Music Outreach Programs
The Victoria Conservatory of Music provides high quality music education through its Community Outreach program to a variety of schools in and around Greater Victoria. With a prime focus on assisting schools serving students in marginalized communities, these initiatives help ensure that all children have access to the many benefits music education has to offer.
These programs are offered tuition-free through the support of generous donors, grants, and sponsors.
ChoirKids
ChoirKids is a non-auditioned choir program delivered through the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Community Outreach into local Elementary schools, with prime focus on schools serving children in marginalized communities. ChoirKids fosters a love for singing and appreciation for all music. No experience is necessary, with all music being learnt by ear, and including at times light choreography.
Children’s Musical Journey
Children’s Musical Journey is designed for children in Elementary to Middle school grades. The program offers a range of customizable creative experiences through which children are taught the fundamentals of music while exploring their ability to create, including with the use of music technologies.
Activities are designed by instructors teaching within the Conservatory’s three amazing schools: Conservatory School of Classical Music, School of Contemporary Music, and the School of Music Technology and Creativity.
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Where funding is available, most programs are designed as sequential-based learning over 12-week modules. Here are some samples of activities we offer:
- Instrumental classes, such as ukulele or fiddle (Conservatory provides sets of instruments as per available funding).
- Exploring Music Fundamentals through singing, games, movement and use of small instruments (Conservatory provides).
- Music Technology workshop series in Elementary (grades 3-5) and Middle schools using midi, coding (Sonic Pi), virtual instruments, to create music and soundscapes of all types.
Workshops, Masterclasses, and Interactive Concerts
Offered either as one-off unique interactive learning experiences, or as a series, the Victoria Conservatory of Music provides student activities such as the following, based on available funding:
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- Interactive concert presentations in Elementary schools, such as student chamber ensemble performance with education focus on how students work together in a group setting, and understanding the difference between hearing vs listening.
- Workshops in Middle and High Schools for band students, either as a whole ensemble to focus on note reading, playing in time together and listening; or broken into related instrumental groups to focus on technique development.
- Music Technology workshops in Middle and High schools using midi, coding, virtual instruments, and digital audio workstation software to create music and soundscapes of all types, as well as explore sound design for gaming and film.
- Masterclass series in High schools for advanced music students providing the opportunity to work with renowned professional musicians in Classical or Contemporary genres.
For more information, please contact the Dean’s Office.
Watch us in the Community
Bannock Mechanics
Music Video made by local Indigenous Youth as part of a one-week camp lead by Conservatory faculty member Nicole Ermeneskine at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. This free program was made possible by funding from Dick and Linda Auchenlick.
Alex-Taylor McCallum
Conservatory Faculty member and local rapper/muralist, Alex Taylor-McCallum, shares his experience working with male residents at New Roads addiction facility as part of our Healing and Storytelling Through Hip Hop Lyricism program. This program is being delivered through the Conservatory’s new Centre for Music Thearpy and Wellness, with help from the School of Music Technology and Creativity.
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Music Outreach
Interview with the School of Music Technology and Creativity Artistic Director Daniel Brandes about the Conservatory’s Creative Coding and Electronic Music Outreach initiative. This interview features interviews and works by Grade 5 students at South Park Elementary School. This program has been generously supported by the Telus Foundation.
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