A community of musicianship, scholarship and citizenship at KPS Woods Lake Elementary.
Kalamazoo Kids in Tune is a partnership of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo, and Kalamazoo Public Schools. The program combines the outstanding after-school environment of the CIS 21st Century Community Learning Center with a music-infused curriculum developed by the KSO and based on the ideals of El Sistema, the groundbreaking Venezuelan youth orchestra model.
Developed in 2011, Kalamazoo Kids In Tune (KKIT) combines the talents and resources of the KSO with the Kalamazoo Public Schools and Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo (KCIS), to pilot an after-school program in the fall based on El Sistema.
The KKIT pilot program takes place at Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet School for the Arts. The program infuses the existing KCIS after-school program with the El Sistema philosophy and methodology.
KKIT surrounds the children with a caring web of support, resources, and mentors. Four days each week (Mon-Thurs) children receive a hot meal, academic tutoring and literacy support, music instruction, and recreation.
Assistant KSO Conductor Barry Ross regularly visits the class and the children also enjoy visits from selected KSO guest artists such as Clarinetist Anthony McGill.
Kalamazoo Kids In Tune is part of The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo, a dynamic, growing collaboration of individuals and organizations embracing a vision that every child in Kalamazoo County will be ready for school, ready for college and ready for the world.
Program Vision: Children in Kalamazoo develop the tools to succeed in school, college, and life.
Launched in fall of 2011 at KPS Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center for the Arts
o Year 1: 40 participants
o Summer Session 1: 25 participants
o Year 2: 100 participants expected
Students attend Monday-Thursday from 3:45-6:15. Activities include:
o Orchestra
o Group Lessons
o Choir
o Bucket Band
o Musicianship
o Dance classes
o Guest artist visits, concert field trips
o School and community performances
o Daily hot meal
o Academic tutoring
The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also gratefully acknowledges the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation and the League of American Orchestras for their generous support of this program.
Major Funding Provided by:
Additional Support From:
WMU Nonprofit Leadership Students
First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo
