Play, Sing and Strive
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PLAY, SING AND STRIVE Programs of the National Network of Youth and Children’s Orchestra and Choirs of Venezuela In their true essence, orchestras and choirs are much more than artistic structures. They are fruitful soil for the cultivation of values, abilities, and attitudes needed for individual, collective, and civic growth and self-improvement. They are unbeatable social models and schools, which aim to perfec- tion and excellence. Because playing and singing together means to coexist in an endearing and respectable way. Maestro José Antonio Abreu A PEACE AND PROGRESS MODEL FOR HUMANKIND The National Network of Youth and individuals in the society. With its excellent musicians, composers, Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela intensive individual and ensemble conductors, soloists, and teachers, (El Sistema) is a social and cultural music practice, El Sistema includes but also train these young people to program of the Venezuelan State. children from all socio-econo- make and repair their own musical The organization belongs to the mic levels: 66% come from low instruments (Lutherie Program); to Simon Bolivar Musical Foundation income homes or live in adverse empower disabled children and tee- and is attached to the Ministry of conditions and vulnerable areas, nagers through the Special Educa- Popular Power for the Presidential while the remaining 34% come from tion Program; to assist hospital-con- Office and for Government Mana- urban areas with better access fined participants; to offer spiritual gement Follow Up for the Bolivarian possibilities. This mix embodies a and psychological guidance for men Republic of Venezuela. model of inclusion that mirrors the and women in prison through the This educational model, created in Venezuelan population, without any Penitentiary Academic Program; to 1975 by the Venezuelan maestro discrimination. stimulate infant development with and musician José Antonio Abreu, Over the last four decades, El the New Members Program; and to unfolds from early stage education Sistema has created innovative motivate family togetherness with into comprehensive learning for programs that not only nurture the Paper Orchestra program. Two additional programs round out the rich array of El Sistema’s educational options: the Alma Llanera Program, which instills the love and practice of Venezuelan music in our young citizens, and the New Orchestra and Musical Genres Program that offers each musician the opportunity to create in their own style. 1.000.000 children and teenagers incorporated Orchestra and Choir Training in our 2019 goal Program repertoire; and they succeed on VENEZUELA DEVELOPS THROUGH THE MUSIC national and international stages. The enormous scale and growth The intensive group and individual achieved by the Orchestra and Choir music instruction and practice Program requires organizational model of the Orchestra and Choir structure and effective national ma- Training Program is the basis for all nagement. This national efficiency El Sistema programs. has enabled the formation of a wide By belonging to orchestras and range of local branches. choirs, both of which are employed They are located in all regions and as instruments for social organi- cities of Venezuela, and they contain zation and human development, seven regional-branches of the hundreds of thousands of children Simon Bolivar Music Conservatory. are socially included, providing Each branch has enough space for them healthy life choices and a wide 18 academies, specializing in the horizon of options as a professional study of an equal number of instru- musician. ments, and serves as the headquar- In front of the music stand and un- ters for all the orchestras, groups, der the leadership of the conductor, choirs and programs of El Sistema. music becomes powerful agent for The modular structure allows El positive change. Students learn to Sistema to reach the most remote work in teams, striving to achieve towns in the country, in border area ambitious objectives; they progress communities, in neighborhoods, The Simon Bolivar National Youth Coral in Cologne, Germany through the challenges of escalating Gustavo Dudamel in concert with the National Children’s’ Symphonic Orchestra of Venezuela and schools, so that no Venezuelan child is left outside the joy and grow- levels in the program; they master professors, teachers, a sequential symphonic and choral branches hold orchestras, th brought by music. and instructors train choirs, groups, and 6,000 all musicians and 371 educational programs choir members 500,000 modules allow El young venezuelans are the children and youth heart and soul of Sistema to reach choirs are part of the El Sistema communities, schools, National Choir Network 1,182 and the most remote 364 villages children, pre-children, and children of indigenous youth orchestras are the communities are 828 sound of Venezuela 530 assisted by El Sistema Special Education Program INCLUSION AND BARRIER-FREE DEVELOPMENT