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Published Sunday, September 21, 2008 in Education

Spivey Hall's Young People's Concerts appeal to students

By AMBER JOY DIMKOFF

Education Manager, Spivey Hall

"Oh, I've been here before!"

"Is this really a college?"

"This is beautiful."

These are the first comments and questions I hear from children as they walk inside Clayton State University's Spivey Hall before their teachers have the opportunity to shush them. Filled with joyous anticipation, children from all walks of life find harmony -- figuratively and literally -- inside our doors. Upon first glance, the children and their chaperones see the beauty of a fine recital hall decorated with marble floors and furniture from Emilie Spivey's home, a staircase with lyres as balustrades, and floor-to-ceiling windows which showcase Swan Lake, the campus' 12-acre body of water which boasts waterfowl and wildlife.

While this is a lovely start to the children's morning, their experience in Spivey Hall has only just begun. Traveling from up to 12 public school systems, school children of all grade levels attend Young People's Concerts at Spivey Hall as a school field trip. Established in 1994, YPCs enable children to hear excellent music of many traditions, enhancing their learning in a wealth of subjects. The genres range from musical theatre and opera to world music for elementary school children, and, for middle and high school students, from choral music to jazz and string programs.

Designed specifically with the students in mind, YPCs are approximately 45 minutes in length and contain a healthy mix of information, performance and audience participation. Many of the YPCs include a study guide and/or question-and-answer session to reinforce the material demonstrated in the concert. Whether students see a delightful children's opera, find out that a pipe organ is really just a "musical computer," or clap their hands to the beat of an African drum, they learn about music, history, cultures and respect.

The artists giving YPCs are all outstanding musicians with a strong belief in music education. Some are local or regional artists; others are international guests on the Spivey Series. Together they make up a roster of approximately 45 YPCs each year, which run from the end of October through March.

In addition to public school students, which made up 65 percent of the audience in 2007/08, private school students, home school families, day care centers and senior citizens attend daytime YPCs as well. Registration is required in advance; the price to attend is $1 per person, regardless of age.

Certainly I enjoy watching the students' jaws drop when they first enter Spivey Hall, but I particularly take pleasure in watching their faces when they are engaged in a performance. And while it is nice to hear students' reactions when they enter Spivey Hall, it is the comments they make as they leave the building that let me know I have done my job well.

Sometimes it's a shy "thank you." Sometimes it's children whistling or humming the last tune they heard. Sometimes it's feeling two little arms wrapped around my legs in a hug. And sometimes it's, "Ms. Amber, that was the best concert I've ever seen."

Spivey Hall welcomed more than 15,000 individuals to its Young People's Concerts in 2007/08, the highest number since 1999. School systems whose teachers registered to attend a Spivey Hall YPC last year included DeKalb, Clayton, Henry, Fayette, Fulton, Cobb, Douglas, Atlanta Public, Carroll, Sumter and Newton.

In previous years, public schools from Coweta, Walton and Morgan counties have attended YPCs, as well home-school families from as far away as Hall, Bartow, Rockdale and Cherokee counties.