Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to have a cross-cultural experience. Field trips can happen right in the classroom. That’s the thinking behind the World Music Arts-in-Education program sponsored by the Woman’s Club, Children’s Philanthropy in collaboration with The Rye Arts Center.

Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to have a cross-cultural experience. Field trips can happen right in the classroom. That’s the thinking behind the World Music Arts-in-Education program sponsored by the Woman’s Club, Children’s Philanthropy in collaboration with The Rye Arts Center.

 

This past school year, all 13 kindergarten classrooms at Milton, Midland, and Osborn schools — 260 students in all — learned about the music and folk traditions of the South Seas and the island of Hawaii.

 

Over the past four years, this arts education program has enabled the youngest learners in the Rye City School District to explore cultures and music from around the world. Through interactive songs, musical games, movement, and hands-on participation with authentic native instruments, these cultures are thoroughly explored.

 

“Music is a channel for unleashing creativity and self-expression, and helps young students become better listeners,” notes Anne Fumasoli, Director of the Music School at The Rye Arts Center. 

 

Woman’s Club, Children’s Philanthropy president Young Kim said their organization looks forward to sponsoring the program again next year.