“Okay everyone, this is a piccolo, which means “small” in Italian. Because it’s smaller than a flute, do you think the pitch will be higher or lower?” ….
Ann Richards, assistant principal flautist for the Nashville Symphony, pulls out a piccolo from her gig bag. “Okay everyone, this is a piccolo, which means “small” in Italian. Because it’s smaller than a flute, do you think the pitch will be higher or lower?” Students from the R.I.S.E. afterschool program, which stands for Refugee and Immigrant Student Empowerment, all yell out, “Higher!”
They’re right, and in the back of the room, Kelley Bell and I cannot help but high-five each other. Just the previous week, we had done a lesson plan with the same class entitled “Science of Sound” where we covered topics like sound production, pitch and wavelength.
This is all part of an exciting new collaboration between the Nashville Symphony and the Mayor’s Nashville After Zone Alliance, in which we provide programming support and enrichment activities for afterschool providers like R.I.S.E.
Last month, the Nashville Symphony celebrated this new partnership by bringing our signature Instrument Petting Zoo to the Hadley Community Center. Hundreds of students were there from various afterschool programs throughout the city.
Blair Bodine
Director of Education & Community Engagement
Check out more of the Nashville Symphony Curriculum
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