The Colonial Trail Outdoor Musical Classroom Project

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The Colonial Trail Outdoor Musical Classroom
Project

• February, 2008

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A Day in the Park Musical Instruments for Every
Child
During a family trip out west last summer, a
music teacher and her husband were riding their
bicycles in a city park in Utah when they heard
the sounds of children at play. Something was
different. Something she couldnt quite place.
It was the first time she heard it. The melodic
sounds of what we now know as the Manta Ray.
There was a passion. A musical freedom in the
children.
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Imagine

• Virginias FirstOutdoor Musical Classroom
• Here
• At Colonial Trail

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The Manta Ray
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The Swirl

• Simplified instrument designs require no
  difficult muscular coordination
• Employs complimentary scales so notes are always
  played in harmony

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Imagine

• The sun is shining on CTEs campus. There is a
  sweet Virginia breeze and the birds are singing.
• The melodic sound of improvisational music is
  just a touch away for every child.
• Free and playful, there is no awareness of
  learning, no sheet music, no right way to do it.
• The children experience music naturally.
  Igniting a lifelong love of music.

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Glass Imbarimba
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Imagine

• An ensemble of state-of-the art, hand crafted
• outdoor musical instruments which feature
• harmony-based scales that require no formal
• training.
• This setting allows all children to naturally
• experience the joy of participating in the
  creation of their own music.
• Accessible to all children regardless of ability
  and permanently installed in a beautifully
  designed outdoor musical classroom.

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Tuned Drums
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Imagine

• The children of CTE playing their beloved outdoor
  instruments for a crowd of adoring parents.
• Imagine the Jazz Band from Short Pump Middle
  School visiting and playing in our outdoor
  theater for our students, and later for their
  parents.
• Imagine the childrens band Silly Bus visiting
  CTE again only this time outside. Bringing our
  outdoor instruments to life in a new way.

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The Concept

• An Outdoor Musical Classroom (Phase 1)
• An Outdoor Performance Area (Phase 2)
• Designed to make playing musical instruments easy
  for and accessible to all students
• CTE students will experience this classroom with
  the guidance of the music teachers and through
  customized, SOL-based music curriculum
• Open to CTE students for free play and for
  structured enrichment activities
• Open to the other school groups for planned site
  visits or performances

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Meet the Genius Behind Outdoor Musical
Instruments

• Based in Colorado, Freenotes manufactures
  instruments designed to facilitate improvisation
• Instruments are easy for beginners to play as for
  trained musicians
• The designer Robert Cooke is a former member of
  the Paul Winter Consort, a premier American Jazz
  ensemble
• Accomplished in piano, voice and trumpet

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Outdoor Pegasus
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Chimes
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Research and Planning

• Presented the concept to Mr. Cantone who
  allocated funding from the schools Capital Fund
  to support the project. An order for 3 sets of
  Tuned Drums have already been placed.
• Collaborated with HCPS Central Office including
  the music education, physical education and
  outdoor maintenance specialists
• Consulted the CTE music staff to recommend
  instruments and evaluate integration with music
  SOL curriculum
• Recruited a landscape architect to design the
  project for CTE pro bono

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Flying Amadinda
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The Magic of Learning About Music

• Musical "improvisation" is as natural to a child
  as learning the spoken word.
• Through hands-on experimentation children
  conceive their own musical ideas which give rise
  to their own musical sounds. 
• And just as humans decode language into speaking,
  reading and writing in order to achieve language
  literacy, by decoding their own musical ideas
  into chords and pitches children can achieve
  music appreciation and music literacy.

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Our Vision
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Next Steps

• Share the vision of the Musical Outdoor Classroom
  with the PTA in the hopes of gaining financial
  support for the project in the form of a donation
  to the school
• Complete the landscape and architectural design
  for the project
• Investigate and apply for funding grants such as
  the Partner in the Arts grant, deadline for
  submission is March
• Procure instruments and installation for Phase 1
• Celebrate the opening of the Outdoor Musical
  Classroom with the students and the community

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Project Budget
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The Outdoor Musical Classroom Team

• Mr. Cantone, Principal
• (pjcanton_at_henrico.k12.va.us)
• Music Teachers
• Erin Franklin
• (ecfranklin_at_henrico.k12.va.us)
• Sara LeRoy
• (smleroy_at_henrico.k12.va.us)
• Margaret Storti
• (mdstorti_at_henrico.k12.va.us)
• Michael Storti, parent leader
• (michael_at_stortis.net)

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Collaborating Partners

• Nancy DransfieldLandscape Architect, Landesign
  of VA, Inc.
• Colonial Trail Elementary School PTA
• Henrico County Public Schools
• John Barber, School Safety Coordinator
• Bonnie Conner-Gray, Physical Education Specialist
• Rick Tinsley, Music Specialist
• Parent Team
• Julie Gigante
• Linda Levine
• Laura OBrien
• And the list keeps growing!

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Other Information

• Copies of presentation can be printed from this
  website
• Other printed materials are available by
  contacting Michael Storti
• Visit Freenotes website www.freenotes.net where
  you can learn more and hear the instruments.

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Discussion
Colonial Trail Elementary Home of Virginias
First Musical Outdoor Classroom
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There are no wrong notes

• Beautiful music made simple