Life of an orchestra on zoom and a video album that celebrates animals!

by Lisa Barksdale
CMW Resident Musician & Program Coordinator / Daily Orchestra Program 

If you’ve ever experimented with an elimination diet – for example, gone gluten-free or perhaps vegetarian – you’ve probably learned that, while such limitation can be challenging, it can also lead you to new food discoveries. Sure, going without regular bread is tough, but you might learn that you love collard wraps. Maybe you get really into specialty olives. Maybe you stumble on a gluten-free treat that’s so delicious you’d eat it even if you weren’t gluten-free. Teaching virtually in the Daily Orchestra Program (DOP) during a pandemic has been a little bit like going gluten-free. While I can’t say I prefer it to the real thing, I’ve been amazed at the teaching discoveries we’ve made during this time and especially at the resilience and imagination of all our dedicated DOP students and teachers. It’s a seemingly paradoxical truth that oftentimes great creativity is born from great constraints.

When I sat down (on zoom) with Lisa Sailer (our Beginning String Specialist), and Adrienne Taylor (Resident Musician) back in late August of 2020 to plan for the coming orchestra year, it was hard to imagine what transporting the fire-breathing animal of the DOP into the virtual world was going to look like. How could we take this orchestra, which thrived on students playing and generally making lots of noise together, into a space where that act was impossible? We knew that we’d be giving up a lot through this move, but there were several pieces of the orchestra program DNA that we knew we wanted to keep intact.

1. We wanted to keep the daily in Daily Orchestra. That students come together to play their instruments every single day is part of what makes the DOP special. Through the daily ritual of orchestra not only do students practice their instruments regularly but they also form close bonds with each other – a true team spirit. We knew the how of this might need to look a little different on zoom, but the what would remain the same.
2. We wanted to make sure our curriculum stayed varied and most importantly – fun! A regular week at the DOP involves not just playing instruments but also singing, movement activities, mindful minutes, games, stories about musicians, and improvisation. Even on zoom, we wanted our students to be moving their bodies, playing their instruments, expanding their minds, honing their listening skills, and flexing their creative muscles, not just sitting in a chair and staring at a screen.
3. We wanted students to stay connected to each other and form friendships. This was possibly the most challenging piece to keep in tact since virtual learning makes the act of playing together impossible, and for the DOP students the act of playing music together has always been a community-building force. We knew we’d need to explore ways to cultivate a feeling of community online and facilitate ways for the students to stay in touch with each other, even while physically distant.

Once we decided on these crucial pieces to keep in the orchestra schedule and ethos online, we then asked an even bigger question –

How can we stay connected to the wider Providence community? Can we foster community engagement among our students even when we are physically distanced?

Lisa Sailer (fondly known by our students as Ms. Cat-Lisa. By the way, I am Ms. Dog-Lisa) had the brilliant solution to this question, and the key was…animals!

Love of animals was a uniting force in our orchestra, and with our orchestra students in the beginning phases of their instrument learning, we knew that many short animal-themed songs would be right up our learning alley this year. Cat-Lisa planned for us not just to learn these songs but also to record and curate them into a special Video Album fundraiser benefitting an animal-supporting organization that the students would choose together.

While students learned how to play and sing fun animal songs, they also learned about the different types of organizations that support animals. They learned the pros and cons of supporting a national vs local organization, and after a heated vote, they decided to go with a local org. Once that decision was made, students individually researched animal-supporting organizations in Rhode Island. We discovered different categories of these organizations and after another vote opted to support an animal shelter. Finally, after another round of research and a chance for students to advocate for an organization they felt strongly about, the winner of our final vote was the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA).

Make a donation to the RISPCA in support of this project here.
A donation link can also be found in the caption of the YouTube video. Your donation will help the RISPCA provide medical care for the animals in their shelter. Please help us support this wonderful organization doing great work in our neighborhood.

In our video album, Animal Songs!, which premieres this Friday at 6:30PM EST, you’ll get to hear more about why students chose the RISPCA, and you’ll hear the results of these many months of hard work. Our students truly put their hearts and souls into this project, which has turned into not just a performance of animal songs but also a showcasing of art, our students’ many talents, and naturally some orchestra pets!

