Education Programs

In the Greater Houston area, 79% of Houston Independent School District children are economically disadvantaged, and only 53% have had any exposure to music in school. Regular access to the arts improves students’ concentration and motivation and contributes to higher academic achievement. But providing access to cultural programs, arts training and equipment is a challenge for many schools. Musiqa strives to fill this gap through its award-winning education programs.

Musiqa aims to expand and cultivate students’ interest in the arts. Our education programming strives to meet students’ needs by enhancing their experience and accessibility to the music-arts. We offer high-quality musical experiences designed to align with TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) for Fine Arts criteria relative to music literacy, creative expression, historical and cultural relevance, and critical evaluation. Over the past 17 years, our education programs have reached more than 60,000 public school students in grades 2 through 12, from over 250 greater Houston area schools, all at no cost to the participants. Our programming provides musical exposure to students and others who may not otherwise have access to the arts through high-quality musical experiences. 

Musiqa’s education programs:

Cultivate

a lifelong interest in the arts

Stimulate

creative and analytical thinking

Build

self-esteem for future success

Create

global citizens for the 21st century

The Discovery Series at the Hobby Center

Bus Transportation

The Discovery Series programs are free to participating schools, including bus transportation to and from The Hobby Center.

Around the World with Musiqa

Modern arrangements of folk songs in multiple languages teach students musical concepts and how to recognize common themes in music from different cultures. Students learn how modern composers make folk songs come alive in personal, imaginative ways. As the children hear and sing songs in different languages, they gain an appreciation of music from diverse cultures.

Musiqa ReMix

These performances take students inside pieces of music to explore rhythm, meter, harmony, orchestration, counterpoint and other key concepts. Students are engaged through a combination of live music, theater and animated graphics. ReMix is interdisciplinary, with introductions to the visual arts and mathematical concepts, bringing music to life.

In-School Residencies
Musiqa’s programs are highly interactive: our Resident Artist visits each participating school for an in-school workshop. We also provide CDs to every classroom, as well as supplemental lesson plans and a study guide, which are tied to the Texas state educational standards.
MusiqaLab

MusiqaLab brings together young composers and our experienced teaching artists, professional composers and musicians. Over the course of a semester, students learn a variety of composition techniques, try out ideas with trained musicians, and prepare for a public performance of their work presented by Musiqa’s professional team of musicians. MusiqaLab’s structure is informed by the work of the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composer program, an award-winning project that has served thousands of individual students and been adopted by teaching artists and musicians around the world.

Contact Musiqa’s Executive Director (at info AT musiqahouston dot org) to bring MusiqaLab to your school.

Adventures in Music!

With these in-school residencies, students hear new sounds in programs that are both exciting and educational. Colorful tales and varied musical ensembles make the stories leap off the page. Students don’t just passively listen, but are encouraged to touch and experience music —thinking, dreaming, seeing, and hearing in new ways.
Online Programs
Now available for free though our website.
Musiqa Explorer

Individual units that explore music, poetry, movement and science using Musiqa productions and a host of special guests. Unique modules are available for students of all ages.

Around The World Online
Our award-winning Around The World programming is now available online, complete with study guides and lesson plans.
Sound Reasoning Online
Developed by Dr. Anthony Brandt, this course encourages students to be self-reliant – to get up close to the music, without mediation or interference. The concepts explored in this course apply to any piece of music, no matter when it was written. Each concept is illustrated with examples both from the classical and modern repertoires of the Western tradition. Sound Reasoning takes a “top down” approach to listening: itt will show students how to stretch their awareness so that it takes in the full expanse of a composition.