Jacksonville Symphony, Connecting with Kids

In Wednesday’s (2/14) Journal Courier (Jacksonville, FL), Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree writes, “With music ranging from Beethoven to more contemporary tunes, like ‘Under the Sea’ and ‘Baby Shark,’ the Jacksonville Symphony Society took time Tuesday to introduce students from area schools to music about or depicting water. Students from the Jacksonville and Triopia school districts and Our Saviour School were invited to attend the concerts to listen to Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra perform. ‘Each year we do these concerts, and we try to include standard classical pieces, as well as the light, fun pieces,’ conductor and music director Garrett Allman said. ‘This is about entertainment with education.’ With encouragement, students were able to sing along to ‘Baby Shark’ and dance along to the theme song from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ … The society has been inviting schools to the concerts for about 30 years or so, to help encourage students to explore music … The goal is to encourage youth participation and expand the love of music…. Studies show music helps benefit the learning process for students, Eisenhower Elementary School Principal Tim Chipman said. ‘Musical intelligence spurs all intelligence,’ Chipman said.”