Visit the ‘Foundry Creative Arts School’ link at the top of this page to view the forms and information sheets for this program.
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Registration forms for the Free Instrumental Group Lessons will be available today. Keep checking this site for updates throughout the day.
It’s ok – you got that musical instrument thinking, ‘I’m going to learn it someday.’ Interest has been lost and you are stuck with an instrument. This is just one of many scenarios that has perhaps brought an instrument into your life.
Well – you could donate it to the Foundry Creative Arts School in order that a student could learn the joy of music. If you wish to make such a donation, contact Benjamin Harding at bharding@epcnewark.org.
Just a quick update – many details are falling into place as we tweak the program offering free group lessons coming this Fall. It’s exciting and the full program, registrations, and times will be released shortly.
Our free group lessons coming this fall will be, of course, devoted to learning how to play various musical instruments. We will also have parts in the program that develop musicianship. Musicianship is the foundation for all of music making. Included in the idea in musicianship is the learning of music theory, rhythm, and singing.
One of the ways that music educators are developing concepts of rhythm is through the use of Bucket Bands. Students this Fall will have the opportunity to participate in learning about rhythm in these groups. They are a ton of fun!
We need buckets of all types, shapes and sizes. See Benjamin Harding if you would like to donate some buckets. We may need some earplugs as well! See the video below of some middle school students in a Bucket Band. Kids – get excited about learning rhythm this way!
Wilson Middle School Bucket Band
The El Sistema program in Venezuela is an inspiring musical organization dedicated to enriching the lives of young people. Seeing this organization at work, has inspired our school to offer free group lessons in the Foundry Creative Arts School this Fall.
Below is a video that gives you a taste of what is going on in Venezuela.
This Fall, the Foundry Creative Arts School will be offering free group lessons in music. These lessons will be taught by qualified teachers who have a heart for kids. We will have training on instruments, a devotion from God’s word, instruction in music theory, and musicianship training.
El Sistema Video
One cannot say enough about how the Lord is using the Getty’s to impact the church for the glory of His name. I am so encouraged everytime I hear their words and tunes.
Below is a link to their youtube channel which encourages me as I go about the day.
http://www.youtube.com/user/KeithAndKristynGetty
This year marks several composers’ centennial and bi-centennial celebrations. Both Schumann and Chopin reach 200 this year and Samuel Barber reaches 100.
Why are these composers important for the Christian musician interested in church music? These and other composers exhibited much influence over the course of Western music. This tradition is the tradition that churches in the West are apart of musically. These and other composers, under the dominion of common grace, showed great beauty in their craft. Common grace is real and has effects on everything we do from day to day. It effects how humanity experiences beauty, truth, and goodness. I am thankful for the gifts that the Lord gave to Chopin, Schumann and Barber.
It is important to insert a caveat at this juncture. Music is not a spiritual gift. The spiritual gifts are listed in Scripture. There you can find that the Lord has given gifts to his church for its protection and edification.
Music has its own place in the world that the Lord created. Although it is not a spiritual gift, it is meant to be enjoyed and used to give God glory in the church and in the world.
On May 14, 2010 at Evangelical Presbyterian Church we will be welcoming pianist Samuel Hsu in an all Chopin concert. Please mark your calendars now to attend this wonderful event. More information to come on this artist. In the meantime, thank the Lord for His common grace.
We are collecting unused instruments in order to lend them to students who will be taking free group lessons in the Fall. If you have musical instruments that are not being used and would like to help a student by donating them to the school please contact Benjamin Harding at bharding@epcnewark.org.
Just a quick announcement – The Foundry Creative Arts School will be beginning free group lessons for instrumentalists beginning this Fall. Stay tuned for more information and details about this exciting development for the school.