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From concerts and classroom visits by musicians, masterclasses and chamber ensemble performances – JCPS and all private, parochial, homeschool, and other schools in districts across Kentuckiana are invited to participate in Louisville Orchestra MakingMUSIC education programs.
If you have questions or are interested in scheduling an experience for your students, please contact the LO Education team or call 502.585.9417.
Scroll down for teaching resources and classroom activities.
JCPS Elementary Schools: Through a partnership with the district, the LO provides MakingMUSIC program services to all 4th and 5th grade students at no additional cost. Contact the LO if you have questions about your participation during the 2024-25 school year.
Non-JCPS schools: The MakingMUSIC program is available as a membership at a cost of $1,400 per school. Member schools receive a bundle of services at a discounted rate. Contact the LO Education team to discuss options.
MAKINGMUSIC CONCERT
The LO’s education concerts introduce 4th and 5th grade students to the full symphony experience. The program features a diverse repertoire, guest artists, and student performers – including students for the LO Conducting School! Learn more
Audience: Grades 4-5 | Cost: $8 per student/chaperone)
During the 2024-25 school year, JCPS elementary schools K-Z receive complimentary admission and transportation to a MakingMUSIC concert (grades 4-5 only).
MAKINGMUSIC MUSICIAN CLASSROOM VISITS
Individual musicians visit classrooms to play their instrument, demonstrate musical concepts, discuss their background, and participate in a Q&A. Learn more
Audience: Grades K-5 | Cost: $275
During the 2024-25 school year, JCPS elementary schools A-J receive a complimentary musician visit for grades 4-5.
MAKINGMUSIC ENSEMBLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCES
Small chamber ensembles present programs designed to expose students to a variety of instrumental music and themes, demonstrate different musical concepts, and familiarize them with the instruments of the orchestra. Learn more
Audience: Grades 3-6 | Cost: $1,200
ONCE UPON AN ORCHESTRA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
Small chamber ensembles present 20-minute interactive storytelling-through-music performances – playing music and narrating the text from favorite children’s books. With a focus on music and general/early literacy education, these performances are perfect for your school’s youngest students or PTA-sponsored cross-generation family events.
Audience: Family, Grades pre-K–3 | Cost: $800
COFFEE CONCERTS: DISCOUNT TICKETS
From Ravel’s Piano Concerto, the dramatic storytelling of Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite, and premieres and commissioned works by contemporary composers, LO Coffee Concerts are presented on select Fridays at 11am at The Kentucky Center and allow middle/high school students to enjoy a sampling of music from the LO Classics Series. A study guide is provided for each performance.
Audience: Grades 6–12 | Cost: $12 per student/chaperone
MUSICIAN-LED MASTERCLASSES & SECTIONALS
Individual LO musicians lead 1-hour masterclasses or sectionals with middle/high school band or orchestra students at all levels. Experience is customizable and musicians can cover selected repertoire and demonstrate a range of exercises and techniques. Great for preparing students for upcoming competitions and auditions!
Audience: Grades 6–12 | Cost: $300
LO CONDUCTING SCHOOL: CONDUCTOR MASTERCLASSES
LO Music Director Teddy Abrams and guest conductors are available to lead a limited number of masterclasses with middle and high school music students. To discuss options and availability, please contact the LO Education team.
JCPS/LO YOUNG COMPOSERS PROGRAM
Through a series of weekly workshops in spring 2025, JCPS students participating in the LO Young Composers Program will work with 2022-23 LO Creators Corps composer and teaching artist Dr. Tyler Taylor to learn the fundamentals of composing orchestral music. Participants who already have experience composing or an understanding of music theory will grow as artists and composers!
Over the course of the program, students will write their own short compositions with instruction and feedback from Tyler and LO musicians. These musicians will perform excerpts of their works at a MakingMUSIC education concert in March 2025, and will perform their full compositions at another public recital. Program info will be shared in fall 2024.
LO RAP SCHOOL
The LO is proud to partner with Hip-Hop Based Education organization, Hip-Hop N2 Learning (HHN2L) for the LO Rap School. Participating students work with social justice educators, hip-hop artists, and musicians to create their own rap lyrics that they perform with the full orchestra at the LO’s annual MakingMUSIC education concerts. This program provides students the opportunity to re-imagine artistic performance through the process of creating, producing, and performing music that promotes social justice and community activism.
To learn more about HH2LN and the Rap School program, visit HHN2L.org.
YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
The Association of the Louisville Orchestra, Inc. (ALO) invites young musicians (grades 5-12) to compete for cash awards and for the opportunity to perform as soloists with the Louisville Orchestra. Learn more
Teaching resources & classroom activities
“In Harmony” Tour educational activities
The LO’s “In Harmony” Tour is a two-year musical journey that began in May of 2023 to bring orchestra musicians to dozens of communities across the state of Kentucky. In addition to free, public concerts, the tour allows LO musicians and staff to explore the arts through musical and educational collaborations with local musicians, artists, schools, and community organizations.
The LO partnered with teachers to develop instructional educational activities to work in conjunction with, and separate from, musician visits associated with the tour. Check out our elementary lesson plans and resources for middle and high school students – including an overview of education and career opportunities in music and the arts!
And check out the MakingMUSIC education concert filmed in March 2023 for educators across the state! View concert
If you have questions about this content or would like to schedule a musician visit as part of the LO’s “In Harmony” Tour, please contact Elizabeth Etienne, LO State Community Partnerships Manager.
PBL UNIT: PLANNING A CONCERT
This student-led project guides 4th and 5th grade students through the process of producing a concert –from programming and marketing, to performing and documenting. Written for small student groups, this unit is an excellent opportunity for JCPS students develop artifacts for their digital backpack of success skills.
This unit also provides an opportunity to collaborate with other teachers within your school: general education, visual/performing arts and/or media/STEAM. It can also be be scaled up for a larger performance or adapted for other grade levels.
LANDFILL ORCHESTRA
TURN TRASH INTO MUSIC! Students are encouraged to use recycled materials to create musical instruments. For inspiration in creating your own classroom Landfill Orchestra, check out a few LO musicians’ instrument-building demos and guides for creating instruments with easy to find recycled, food and other craft materials.