The Special Education Program (PEE gestural language. Bell Orchestra, and the Recorder in Spanish) was created in 1995 All of this awakens and strengthens Ensemble, which are located in the with the intention to assist children the internal sense of rhythm in hea- states where the PEE program has and young people with functional ring-impaired students. been established: Aragua, Miranda, differences or physical and cognitive Other artistic groups of the PEE Distrito Capital, Guárico, Táchira, disabilities. In the PEE, music works program are: Alma Llanera Integra- Falcón, Mérida, Zulia, Yaracuy, Truji- as a tool that develops potential, tion Typical Orchestra, the Drum llo, Lara, Portuguesa, Bolívar, Nueva autonomy, and social inclusion. Ensemble, the Rhythmic Band, the Esparta, Anzoátegui and Vargas. Since its beginnings, the PEE inclu- ded children and young people with impaired hearing, sight or cognitive abilities; with motor disability; with I am a blind violinist. I have learning difficulties, autism, Down been able to read music Syndrome, among other conditions. thanks to the Braille system. The program started by assisting I am a happy person because of El 16 children with learning difficulties Member of the PEE in Zulia and Anzoátegui Sistema’s orchestras and choirs, and 12 with impaired sight. Today, and the light music has over 2,800 children thrive under the given to me care and supervision of over 100 specialized teachers and instructors. Luisana Freites. Barquisimeto branch The PEE founded the Research and Printing Center for Braille Music Sheets in Barquisimeto (Lara State) to provide literary instruction and to children are assisted by enable the musical work of children the PEE and adults with impaired sight, so 2,800 they can create music and join the choirs. specialized teachers Later, a Functional Diversity and instructors work for children with Teaching Training Center opened 100 disabilities its doors in Caracas. Among the ensembles and choirs created by the PEE, the White Hand Choir is the branches of El Sistema currently run the Special signature group, which emphasizes Lara Somos. Special Education Program Group Education Program eloquent corporal expression and 16 Healthcare Program A HEALING AND LIVING TOOL In June 2012, the Simon Bolivar Mu- The PAH Program intends to in- sical Foundation created the Heal- corporate sick children into the El thcare Program (PAH in Spanish) to Sistema orchestra and choir branch musically train hospitalized children located closest to their homes, and young people. With this, El Sis- once they are released from the tema seeks to help patients with ill- health facility. So music will still be nesses that require that they stay in with them as they return to their healthcare centers for long periods. home lives. The José Manuel de los Music becomes a therapeutic tool Ríos Children’s Hospital, located in and healing hope for many of them. Caracas, is the pilot branch for this Through the close contact with mu- program. sic, this program decreases anxiety Since the effectiveness of the pro- and stress levels caused by poor gram was proven, this project has I have been battling against health, which benefits patients, and become a regular program that has cancer and I feel very grateful to improves the family-patient-doctor cared for 500 children, partnering God for giving me this enormous relationship. with 20 health professionals. strength to keep going. A year ago, music entered the hospital, and it interested me, so I started to play cuatro. I was a cuatro player. After that, I got a problem in my arm, and it was amputat- ed. But we have to keep playing. Then, I got into percussion. Now, I play the xylophone, and I feel very happy Rafael Rendón. Member of the Healthcare Program children participate in 500 the PAH New Members of El Sistema Program BORN AND RAISE WITH MUSIC The New Member Program (NIS in Spanish) started in December 2012. Integrating orchestra and family, it brings babies closer to symphonic music, develops their innate musical talents, from their prenatal period up to 3 years of age. The NIS provides the opportunity for them to enter an orchestra or choir branch of El Sistema early to continue their artistic development. Through concerts and recitals in hospitals and in the National Social Action Center for Music, a National The child contact with Network of Youth and Children’s music should be establi- Orchestras of Venezuela venue, the shed even before their birth. NIS invites the whole family to enjoy Music will generate a wonderful musical presentations by members stimulus in the baby that will reach directly to their soul, spirit, and their emotional and physical growth. A of El Sistema together. When the ba- medal or musical pin, and a CD with baby who is stimulated with music bies and their families attend these educational and classical music con- from his birth, will be a calm child, 1,600 activities for the first time, they are tent. And also, they are permanently pregnant mother, fathers, babies, closer to their family bonds.