Education Programs
Engage • Educate • Inspire
As an essential pillar of the organization’s Mission, Arizona Musicfest provides unique music education programs to area students and schools, as well as important performance opportunities and financial assistance for aspiring young musicians from throughout the Greater Scottsdale/Phoenix area. Each year, Arizona Musicfest education and youth programs reach over 6,000 children.
Arizona Musicfest’s education programs provide access and affordability (all programs are free) to classical music and jazz for kids in grades K-12. Through a variety of programs (see links below), Arizona Musicfest provides supplemental programs to enhance the music education resources and opportunities provided by area schools. Arizona Musicfest is proud to partner with local educators and administrators to ensure that music learning, appreciation, and music-making can be realized for all.
Through the diversity of Arizona Musicfest programs and the on-going expansion of our youth initiatives, Arizona Musicfest strives to make a difference in the communities we serve and in the children we inspire through music.
Music Makers Assemblies
Musicfest Music Makers are in-school assembly concerts that engage students with exciting music, activities, and classroom materials to support and enhance the curriculum of schools served. With programs developed for specific grade levels, Musicfest’s programs feature a wide array of instruments and musical genres. Performed in classrooms, gymnasiums, cafetoriums, and multipurpose rooms, these 50-minute programs are free of cost to schools and districts.
All concerts include pre- and post-concert materials written to support classroom teachers, fine arts teachers, and families to extend the concert experience beyond the performance. Follow the link below for information on each of our six programs, and fill out this request form to schedule a performance!
Access to Artistry
Arizona Musicfest annually works to connect local students with featured Festival artists. An outgrowth of our popular Festival Orchestra Outreach programs, Access to Artistry consists of Masterclasses, Clinics, and insightful Question and Answer sessions.
Area middle school, high school, and university students have benefited from working with musicians from our Festival Orchestra as well as feature Festival Performers Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jake Shimabukuro, and Andrew von Oeyen through these opportunities.
In response to school closures around the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona Musicfest worked to design and deliver select resources to support music teachers in connecting with their students through their online classrooms. Highlighting state standards, thinking maps, and playlists online, students are encouraged to listen and respond to music through various activities ranging from creative writing to the scientific method and geography. Find more information by clicking the button below!
Musicfest Strummers
In partnership with the John and Joan D’Addario Foundation, Arizona Musicfest provided over 250 ukuleles and guitars to local students in the Cave Creek Unified School District from 2010-2014. Musicfest collaborated with CCUSD teacher Cindy Pushak to develop curriculum and invited students to perform twice with featured Festival Artists, including Jake Shimabukuro.
For more information on the Strummers program, please contact education@azmusicfest.org.
Instrument Loan Program
Arizona Musicfest partners with area educators to supply instruments to families who are unable to afford rent or the purchase of their own. For more details, please contact education@azmusicfest.org.