Baylor School of Music SGN Ceremony
Baylor School of Music SGN Ceremony: Health and Cultural Wealth Solid Gold Neighbor
This January, our office, Baylor's Office of External Affairs, partnered with the Baylor School of Music to recognize three programs that make music accessible to the local community. For many, these programs are a first glimpse into the world of music and the joys music provides participants and audience members alike.
Here is a look back at these Solid Gold Neighbors:
Jillian Gusukuma and Elisa Crowder
OSO MUSICAL
Jillian Gusukuma and Elise Crowder coordinate the activities of Baylor's Oso Musical providing free, once-weekly music classes for children in the Waco area who have special needs. Participants range from 4 years to 12th grade and have a variety of special needs and abilities. Research has shown that children of all ability levels benefit from making music. Being immersed in a music enrichment class is joyful and transformational experience, especially for children with special needs. Oso Musical is involved in the forefront of music research and works to spread the joy of our program with others.
Michael Alexander
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY'S STRING PROJECT
Michael Alexander oversees Baylor University’s String Project, a unique program that introduces low-cost group string instruction to Waco-area 4th-12th graders. Students enrolled learn how to read music and play a stringed instrument (violin, viola, cello, bass). In the process, they develop good work habits and improve their ability to collaborate and cooperate in groups. Because the String Project uses college students in supervised teaching roles, Baylor is able to offer these music lessons at substantially reduced fees, making the program accessible to all families in the community who wish to participate.
Stephen Heyde, Susan Taylor and Ann Harder
CHILDREN'S CONCERTS
Stephen Heyde and Susan Taylor work together to coordinate three Children's Concerts heard annually by more than 6,000 Central Texas elementary-age school children. This is a joint effort resourced by both the Waco Symphony Council and the School of Music at Baylor. Students learn to appreciate music from a wide range of musical eras through the development of active listening skills. Ann Harder, KXXV news anchor, narrates the concerts which all occur over the course of a single day. The children are given information through their local teachers that helps them prepare to get the most out of the program.