We can’t wait to see you there! And we think you’ll agree that while a return to “regular” orchestra life will be very welcome, the creative products of this gluten-free orchestra adventure are truly magical.

Animal Songs! 
Friday, April 16 at 6:30 pm EST
Watch the premiere on our CMW YouTube channel

Meet us Thursday, April 1 on the 401Gives platform to support Rhode Island-based non-profit organizations doing great work!

401Gives, Rhode Island’s statewide giving event, features various match grants and prizes throughout the day. The Rhode Island Foundation will match the first $50,000 of all gifts on 4/01, so if you’re committed to doubling the impact of a gift, sign on bright and early and get that worm! Gift-matching starts at 6 a.m!

Click here to support CMW on Thursday, April 1!

Photo by Erin X. Smithers

Phase II Youth Salon : The Cave

This deep-dive into a topic chosen by CMW’s teen leadership group, Phase II, centers around Plato’s allegory The Cave, with conversation and an exploration of ways in which we can find ourselves looking at shadows and confusing them for the truth.

CMW’s Annual Youth Salon on Zoom!
Saturday, March 27 at 2 pm EST

Click here to join the Zoom event

Two-Year Alumni Fellowship

Community MusicWorks is starting a two-year program open to CMW alumni, ages 18-28. For this opportunity, CMW alums are eligible if they participated in CMW programs for two or more years, and completed high school while enrolled at CMW.

This Fellowship aims to be an opportunity for alums to gain experience and skills in multiple aspects of teaching artistry, youth development, creative practice, and community engagement as a pathway to future work in the arts and /or non-profit sectors. Alumni Fellows will have the opportunity to accrue college credits through a partnership with College Unbound.

The Fellowship is built around the following principal areas:

1. Teaching assistance in CMW’s educational programs. (10-12 hrs/week)
2. Creative practice that is self-directed, ongoing, and culminating in a final project/performance. (6 hrs/week)
3. Learning modules in the form of mini-courses on key aspects of CMW’s operations and practices. These will provide a basic understanding of the organization, and will set fellows up to choose a focus area for their 2nd year. (6 hrs/week)
4. Mentoring support from a dedicated staff or community member.

Salary and Benefits: 30 hour/week position with a salary of $25K + health benefits. (2 fellows in a cohort)

To apply, please submit:

1. A statement of interest, in the form of a 1-2 page letter, or a 5-7 minute video, outlining:

• why you are interested in this Fellowship opportunity
• your creative practice and what you hope to deepen
• how this opportunity will help with your future goals

1. One letter of recommendation from someone who has worked with you in the past 2 years (a former teacher, employer, or similar).
2. Optional supporting material: sample of your creative practice (recording, video, etc.)

Submit application materials to Fellowship@communitymusicworks.org by end of day Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Interviews will be held in April, and decisions will be announced by May 30, 2021. The Fellowship  will start in mid-August 2021.

CMW is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to building a culturally diverse faculty that reflects the neighborhoods in which we are situated. Women, LGBTQ, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Alumni Fellowship Full Job Description

CMW Seeks Violin or Viola Resident Musician
for the Academic Year 2021-2022

Founded in 1997, Community MusicWorks (CMW) is a leader in the youth development and music education field, building long-term learning and mentoring relationships between professional musicians, youth, and families in Providence, Rhode Island. CMW musicians teach instrument lessons at no cost to youth in the west and south sides of Providence, and perform in a robust concert series throughout Providence and the surrounding communities. 

The Resident Musician position involves teaching individual violin and viola lessons, and may include teaching additional genres and styles of music, performing as a member of the MusicWorks Collective, and/or coordinating various aspects of CMW’s educational programming; the position has some built in flexibility depending on the interests and strengths of the successful candidate. The successful applicant will be joining a community of musicians who are passionate about exploring and building the connections between music and social justice, who are dedicated to continual growth and learning, who strive to build strong relationships with young musicians and their families, and who enjoy the challenges of both collaborative and individual work.

The position is envisioned at 25-30 hours/week, including many weekends and evenings.  The position includes health and dental benefits. and offers a salary range of $26,000-$39,000, based on hours and experience.

