Nearly
1500 fourth and fifth graders were treated to series of concerts by the
Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds, under the direction of Pierce
College Music Chair Steve Piazza. The children filled the theater of
the college’s Performing Arts Building for four concerts on January 22
and 23.
The 60-piece Symphonic Winds, with the assistance
of a $68,000 grant from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, put together
the entertaining and educational Children’s Concert Series to reach out
to the community and expose the children to the instruments and sounds
of wind orchestral music
Conductor Piazza started each concert by introducing the children to
the instruments, first naming and giving a demonstration of the brass
family -- trombone, trumpet, horn, euphonium and tuba -- and then the
woodwinds family -- piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinets, saxophones, and
bassoon
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Children called out the names of the instruments and later made musical
sounds and noises associated with them on cue under the direction of
Piazza. Budding “conductors” were invited up to lead the band on
closing numbers. Thirteen schools, both public and private,
participated in the series, enjoying original arrangements of a Disney
celebration, Fiesta music, and patriotic numbers including Liberty
Bell, When the Saints Come Marching In and Stars and Stripes Forever.
Included were a variety of musical pieces from Sousa marches to
traditional symphonic band repertoire to original pieces composed by
the members of the Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds.
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The
schools are Fullbright Elementary, Serrania Avenue Elementary, Ivy
Academia, Sherman Oaks Elementary, West Valley Special Education, St.
Bernadine’s, Our Lady of the Valley, Viewpoint, Stephen S. Wise,
Newcastle Elementary, Van Nuys Elementary, Dixie Canyon Elementary, and
Coldwater Canyon Elementary. This introduction to music will supplement
the state standards for music in their grade level curriculum.
Following the concert, the children were able to meet the members of
the band, see the instruments up close, and ask questions about music,
careers in music, and the backgrounds of the musicians. |
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