Press Releases

April 23, 2002
Unique "In Harmony With Education" Program Comes to the East End

Southampton College Hosts Music Education for Elementary Schools

Contact:
Darren Johnson (PR@southampton.liu.edu)
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Fifth and sixth grade classes from area schools including East Hampton, Montauk, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Tuckahoe, Ross School, Springs and Our Lady of the Hamptons, have recently taken part in an "In Harmony with Education" program at Southampton College. This unique educational experience, developed by American audio manufacturer Bose Corporation and the National Association for Music Education, in conjunction with Southampton College, is designed to reach students on a level that blends the development of children's perception of music with an understanding of the connections among music, science and math.

"Southampton College sponsored this community service to give the children of the East End an exciting and enriching program," said psychology professor John Neill. "Our graduate students in Education volunteered to teach this program. They are all thrilled to see the children respond with so much enthusiasm to this science and music experience."

In the program, students are involved in musical and scientific creativity. In-class curriculum activities include assembling instruments, composing and arranging their own music, measuring sound and graphing the effect of different elements of musical instrument construction including resonance.

"We hope that by teaching students about the excitement, beauty and science of music, we will make a positive difference in East End schools and in the minds of students," said Ilze Davenport, the director of the "In Harmony With Education" program. The program is currently being offered in school systems across the United States. To date, over 85,000 students have taken part in the program. For further information, contact Dr. Neill at (631) 287-8202.