Based on the success of RIME’s (Renovation In Music Education) Concert Curriculum, “the most exciting thing going on in children’s programming,” according to the Columbia University National Arts Journalism Program Journal, RIME has received a grant from NASA to create an “astronomical concert curriculum,” and Gefen is onboard as a supporter.
Created by composer and RIME founder Arthur Bloom, the Concert Curriculum is a yearlong program in which an entire class of middle school students creates and learns musical material that they ultimately perform with a professional orchestra. RIME’s collaboration with NASA will add a science flavor to the program, culminating in something truly spectacular: “An Orchestra’s Guide to the Universe” in which a young person’s imagined voyage through the universe punctuates the concert. This journey will feature material and performances that students have prepared throughout the year, creating an unusual blend of professional and novice talents. The entire orchestrated performance will also be featured in a one-off at the University of Maryland.
Gefen, a computer and electronics connectivity solutions provider, is offering their fiber optic, digital video extension solutions to facilitate both the in-studio and live productions. “Gefen’s products enable us to maximize our tools with a minimal investment, so that one computer, for example, can do the work of many. Their digital video extenders liberate our computer monitors, and therefore liberate us as we work.”
Building on the success of the original, RIME is striving to create an innovative and collaborative science and music educational experience that can be ported to underserved communities throughout the country. For RIME, technology is more than a means of production, it is part of their mission, and they are committed to providing the missing links that will help teachers and schools integrate technology into their curriculum.
“Given its pedagogical potential, it is a disgrace that music education and classroom technology remain mired in the past,” added Bloom. “Tap into student passion, and students are passionate about music and how it is produced, and you can improve their overall performance in school. That is why we are striving to transform what, how and to whom music education is delivered.”
For more information, please go to RIME’s Website at www.rimemusic.org, and visit Gefen at www.gefen.com.
