Education
The Ojai Music Festival’s BRAVO Education and Community Programs are committed to fostering the next generation of musicians and artists. Through its student music education workshops, internship opportunities, symposia sessions, and community performances, the Festival is passionate about providing music education to all ages. (photo by Cindy Pitou Burton)
BRAVO in Schools
For over 30 years, BRAVO has been enhancing the existing public school music curriculum by offering interdisciplinary music lessons. Our goal is to help make music an integral, enjoyable, and exciting part of the everyday learning process while providing critical music education opportunities for Ojai Valley students.BRAVO believes that a robust music education is vitally important for all students. Through BRAVO programs, students learn the fundamentals of music making, engage in creative problem solving, develop teamwork skills, and discover how music relates to their other core curriculum, especially language arts, history, geography, and math. The BRAVO program enriches students’ foundational skills for academic and personal success.
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
At the core of the BRAVO program is its artist residencies. These multi-unit programs encourage musicians and teachers to work cooperatively to promote meaningful learning through reinforcement and mentoring. Artists residencies include:
EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC
Education Through Music (ETM) integrates vocal music lessons with critical thinking games to teach the fundamentals of pitch and rhythm. Through weekly music workshops, ETM improves students’ pattern recognition, social skills, and teamwork abilities. ETM is offered to every K-3 student in the Ojai Valley, including selected special-needs classes. The program ensures that young students continue to have access to music education by replacing the once-standard music classes that have since disappeared from public school curricula.
MUSIC VAN
BRAVO’s Music Van brings instruments from all orchestral families to third grade classrooms throughout Ojai and two Ventura schools for hands-on demonstrations and exploration. Staffed by dedicated Festival volunteers and Women’s Committee members, the Music Van is timed to grant students the opportunity to try instruments before signing up for the district band program. Special thanks for Music Van supplier the Santa Barbara Symphony Music Education Center.
IMAGINE CONCERT
Every year, the IMAGINE concert introduces young students to peer and professional musicians, and to give musicians of different ages the opportunity to make music together.
The Festival’s BRAVO music education program is made possible by many generous donors and welcomes your support. For more information on BRAVO, please contact the Festival office at 805 646 2094 or [email protected].
Special thanks to the CA Arts Council for their support of BRAVO!’s Artist Residencies
Bravo in the Community
Community Connections
Bravo’s Upbeat program brings joyful music to an additional segment of the Ojai community, at the Continuing Care Center, The Gables Senior Living, and the Arc Ojai Enrichment Center. Storyteller Joann Yabrof brings delightful stories and song to residents. Speech Pathologist Kathy Broesamle sings and moves with clients. Cameron Schubert plays classical and celtic cello, and performs several of his original compositions. Julie Tumamait reaches out to the elders in the spirit of Chumash traditional songs and dances. And Elijah Imlay plays middle eastern and klezmer-inspired clarinet music. These experiences provide the opportunity to take part in collaborative music-making and musical expression.
Additional community outreach includes:
- Free concerts and lectures during Festival weekend
- Free performances during the Festival at nontraditional venues
- Free and discounted Festival tickets for students
- Festival preview events that allow the public behind-the-scenes access to Festival planning and programming
- Music Van demonstrations at community events such as Ojai Day
For more information, contact the Festival office at 805 646 2094 or [email protected].