CMW is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to building a culturally diverse faculty that reflects the neighborhoods in which we are situated. Women, LGBTQ, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

The position will remain open until filled, and applications will be reviewed starting in mid-March, with interviews scheduled in April.

To apply, please send the materials listed below to jobs@communitymusicworks.org.

Applications should include:

1. Resume: Please submit a resume that includes educational training, and teaching, performance, and administrative or other work experience.

2. Statement of interest: In a 1-2 page letter, or in a 5-7 minute video, please describe how your skills will support the mission and vision of Community MusicWorks, and how you believe your approach to music connects to concepts of social justice.

3. Reference list: Please include three references with contact information. List people who are familiar with your playing and teaching experience, or have worked with you in a professional context as an employer.

4. OPTIONAL: Performance Recording: You may supplement your application with a recent representative performance recording if you desire, and are interested in performing as part of your role at Community MusicWorks.

Live! From our living room to yours. Join us for a series of live virtual music-sharing events as MusicWorks Collective musicians share solo, duo, and quartet performances in an intimate house concert setting. Sessions include poetry, music, and conversation, all live-streamed to a small group of participants. We look forward to seeing you and sharing some musical gems!

Admission is free, but reservations are limited.
Click below to register today!

Salon Series Live! with the CMW Fellows Quartet
Saturday, March 6 at 7pm EST
The CMW Fellows Quartet presents excerpts from the Janacek String Quartet No. 1 and Caroline Shaw’s Entracte.
Make your reservation here.

Salon Series Live! with Lisa Barksdale*
Wednesday, March 10 at 7pm EST
Violinist Lisa Barksdale shares stories and music of European Baroque composers Francesca Caccini and Barbara Strozzi.  *For teens and up.
Make your reservation here.

Salon Series Live! with Jesse Holstein
Friday, March 12 at 12pm EST
Violinist Jesse Holstein shares music by Bach, Paganini, Lyn, and Montgomery from among his collection of music-related books.
Make your reservation here.

Salon Series Live! with Sarah Kim
Saturday, March 13 at 4pm EST
Join violinist Sarah Kim for music and a chat, featuring Anna Clyne’s Rest These Hands and excerpts from Bach’s Sonata in g minor for solo violin.
Make your reservation here.

Salon Series Live! with Minna Choi & Sebastian Ruth
Sunday, March 14 at 3pm EST
Minna Choi and Sebastian Ruth offer pieces for violin solo and duo by composers Reena Esmail and Luciano Berio.
Make your reservation here.

The Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund, established at the Foundation in 2003, is awarded to Rhode Island artists whose work demonstrates exceptional creativity, rigorous dedication and consistent artistic practice, and significant artistic merit. We’re pleased to share that cellist and CMW Resident Musician Adrienne Taylor is one of three recipients of this year’s award.

I feel honored and grateful to be a recipient of the 2021 Margaret and Robert MacColl Johnson Fellowship for composition. The fellowship will give me the opportunity to continue writing music inspired by natural spaces and to expand my writing beyond the cello to include other instruments. My solo cello album, SoLa, came out of a very solitary time in my life, and the cello as a singular voice fit the expression of what I was experiencing then. Now, during the pandemic, I’ve been thinking about how much I value the relationships I share with people and the connection I feel with my musical colleagues and friends. I’m yearning for a time when I can make music together with other people again, and I’m feeling inspired to write music that I hope to be able to play one day with the musicians in my life who I care deeply about. It gives me something to dream about for the future.

The hardest part for me is finding the time and space to write. I plan to start writing next month during my practice retreat, an opportunity Community MusicWorks gives to Resident Musicians to take a week away from our regular work in order to focus on a project we’re feeling inspired about. It’s such a rare thing to be part of an organization that values people’s personal musical development in this way. I continue to be grateful to CMW for all of the ways the organization supports its musicians.

–Adrienne Taylor
Cellist and CMW Resident Musician

Learn more about Adrienne on our staff info page.

Read Adrienne’s interview in the Providence Journal.

Photo by Erin X. Smithers