Performing Arts in NYC

The many performing arts organizations in New York City can be a great resource for teachers and students. Some of the links listed here also appear on the Professional Development page. Most of these organizations offer extensive outreach (visiting artist) programs for NYC schools, or offer print and audio curriculum materials for teachers. Some even host websites where children can explore music on their own.

• Carnegie Hall has a program for 3rd through 5th graders called LinkUp! and one called Music Explorers for grades K through 2. Each program combines learning soprano recorder and trips to attend (or even participate in!) concerts at Carnegie Hall. Their Online Resource Center is a rich collection off videos, lesson plans and other materials (free, but you have to register on-line for access).

• Metropolitan Opera offers a variety of opera programs for schools, as well as partnerships and professional development through the Metropolitan Opera Guild including the Urban Voices initiative.

• American Ballet Theatre is listed here because the music is such an integral part of the experience, and they offer free schooltime concerts, as well as free tickets for students to attend regular performances in the Spring.

• New York Philharmonic has a variety of programs listed. Their School Day Concerts get booked very quickly each year.

• Jazz at Lincoln Center has programs for schools and teachers, as well as a jazz curriculum website for children to explore on their own.

• Brooklyn Philharmonic offers excellent school time concerts in the BAM Opera House and at other locations.

• JazzReach usually schedules a few of its outstanding multimedia performances with the Metta Quintet in June at Manhattan’s John Jay College.

• Young People’s Chorus of New York City, the resident chorus of the 92nd Street Y and WNYC, successfully emphasizes choral work from multicultural sources. Every spring, YPC hosts a big choral directors workshop.

• Juilliard School of Music has several programs to support music learning in public schools. See their Morse Fellowship.

• Brooklyn Conservatory of Music has a Music Partners program which takes the place of a full-time music teacher in some public schools (P.S. 29 in District 15 is one). In some cases the partnership can be arranged to work along-side of a regular DOE music teacher. The BCM’s Music Partners director is Dorothy Savitch.

The NYCDOE’s Office of Pupil Transportation enables schools to reserve buses on-line. Each school is assigned a UserID and Password, for access.