The hills are alive
Submitted by jarah on Thu, 11/11/2004 - 10:59.
Big music issue this week! Unless you live under a rock (or somewhere other than Fresno, which is basically the same thing), you know that California's fourth-largest school district, Fresno Unified, is woefully inept and eliminated elementary school music this year. Middle schools and high schools still have funding, although if you start playing violin at 13 chances of progressing beyond "Mary Had a Little Lamb" are slim.
One of the few groups stepping up to fill this void is the Fresno Philharmonic, which goes to elementary schools to teach kids about classical music.
You may remember them from such fundraisers as Aaron Espinoza and Jason Lytle live at Tokyo.
Originally the program was designed to get fourth and fifth graders interested in picking up an instrument, since those are the grades when most kids begin studying music. Now it's the only exposure to orchestral music most kids will have. And that's it- an hour of looking at people play instruments. It's scary to think Fresno could become more of a cultural wasteland; the Phil needs your help.
We wouldn't want to be beaten by Visalia for the title of cultural capital of the Central Valley, would we? Aaron Gomes, aka Vernal Falls, is putting on amazing shows at a pizza parlor in Visalia. This week alone he's got Viva Voce and Sub Pop's Rogue Wave! Famous sat him down for an interview.
One of the few groups stepping up to fill this void is the Fresno Philharmonic, which goes to elementary schools to teach kids about classical music.
You may remember them from such fundraisers as Aaron Espinoza and Jason Lytle live at Tokyo.
Originally the program was designed to get fourth and fifth graders interested in picking up an instrument, since those are the grades when most kids begin studying music. Now it's the only exposure to orchestral music most kids will have. And that's it- an hour of looking at people play instruments. It's scary to think Fresno could become more of a cultural wasteland; the Phil needs your help.
We wouldn't want to be beaten by Visalia for the title of cultural capital of the Central Valley, would we? Aaron Gomes, aka Vernal Falls, is putting on amazing shows at a pizza parlor in Visalia. This week alone he's got Viva Voce and Sub Pop's Rogue Wave! Famous sat him down for an interview.
Advertisement
Post new comment