UPCOMING SOUND LEARNING EVENTS

Arts education has proven vital not only for its own sake, but also as a key to enhance intellectual development, physical wellness and improved academic achievement. Schools with strong arts programs reap important benefits such as increased student motivation, improved attendance, increased graduation rates and enhanced development of creativity and problem-solving ability.

In response to the research evidence that the arts make a difference in student learning, The ASO, Georgia State University's Center for Educational Partnerships in Music, Fulton County Schools and Atlanta Public Schools implemented Sound Learning, an innovative, integrated arts education program. This program is the recipient of an A+ Partnership Award from the Atlanta Public Schools and was included in a Harvard University Project Zero study titled The Quality of Qualities: Excellence in Arts Education and How to Achieve It.

2007-2008 marks the ninth year of the Sound Learning program. This program enhances core curriculum study and expands learning opportunities through the infusion of music into all subject areas. Sound Learning allows students, teachers and musicians to explore the connection between music and the general curriculum, utilizing ASO artist residencies and music curriculum materials developed by the ASO's Education Department.

The program is operating in four local schools during the school year 2006-2007: Centennial Place Elementary and Drew Charter School in the Atlanta Public Schools; Clairemont Elementary in the Decatur City Schools, and Fernbank Elementary in DeKalb County. Approximately 1000 children and 60 teachers (classroom teachers and music specialists) are benefiting from Sound Learning in the 2006-2007 school year.

In the 2007-2008 school year, we will explore classical music from around the world. All people make music. Every country has its own ideas about how music should sound. A World of Music explores how the elements of music are used by composers imitate the folk instruments of other countries and create a sound unique to that country.

The Sound Learning program has been awarded a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and hopes to expand into more schools in the coming years. For further information about this effective and exciting program, contact Susan Merritt Vice President for the ASO Learning Community at 404.733.5037 or Dr. David Myers, Director of the GSU Center for Educational Partnerships in Music at 404-651-1721.

Sound Learning Program Funded By:

MetLife Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts