Education Programs
In the Greater Houston area, 79% of Houston Independent School District children are economically disadvantaged, and only 53% have had any exposure to music in school. Regular access to the arts improves students’ concentration and motivation and contributes to higher academic achievement. But providing access to cultural programs, arts training and equipment is a challenge for many schools. Musiqa strives to fill this gap through its award-winning education programs.
Musiqa aims to expand and cultivate students’ interest in the arts. Our education programming strives to meet students’ needs by enhancing their experience and accessibility to the music-arts. We offer high-quality musical experiences designed to align with TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) for Fine Arts criteria relative to music literacy, creative expression, historical and cultural relevance, and critical evaluation. Over the past 17 years, our education programs have reached more than 60,000 public school students in grades 2 through 12, from over 250 greater Houston area schools, all at no cost to the participants. Our programming provides musical exposure to students and others who may not otherwise have access to the arts through high-quality musical experiences.
Musiqa’s education programs:
Cultivate
Stimulate
Build
Create
The Discovery Series at the Hobby Center
Bus Transportation
The Discovery Series programs are free to participating schools, including bus transportation to and from The Hobby Center.
Around the World with Musiqa
Modern arrangements of folk songs in multiple languages teach students musical concepts and how to recognize common themes in music from different cultures. Students learn how modern composers make folk songs come alive in personal, imaginative ways. As the children hear and sing songs in different languages, they gain an appreciation of music from diverse cultures.
Musiqa ReMix
These performances take students inside pieces of music to explore rhythm, meter, harmony, orchestration, counterpoint and other key concepts. Students are engaged through a combination of live music, theater and animated graphics. ReMix is interdisciplinary, with introductions to the visual arts and mathematical concepts, bringing music to life.
MusiqaLab brings together young composers and our experienced teaching artists, professional composers and musicians. Over the course of a semester, students learn a variety of composition techniques, try out ideas with trained musicians, and prepare for a public performance of their work presented by Musiqa’s professional team of musicians. MusiqaLab’s structure is informed by the work of the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composer program, an award-winning project that has served thousands of individual students and been adopted by teaching artists and musicians around the world.
Contact Musiqa’s Executive Director (at info AT musiqahouston dot org) to bring MusiqaLab to your school.
Adventures in Music!
Individual units that explore music, poetry, movement and science using Musiqa productions and a host of special guests. Unique modules are available for students of all ages.
