About Paper Orchestra*

Click on the image to read an Article in Alaska’s Juneau Empire article on Lorrie Heagy’s paper orchestra program.


The paper orchestra began at La Rinconada, an El Sistema núcleo near Caracas, Venezuela. The concept was initially born out of need, as there were not enough instruments for each student in the orchestra. Mothers were assigned to construct violins from everyday materials for their children. With these, students discovered how to handle a violin properly while learning about sound and rhythm through basic vocal and movement exercises. Designed to give each student a sense of discipline toward his or her instrument and build basic musicianship skills, the paper orchestra became an important stepping stone along the pathway to orchestral performance.

Now, the process is no longer done out of need, but for pedagogical and familial benefits. It is a tool to engage the community from the very beginning of a program: families collectively build paper instruments, and students learn how to respect and care for them before receiving real instruments. Within this orchestra, students learn that the instrument is a part of them, and they are able to understand that they are part of something larger. Thanks to the openness of La Rinconada’s teachers, this process is no longer specific to Venezuela. Programs in Scotland, Alaska and Los Angeles have successfully adopted using paper instruments as an introduction for young learners to the orchestra.


*From “The Paper Orchestra Cookbook:

Recipes for learning from Juneau, Alaska Music Matters and Youth Orchestra LA at Heart of LA, inspired by practices found in El Sistema ”, Published by Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, Los Angeles Philharmonic, 2011.

 

Corona, Queens, NY.  September 19th-November 11th,  2011

Corona Paper Orchestra

Presented in partnership with the Queens Museum of Art and Immigration Movement International

The Corona Paper Orchestra is a program that will help young children develop basic social and motor skills in preparation to start studying a stringed instrument, such as a violin, viola, cello or bass.  Our first Paper Orchestra Program, (May14th-July 5th, 2011), was a success!  After finishing the program, 25 children received real instruments and immediately started the Corona Children’s Orchestra, which has played several times through the summer in Queens and Manhattan. 


The program consists of two parts:  First a one-time event in which families help build the basic cardboard instrument.  In a festive event, and with the guidance of music teachers and visual artists working together, children will come out with a partially finished paper instrument.  The second part, which lasts 8 weeks, will guide the children through the basic musical and social skills mentioned above.  It includes positions and postures for holding the instrument while taking care of it, and also how to behave in an orchestra environment, where cooperation, attention and solidarity are essential.  All this is learned through music and movement, singing and dancing songs created specifically for this purpose. 


After finishing the program, students present a concert in which they receive a real string instrument to become part of the Corona Children’s Orchestra.


Target Students:

Children grades Pre-Kinder-garden to First (25 students, tentatively)



Calendar of Events

  1. Basic Paper Instrument Building

  2. Children and parents build together the “shell” of the paper instrument, in a community festive event.

  3. Queens Museum of Art (New York State Building, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, NY)

  4. Saturday May14th 3:00-5:00pm


  6. Paper Orchestra Classes

  7. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, children will attend group lessons, consisting in musicianship and basic string instruments’ skills.

  8. Immigration Movement International (108-59 Roosevelt Avenue, Corona, NY)

  9. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, May 16th to July 1st, 4:30-5:15pm


  11. Paper Orchestra “Graduation” Concert

  12. Queens Museum of Art

  13. July 5th


References


Lorrie Heagy’s blog:  In this blog 2011 Alaska Teacher of the Year and Abreu Fellow, describes the process she implemented in Alaska, following lessons learned from El Sistema in Venezuela, and  Big Noise, Scotland ‘s El Sistema Program.


Big Noise Scotland Picture Galleries: http://makeabignoise.org.uk/photos/?album=1&gallery=12, http://makeabignoise.org.uk/photos/?album=1&gallery=6, http://makeabignoise.org.uk/photos/?album=1&gallery=7


Youth Orchestra Los Angeles/Los Angeles Philharmonic resources page, which includes The Paper Orchestra Cookbook”


For more information and to reserve a space for your child, please email alvarofrodas@nucleocorona.org