Tell me, and I will forget.
Show me, and I may remember.
Involve me, and I will understand.
— Confucius (450 B.C.)
We believe that individuals construct their own knowledge through active learning over time. Therefore, we design programs that address diverse learning styles, offer multiple opportunities for participants to make music, explore new musical ideas, build upon their prior knowledge, share their thinking with others, reflect on their music experiences, and most importantly — develop their own musical meanings.
This philosophy applies to all of our constituents, whether they are children or adults, music novices or experts:
Children...
- relate LA Phil programs to their previous experiences
- learn both independently and in groups
- learn musical ideas from multiple perspectives
- reflect on music experiences with support from parents, teachers, and curricular materials
Young musicians...
- learn from a diverse group of professional musicians: LA Phil musicians, conductors, guest artists, composers, and teaching artists
- learn one-on-one, in sectionals, and in orchestras or bands
- explore new repertoire and performance techniques
- reflect on their musical development over time
Adult concert-goers...
- seek out music experiences that hold personal relevance
- interact with musicians and musicologist during pre and post concert programs
- learn about different ways of listening to music
- learn about the historical and cultural contexts of presented music
- reflect and talk about concert experiences with others
Teachers...
- articulate specific learner goals so that students understand what is expected of them
- relate music content to what students already know
- ask open-ended questions in order to elicit students' unique viewpoints
- reflect with students about their thinking and creative processes
