Understanding Cultures

The Program

Begun in 2000, Understanding Cultures teaches children to understand diverse cultures and communities – starting with their own. The program can take on many forms, depending on the needs of the site. We offer assembly workshops, short residencies that focus on a single culture’s music, multi-cultural residencies, and residencies that integrate the music curriculum with socio-emotional goals or state standards in social studies.

Curriculum

Resources to help teachers incorporate world music into the core curriculum include Putumayo Music's "World Playground," with teacher training manuals, world maps, Student Passports and CDs, in addition to our materials on specific cultures as well as assessment tools. All of these resources meet the guidelines set forth in The California State Frameworks.

Understanding Cultures residency subjects include:

• Chinese-American Music & Movement – Wilma Pang
• Afro-Peruvian Drumming & Movement – Juan Soto
• Making Music, Making Connections (multi-cultural) - Tracy Welsh

For other cultures, please call us 415-392-9010.

Testimonials

Dear Meg,

Thank you once more for the opportunities given to Buena Vista Elementary School by Music in Schools Today. By bringing your "Understanding Cultures Through Music" program to us, you have deeply enriched the musical experiences of our young students.

Tracy Welch continued to provide his deep knowledge and spirited instruction when teaching our Kindergarten and First Grade classes. The children and teachers thoroughly enjoyed him, and all learned a great deal about music and the way that music can bridge cultural differences. In a world that is becoming increasingly complex and increasingly smaller, this is truly a gift.

We are very grateful to you for your kindness in offering us these programs for free. We are, of course, a public school, with an emphasis on Spanish language immersion. Most of our children are of Latino heritage; over 65% qualify for free school lunch.

It is of great importance to all of us that you have given us access to a fine instructor and a wonderful curriculum. We simply could not have afforded the program otherwise. As you are doubtless aware, the current budget crisis has put us into even deeper quandary as to where to spend what little money we have. The children need so much in so many different areas of the arts that we could not even begin to address their needs without the kindness of organizations like yours.

We look forward to continuing our artistic collaboration with MuST. Please consider us whenever you have any further offerings, as we have greatly benefited from your fine program.