Music Comes To The San Diego
Schools
By: Patricia Hawke
Over the last decade, schools across the
nation have experienced the loss of music. The San Diego schools also had to
replace music in many of its schools with other curriculum dictated by the
state or federal law. The San Diego schools’ budget only stretches so far
and, unfortunately, the arts have felt the biggest hit.
Frank Glasson and the Presidio Brass are changing all of that for the San
Diego schools. A trumpet player by profession, Frank is also president of
Local 325 of the American Federation of Musicians and director of Presidio
Brass, a brass quintet. The veteran musician has performed with the San
Diego Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Opera, and San Diego’s Westwind
Brass, as well as ensembles in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Glasson saw that music was steadily disappearing from the San Diego schools
and wanted to do something about it. He believes that the constant influence
of television, movies, computers and CDs could erode the senses of youth to
the more refined music. He enlisted the help of the other members of
Presidio Brass — Ray Nowak, Mike McCoy, Sean Reusch, and Scott Sutherland,
who play the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba, respectively.
Working under the umbrella of the nonprofit San Dieguito Performing Arts
Association, Presidio Brass developed the “Musicate the Mind” program for
the San Diego schools. Musicate is an educational and musical outreach
program, developed specifically to fill the musical void in the schools.
With Glasson’s wife Robyn coordinating the events and developing contracts
with the San Diego schools, Presidio Brass presents various customized
programs for the different grade levels that fits any educational or
outreach school requirement.
Glasson and his ensemble want to create relationships with the San Diego
schools students, not just play music for them. Within that relationship, he
hopes the children will grow to appreciate live music and keep it alive by
becoming tomorrow’s supporters of live instrumental music. He plans to
eventually do 200 programs per year all over Southern California.
For kindergartners through fifth graders, Presidio Brass introduces the
brass instruments, their development, and historical context. The quintet
members also give some basic musical concepts in a fun and engaging manner.
For fourth and fifth graders, the ensemble can integrate music into the core
curriculum by teaching language arts, mathematics, social studies, and
science through the language of music.
For middle and high schoolers, they present their Residency-for-a-Day
program, which exposes San Diego schools students to the brass quintet. The
hope is to inspire students to promote and cultivate their own musical
abilities. Additionally, they want to give encouragement and instruction to
those already playing instruments, knowing that such support is crucial.
For high schools, Presidio Brass gives master classes and concerts for their
school orchestras and bands.
Though Glasson and the Presidio Brass quintet are in other school districts
as well, the San Diego schools and their students will benefit greatly from
this unique outreach musical program.
About The Author
Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth
reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for
research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more
information on San Diego schools visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/California/San-Diego/index.html
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