Most people will probably agree that this new “normal” of social-distancing and working or learning from home has required us all to find new ways to stay motivated and socially engaged. Music students across Greater Houston are accustomed to learning music in a social environment, with encouragement from their peers in school ensembles, so music educators are getting creative in their approach to keeping their students engaged virtually.
These virtual interactions play a significant role in keeping students focused, productive, and engaged in music-making while working independently at home. We at the Houston Symphony are excited to work with Cy-Fair ISD educators to make these opportunities possible for students in their virtual summer orchestra camp this coming week.
“We are so fortunate in Cypress-Fairbanks to have access to the great musicians from the Houston Symphony” says Mary Running, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD director of fine arts. “The music students of CFISD have benefitted immensely through the years by masterclasses and performance opportunities that the symphony has provided for our students. We look forward to the skill and excitement that these professional musicians will bring to the music that our students are learning next week in our All-State camp.”
In this video, Community-Embedded Musicians David Connor, double bass, and Rainel Joubert, violin, discuss their excitement about working with the students attending the Cy-Fair summer orchestra camp, while also sharing their passion for continuing to make music together themselves despite the new challenges we all face with social-distancing. They will also perform a special piece just for the students!
—Allison Conlan, Director of Education
