This season can be best summed up in the new vision statement for Rockport Music Education: Bridging Artists with the Community and Connecting through Engaging programs with Students on and off Stage (ACCESS). Visiting artists continued to challenge students by introducing new repertoire, encouraging new ways of practicing and demonstrating new ways to collaborate. We received so many wonderful and inspiring comments from the students. One of them captured it perfectly in their feedback survey: “I learned that you can do things that are outside of your comfort zone.” Other common comments revolved around active listening and building more confidence and independence while working as a group.
Alexa Tarantino with Jazz Workshop students performing March 2022
IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Two legends in the folk/roots world, Bruce Molsky and Tony Trischka, worked with Rockport elementary through high school students in January. The duo introduced the students to several tunes, which they learned by rote and then took on tour with them during their school trip to Italy this past April. This was also one of several residencies this spring where students had the unique opportunity to perform side by side with the visiting artists on stage at the Shalin Liu Performance Center.
The next in-school residency was equally exciting and also offered a side by side opening performance with the BT ALC Big Band. BT ALC (founded and led by Brian Thomas and Alex Lee Clark) shared its unique sound of infusing funk, soul and hip hop into the traditional big band instrumentation with the students of Rockport Middle and High Schools. Students became more comfortable with soloing and tried out new chord progressions and playing techniques. The community performance brought an incredible energy to the hall and had everyone dancing in their seats.
Cape Ann Jazz Workshop Director Alexa Tarantino visited a record number of classes (16!) this year in anticipation of the weeklong summer program. Alexa played along with students, demonstrated solos, listened and gave feedback to several ensembles in anticipation of the MAJE conference and went in depth into blues chord progressions and improvising. Mid-week, she gave a performance at the Shalin Liu Performance Center and featured students who participated in the workshop last summer. They were joined by fantastic colleagues on stage, including Jazz Workshop faculty member, Steven Feifke on piano. This year’s Cape Ann Jazz Workshop will take place from August 7-11 at Gloucester High School, and students and faculty are excited for another fun summer (Registration has been extended to June 1)!
WRITING OUR MUSICAL HISTORY
Continuing to look ahead, Rockport Music has several new and exciting initiatives in the works for next fall. In February, we received the fortunate news that full funding for a new project titled “Writing Our Musical History” was granted from the Essex County Community Foundation through the Cultural County Initiative. This initiative will bring together teaching artist Alexandra Grace, 1623 Studios and students in Rockport, Gloucester, Manchester-Essex and Beverly. Students will take part in songwriting workshops to compose a song about a place of inspiration in their town. After culminating performances at both the Shalin Liu Performance Center and each site of inspiration, a commemorating sign will be placed at the site with a QR code giving easy access to the performance for future visitors. This project is particularly exciting because it will demonstrate creative place making and amplify student voices.
Rockport Music: Project STEP: Playing Movement I from Palladio for String Orchestra by Karl Jenkins (wide)
NEW PARTNERSHIP
For the 2023-2024 season, Rockport Music is also excited to develop a deepening partnership with Project STEP. Project STEP students will continue to hold an annual performance at the Shalin Liu Performance Center and receive complimentary tickets to specific programs of interest. The deepened partnership will also offer several new opportunities to work directly with visiting artists through masterclasses and additional performance and learning opportunities. Building community through the arts and creating access to musical opportunities is at the core of our educational activities; and we are dedicated to developing ongoing partnerships with organizations and individuals who prioritize strengthening appreciation, artistry and learning about and through music. Our goal in any partnership formed is collaborative decision making and consistent collective vision for strengthening the broader community.
STUDENT FEEDBACK FROM THIS YEAR’S IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
[The biggest takeaway from the residencies has been]
“To have fun and allow the music to flow through you rather than forcing it out.”
“I learned the importance of working hard for something”
“It is important to know how to work together and listen to each other. Also, be patient with other people.”
“Working with the visiting artist helped me ‘be able to learn project my voice and that posture matters, so stand proud and tall for a good sound and show confidence when performing.’”
