All Creatures (and Musical Instruments) Great and Small

"All Creatures Great and Small" is the theme of this year's Austin Symphony Young People's Concerts. The animal kingdom is explored in music at 11 concerts attended by more than 30,000 fourth and sixth grade students from throughout Central Texas. What a wonderful opportunity for the children to hear classical music, and to learn about all the instruments — great, small, and in between — that comprise a symphony orchestra.

This morning, I attended one of the concerts at the Long Center for the Performing Arts with youngsters from 17 Austin elementary schools. Together, we listened to musical representations of bees, lions, elephants, fish, birds, swans, donkeys, and whales! The students were totally attentive and respectful, and I could tell that their music teachers had done a fantastic job of preparing them for the experience.

These concerts are among the most innovative programs around for introducing young people to classical music. Through the use of modern technology, the audience gets an “up-close look” at the orchestra. Four video cameras zoom in on the Maestro and the musicians as they are playing … images are projected on a giant screen behind the orchestra and VOILA … the audience can see what they hear and hear what they see! See it all in “Symph-O-Vision.”

We also enjoyed large projections of children's artwork depicting animals featured in the music, and the "Whales" finale was incredible! Thank you to the very, very talented Austin Symphony musicians and conductor David Mairs.

I'm honored to serve on the Symphony Board with members such as Jane Sibley and Nancy Young

Parents, if you have upper elementary children, be sure to ask them about their experience at these Young People's Concerts. This opportunity can spark your kids' interest in making music in middle and high school bands, orchestras, and ensembles — and maybe even as a future career!

Hello to the Fabulous Falcons at Fulmore

 There are just a few more weeks of the school year, so visiting campuses is a little different. There's something in the air — a feeling of excitement ... anticipation ... pride. Both students and teachers are looking forward to completing the year, but learning is still going strong — as I found at Fulmore Middle School this morning. The Falcons are fabulous!

 Principal Lisa Bush introduced me to some hardworking classes who were deep into math and social studies. I saw lots of technology in use, and it was exciting to see students using gadgets such as iPods to learn about, for instance, colonization of Africa in the 19th century. World Cultures teacher Yolanda Melendez was directing her sixth graders in exploring how European nations established colonies, and how having been a colony affected the political, social, and economic development of today's African nations. The students also are learning about various forms of government, and created a utopia with  perfect economic, social, and government systems. Then they analyzed their creation to determine how viable it was.

Pre-Advanced Placement sixth graders were using laptops in math. Teacher Elizabeth Abernathy's lesson was to create a power point presentation involving integers (we all know what integers are, right?), then present it to the class. The students were quiet and focused, and I enjoyed talking with several of them about their work.

Fulmore's Teacher of Promise, Elsbeth Clarson, was having her seventh grade Texas History students examine an important issue — Mexican-American civil rights in Texas. The students first discussed issues of fairness and their perceptions of who is treated "fairly" and who is not. They then read about historic civil rights leaders and movements in preparation to writing a poem or song about them.

 Ms. Clarson's classroom is in Fulmore's "No Place for Hate" hallway which features posters students created about topics such as acceptance and saying no to bullying. It was very moving to read their thoughts and think about the issues they face as adolescents.

Introduction to Law, taught by Fulmore's Teacher of the Year Johnny Galan, was the next class I visited. Fulmore is home to the Law and Humanities magnet program, and this group of magnet sixth graders was busy prepping for a trial. Next week, they'll visit a real courtroom and meet a judge. Are these students future attorneys and maybe even judges? Perhaps. I'm sure Mr. Galan is helping them become aware, not only of how our legal system works, but also of the many potential careers open to these young people in the years ahead.

Out in the hall, I met some really cute boys who were practicing a skit about a trip to the South American rainforest. Jaguars, piranhas, and snakes ... oh my!




 Music! I almost forgot to mention the fantastic music I enjoyed at Fulmore. We were serenaded by the Mariachi Falcon Azul when we arrived. Taught by Meredith McAlmon, these talented students perform throughout the community, and are becoming very prepared to join mariachi groups at their future high schools. We also got a great musical sendoff from the Fulmore band brass section. Their director is Joel Woodson, and, yes, I recognized the theme to "SpongeBob SquarePants."

One of AISD's oldest schools — founded in 1886 — Fulmore is planning a huge 125th anniversary celebration in September. Way back then, Fulmore was a one-room, white frame schoolhouse with a bell tower and a few eager students. The school now has about 1,000 students and a national reputation for excellence. Among the school's alumni is John Henry Faulk, the defender of the First Amendment, for whom the downtown public library is named. Former governor Ann Richards taught at Fulmore, as did the 1997-1998 Texas Teacher of the Year, Joe Farley. Did you attend Fulmore? It doesn't matter how many years ago. Your memories are precious and you can share them in a survey on the school website. Go to www.austinisd.org. Check it out!

Time to say goodbye to the fabulous Fulmore Falcons. Thanks for your hospitality — and for working so hard these last few weeks of the school year! Y'all are great.