, and Cole. 

Ricci's work centers on passing their legacy on to the next generation by teaching the vocabulary of the dance through the decades and sharing reconstructed works with students of all ages.  Ricci has been impressed with our JAMM students, which according to her "are like sponges who are so eager to learn."  We are thrilled to have Ricci return for the coming school year to work with our students again.  Thank you, Ricci!