News

Friday, October 17, 2008

Elementary District Sponsors BRAVO! a Free After school Music Program

Santa Barbara Elementary School District’s music teachers Nancy Mathison and Karen Dutton are operating BRAVO! a district-sponsored after school elementary music program. The 3:20 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. program, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, is underway and will continue through May. The program is run at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota Street.

BRAVO! is open to students with at least one year of experience on a band or orchestra instrument and is free for children in the district’s elementary schools. One-way transportation from the child’s elementary school to Santa Barbara Junior High School is provided, with parents picking up their son/daughter at the junior high at 5:00 p.m.

The program is open to non-district children at an annual cost of $250 per student. For non-district families, there is a discount of $250 for multiple siblings in one family.

BRAVO! provides a full band and string orchestra experience one day a week. Specialists coach section rehearsals one day a week.

According to Ms. Mathison, “BRAVO! supplements our district students’ once-a-week music classes and gives children an opportunity to be part of a larger ensemble. Small-group coaching with a specialist in their instrument will provide individualized instruction.” She continued, “Another experience that is built into the program is participation in concerts, parades, Honor Band, and the annual String Festival.”

Nancy Mathison and Karen Dutton are credentialed music teachers, each with more than 20 years of experience.

In addition to the Santa Barbara School Districts, program sponsors are Santa Barbara Junior High School, Santa Barbara Education Foundation, Girls Inc, and the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony.

For more information, call (805) 963-7751, extension 139.