Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Now Offering Materials for Music Educators
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announced the release of the 2022 Community Health Network Discovery Concert teaching materials. Made possible through the generous support of Community Health Network, the materials include a Teacher Packet, a full-length video featuring the musicians of the ISO led by Resident Conductor Jacob Joyce and narration by world-renowned actor William Shatner and others, plus dozens of ideas for classroom activities.
This year’s Discovery Concert, From the Earth to the Moon, and Beyond, features an exciting outer space exploration theme that lends itself to various classroom activities and learning opportunities. Among the musical works explored are Gustav Holst’s “Mars” and “Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity” from The Planets, based on Holst’s use of the mythical characters of the solar system’s planets to tell a story. James Beckel’s work, From the Earth to the Moon, and Beyond, was inspired by a text Beckel created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing.
“The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to provide these high-quality resources to music educators, whose vital work is closely linked with the ISO’s mission to enrich lives through personal growth and artistic discovery. We are deeply grateful for the support of Community Health Network which allows us to provide these materials free to the public,” said James M. Johnson, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Chief Executive Officer.
“Community Health Network continues to be a proud supporter of this learning experience, which enhances the health and well-being of the students who participate,” said Patrick Adsit, Executive Director of Pediatrics and School Based Care, Community Health Network . “Over the past two decades, studies have demonstrated that music education has multiple favorable effects on a host of mental and functional processes, it literally changes the brain structure. Musical training has been shown to have a positive effect beyond the impact on hearing, speech and coordination including improving IQ levels and school grades among many other benefits.”
The Teacher Packet includes listening maps, questions, and activities to accompany the Discovery Concert video, which features Resident Conductor Jacob Joyce leading the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Renowned Star Trek actor William Shatner lends his voice to the space-themed video, which also includes Richard Strauss’ Introductions from Also Sprach Zarathustra, which was immortalized in the soundtrack to the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Additional narrators include Dr. Barrett Caldwell, Professor of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University, and Cora Walker, an eighth-grade student at Paul Hadley Middle School.
The Community Health Network Discovery Concert curriculum covers Indiana Academic Standards in engineering, language arts, math, music, science, technology, and visual art. A complete listing is available on pages 24-25 of the Teacher Packet.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Community Health Network has been deeply committed to the communities it serves since opening its first hospital, Community Hospital East, in 1956. Community Health Network puts patients first while offering a full continuum of healthcare services, world-class innovations and a new focus on population health management. Exceptional care, simply delivered, is what sets Community Health Network apart and what makes it a leading not-for-profit healthcare destination in central Indiana. For more information about Community Health Network, please visit eCommunity.com.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, at home and thriving in the heart of Indianapolis, offers an exceptional artistic and musical experience. The orchestra is open to all and dedicated to creating an inclusive and innovative experiential environment that is inspiring, educational, and welcoming. The ISO celebrates historically beloved performances while engaging audiences by introducing new voices through programming including the DeHaan Classical Series, the Printing Partners Pops Series, the holiday traditions of AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration and the popular Bank of America Film Series. For more information, visit www.indianapolissymphony.org.