Who We Are & What We Do.
The Philadelphia Youth Music Ensembles is not a groups that kids go to after school to sing. The Philadelphia Youth Music Ensembles is a place where kids can learn music and other important things. We teach kids things like being on time, working hard, and speaking in front of people.
We are different from the music classes that kids have in school. The Philadelphia Youth Music Ensembles does a lot of things that other schools do not do. We teach kids a lot about music. We give them lots of chances to sing in big theaters. The Philadelphia Youth Music Ensembles is a place where kids from schools and neighborhoods can meet and work together.
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Our Core Philosophies
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We base our educational model on three simple, practical pillars:
Literacy
Every child in our programs learns how to read sheet music. They understand rhythm and sight-read vocal parts from the beginning. Music literacy is really important to us because it helps kids focus and feel confident in school. The music literacy that our kids learn is something that will help them for a time.
Shared Accountability
When you sing in a choir, you have to listen to the other people and work together. Our students learn that if they want to have a performance, everyone has to show up ready to go and work as a team. This is something that our students learn from the start. The shared accountability is what makes our choir sound so good.
Civic Engagement
We think that music is for everyone. That is why our choirs sing at plazas and neighborhood parks and at events to help people in need. This teaches our students that they can use their music to help others. Civic Engagement is a part of what we do.
Every year the Philadelphia Youth Music Ensembles gives hundreds of hours of free and low-cost music instruction to families. We work with schools and community centers and youth groups to find kids who're really good at music and give them a place to sing and grow. This is a place where kids from all backgrounds can meet and become friends and work together and become leaders. The Philadelphia Youth Music Ensembles is really making a difference, in our community.