Masterworks Outbound
As Masterworks enters it’s eighth year we are excited to see continued growth and success with our students within the walls of the school and in our students involvement in outside organizations such as the Charlotte Youth Orchestra, churches and area schools. If you visit institutions in the Lake Norman area and if there is a musical, dramatic, or artistic presentation going on, you will probably find that a number of students are tied in some way to Masterworks.
Two years ago Masterworks became involved in projects outside the school that were focused on taking the Masterworks philosophy and experience to groups outside of our walls. The process began with two of our instructors, Shelley Carpenter and Christina Swinger. Shelley used the Masterworks instruments and programs and ran a volunteer program in Statesville for children. Christina went to Africa to work with children and took some of our instruments. She taught children how to play guitar and violin and then left the instruments behind. Since then, a number of our students have been making regular visits to area nursing homes and performing for residents and others have been using their skills on mission trips in other countries!
As I watched all this activity take place I realized there was much more we could do if we would organize our efforts and get our students excited about the possibilities of taking the Masterwork’s Arts experience to people in our area and around the globe. We want them to see how the skllls they’re developing can be used if different settings. We want them to actually experience the difference their talents can make in the lives of someone else. We also factored into the equation that some of our students want to make a living with their craft and need to learn how to support themselves with their art. With all this in mind, Masterworks Outbound was born!
There is too much taking place to explain here, but I will outline three areas that will be made public over the next 3 months. The groundwork for each has already been firmly established.
OUTBOUND CONCERTS: A number of students from Masterworks have been lined up to do regular concerts in area nursing and retirement homes in Mooresville and Davidson. The concerts will begin in November and continue each week throughout the year. The concerts will give our students the opportunity to perform and then establish relationships with residents. Our hope is that our students will see the joy that their talents can bring to others. All of the facilities are excited to have our students coming.
In addition you will begin to see our Show Choirs, dance classes, and new orchestra hitting the streets to perform and allow people to see the arts close up. Whether it’s with young students or adults, our students will have organized opportunities to learn to use their skills to affect the lives of others.
PRESCHOOL MANIA: A number of local early childhood schools and centers have asked Masterworks to provide programs in creative movement, strings, and drama. Instructors have already begun classes in two of these local schools and you will continue to see this program expand. In addition, Masterworks has invited all area preschools in for a free morning camp called “Exploring the Arts Extravaganza” and to the morning performances of “Honk” and “Miracle on 34th Street.”
SIDE BY SIDE: Many of our students want to enter areas of the arts as a full time endeavor. This last year in our “College Funding Workshop” we introduced families to over 400 vocational opportunities available to students with training in music, visual arts, theater, and dance. To help students begin to navigate the arts as a full time career we have established a program where upper level students will begin working with instructors providing music for weddings and social gatherings. In the Masterworks “Side by Side” program students will learn both the musical and financial aspects of working in the arts industry. In addition, our own students who are in the “Crew” technical theatre classes will be staffing our own productions. And to all the parents delight – this is a co-op situation – the students will all be paid!!!
This is just the brief outline of what is happening in the “Masterworks Outbound” program. We’re excited because our students will be able to use their skills in a supervised and structured atmosphere. It will help us continue to accomplish our mission of helping students “develop skills they can use for a lifetime”!
If you have questions about how your student can become involved, please contact your instructor or email the school at masterworkschool@aol.com.
Facebook