Bravo! program strikes up
by Chris Wilson

Music programs, dashed from public school curricula by Prop. 13, are getting a boost at San Antonio and Summit elementary schools in Ojai.
Wednesday morning, students at both schools were treated to an introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven through the Bravo! Program presented by the Ojai Music Festival.
This is the second year students at San Antonio have had the opportunity to share in this program, and the first year for Summit students.
"We are expanding the connection in our schools between traditional curriculum and the arts; particularly music," said festival's education director Tim Pompey.
The program goes beyond simply introducing children to classical music. Professional musicians Andy Radford and Steve Gross lead workshops every other week with students and teachers. Radford, a professional bassoonist with the Santa Barbara Symphony, taught the program at San Antonio this past year and will lead the instruction at Summit School this year. Gross, a French horn player and associate professor of music at the University of California at Santa Barbara will play for the students and lead workshops.
Teacher training includes music education and creative dramatic specialists in a four-hour class on how to present the arts in the classroom, and how to use the arts to teach other curriculum subjects, Pompey said.
The prelude assembly, held Wednesday morning, introduced the students to their "adopted" musician, Gross, who will help with instruction.
Gross said he heard about the program through Radford.
"I'm honored to be a part of this," Gross said. "I like the aspect of having music in the schools that's accessible and enjoyable for all."
Leading the assembly "Lady Storytell," aka Carole Cooney, led a dramatic presentation illustrating the life of Ludwig van Beethoven. On the stage behind her, she hung pictures of the German composer, his family and friends. Interspersed in her presentation, Cooney played cuts of "Moonlight Sonata," the "Pastorale" movement from his Ninth Symphony and others.
Later in the year, the students will travel to Santa Barbara to hear the symphony play and take part in an "Opera For Kids" schoolwide assembly. Both teachers and students will be quizzed and tested on what they've learned throughout the year.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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