Education Resources

Teacher’s Guide/CD

Be sure to check out our free downloadable teacher’s guide! You may also request a companion CD with your Kinderkonzert and Young People’s Concert orders. The guides include information on music elements and principles, instruments, the compositions and the composers featured in our concerts along with suggested lesson plans/activities that enhance the concert experience and meet curriculum objectives as outlined in the Oregon Content Standards. The CD contains pieces your students will hear in concert, as well as examples of music elements offered in the guides.

2012/13 Kinderkonzert Teacher’s Guide  (3 mb PDF) »

2012/13 Young People's Teacher’s Guide for "Fascinating Rhythms" will be posted in late November 2012. Please check back at that time.

Vemer Instrumental Coaching Program

Oregon Symphony musicians are heading into Portland area high schools under a new program designed to build relationships with students, their teachers and families. The new Instrumental Coaching Program is funded by the Patty Vemer Education Endowment.

Between January and May 2011, six Oregon Symphony musicians worked with five area middle and high school orchestras in four metro area school districts. In keeping with the intent of the Patty Vemer Memorial Education Fund, the new program is designed to offer specific instrumental coaching help needed in middle and high schools. In this way, the spirit and intent of Vemer’s music education leadership at the Oregon Symphony will be actively carried on in the schools as funds allow.

Schools must demonstrate a financial need, and are required to apply for consideration. To learn more about participating in this program, contact Monica Hayes, the orchestra’s Education & Community Engagement Program Director, at mhayes@orsymphony.org or 503-416-6312.

Take advantage of these free resources to shape your concert experience.

Docents

Before your group attends a concert, invite a volunteer docent into your classroom to lead students through listening lessons and activities featuring the music and composers from the upcoming concert. Docent presentations are recommended for classes no larger than 30 per presentation. These Symphony volunteers will share their knowledge and passion for classical music in a unique way to your students. Request a complimentary docent visit for the Young People’s Concerts on the concert order form.

Orchestra Map

Learn more about the instruments of the orchestra with our interactive, on-line map, featuring an introduction to each instrument family and information on what each instrument is made of, how it produces sound, and where it sits in the orchestra.

2012/13 Music Education Brochure (407 kb PDF) »