In Saturday’s (10/20) Muncie Star Press (Indiana), Michelle Kinsey writes, “The Muncie Symphony Orchestra is not waiting for future musicians to come to them. They are taking the music to where they are—in schools, libraries and community centers. ‘We want to expose them to as much music as possible in a variety of settings,’ said Alena McKenzie, executive director of the orchestra.… The symphony began its Music On the Move program several years ago, but McKenzie said the program has never been more important. ‘We have more requests now than we can accommodate,’ she said.… Parent Miranda Tucker said her daughter began taking violin lessons after seeing a Music On the Move program at the Muncie Children’s Museum. ‘It’s one thing to hear the music on the radio or even see it on TV,’ Taylor said. ‘It’s quite another to see it up close and personal.’… [Dave] Helms [from the Muncie Music Center] said it’s important to try to get kids involved in music between fourth and seventh grade…. McKenzie sees all of its student outreach programs as ‘stepping stones.’ ‘You don’t want to plunge them into something unknown,’ she said. ‘Starting small with an ensemble, then adding some of the school programs … it builds their relationship with the music world in small steps.’ ”
Posted October 22, 2012
