Our 59th season is in full swing, and so are our outreach activities!
September 2017 brought the addition of double bassist Gay Lee Ludwig-Bonney to the KCCO outreach duo of Jennifer Mitchell, violinist, and Don Goldenbaum, violist. The trio performed and interacted with over 750 students in preschool to grade 3 at several schools in the KC metro area in September and November.
The free interactive programs were customized in length and content from 20-45 minutes, depending on the age and attention level of the students. For younger audiences, the presentation demonstrated the differences and similarities between the three stringed instruments according to appearance, sound, and style. The musicians accompanied eager young students who sang beloved children’s songs such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “The Wheels on the Bus”.
Thank you for sharing with us last Friday. A mother shared that her daughter went home and informed her that she wanted to take violin lessons. She sat here the rest of the afternoon singing some of the songs. Thanks for keeping music alive for the world — and especially for our little folk. – Geri, Pioneer Preschool
For the older audiences, the “Seeing the Symphony” part of the program introduced students to the inner workings of an orchestra, comparing it to a sports team that requires a conductor as the leader or coach and that demands individual preparation of all the players. Rehearsals are like practices that prepare the group for the big moment, whether it’s a concert or a game.
Thank you all for playing! I’ve heard nothing but praise about your clinics from students and teachers. I know my students thought it was great. – Sarah, Messiah Lutheran School
In addition to playing popular Disney movie songs and a spirited folk tune to the accompaniment of a recorded “orchestra”, the musicians welcomed all students to take turns helping them to cooperatively “play” a familiar tune. Students eagerly pinched the end of the bow and helped to push and pull it across the strings as the musicians fingered the tune.
On November 11th KCCO held its fourth annual Instrument Petting Zoo – possibly our most popular outreach activity! Over 130 children attended and enjoyed getting their “passports” stamped as they toured through different stations where they learned about various instruments. The instruments for the Zoo were kindly donated by Band of Angels, a non-profit organization that collects used instruments, repairs them, and then provides them free of charge to students in need.
If you’d like to schedule an outreach activity for your school, send us an email!
Fourth Annual Instrument Petting Zoo
April was a busy month for KCCO’s Don Goldenbaum and Jennifer Mitchell as they performed for and interacted with 245 elementary students at three local schools: 
Both sections of the school sessions are highly interactive. They include playing lots of “kid friendly” tunes, such as some familiar classical and movie themes, as well as accompanying students as they sing songs they know, and giving each child a chance to help play one of the instruments and/or conduct as Jennifer and Don play.