meet the music

Presented free of charge to public elementary students in grades four through six, Meet the Music reaches approximately 3,200 children from more than 40 schools across greater Los Angeles. The program fosters listening skills, encourages individual and group involvement in music making, and provides personal contact with musicians and composers. Age-appropriate Orchestra concerts in Zipper Hall at The Colburn School are supplemented by standards-based curriculum materials and classroom visits from knowledgeable volunteer docents. LACO educational artists-in-residence PROJECT Trio, a ground-breaking ensemble trained at the Cleveland Institute who have introduced young listeners to beat-boxing on the flute and an updated Peter and the Wolf set in Brooklyn, return to perform for MTM students this season.

Give today and help bring the classical music you love to the children of Los Angeles.

frequently asked questions

I’m an LAUSD teacher; where do I sign up to have my classroom participate in Meet the Music?

We’re glad you’re interested in the program! Just download our online application and send it in to us as soon as you can. Schools are admitted into the program on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I apply for the 2012-13 Season?

Yes, we are accepting applications at this time. Please fill out the application found on this page and submit to LACO via mail or fax. If you have any questions, please contact Shawne Zarubica.

I’m not a music teacher but I’m interested in having my classroom hear the orchestra. Can I still send in an application?

Absolutely! Just make sure you attach a lesson plan with your application when you send it to us.

I teach at a local school that is not in the LAUSD. Can I still have my students participate?

Meet the Music is primarily open only to schools within the LAUSD. Please contact Shawne Zarubica directly to discuss other options and alternatives.

Where do the concerts take place?

Meet the Music performances take place in downtown LA, at the Colburn School for the Performing Arts, 200 South Grand Avenue.

Does LACO provide transportation to the concerts?

Schools are responsible for arranging student transportation. On a needs basis, LACO will try to help subsidize bus rental or Metro passes. Since our budget is extremely limited, we strongly encourage schools to pursue other resources first, such as PTA funds or grants.

Can I sign up my classroom to attend more than one performance in the series?

You can, if space is available. More typically, one teacher will sign up multiple groups of students (different classrooms, for example) to attend different performances.

How will I connect my classroom work with a field trip to hear an orchestra?

That’s up to you, but we’ll help! Prior to your students traveling to the Colburn School to hear LACO, we’ll send a docent to your classroom who will prepare your students for the experience of hearing a live performance of a world-class chamber orchestra. You’ll also receive a “teacher’s guide” with sample lessons plans, and filled with information about LACO, the upcoming concert, the artists who will be performing, stories about the lives of composers, and much, much more!

How does your program address California’s Content Standards for Visual and Performing Arts?

Your students’ participation in Meet the Music will allow you to address each of the five content standards: 1) Artistic Perception,
2) Creative Expression, 3) Historical and Cultural Context,
4) Aesthetic Valuing, and 5) Connections, Relationships, Applications. The Teacher’s Guide includes suggestions on how to develop lesson plans that achieve the goals set by the standards.

I have a question not answered here, can I contact someone?

Of course! Please email Shawne Zarubica for more information about the LA Chamber Orchestra’s Meet the Music program.

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