Kimmel Center Partners with Temple University on PNC 'Grow Up Great' Free Jazz Programming, November Through February

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts announces new partnership with Temple University Early Childhood Education Program in presenting new monthly installment of FREE jazz and musical theater-focused programs for the 2012-13 PNC Grow Up Great Series. From November through February, child-friendly Jazz programs take the stage on Commonwealth Plaza, Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon, introducing young learners, ages 0 to 4, to interactive concert experiences of jazz music.

From March through June, Temple University educators from the music preparatory division shift the curatorial focus on musical theater, continuing to engage children in childhood literacy and stimulating a lifetime interest in the arts as well as prepare children for success in both school and life.

Below is a list of FREE monthly Jazz programming, as part of the PNC Grow Up Great Series. Visit http://www.kimmelcenter.org/free for additional PNC Grow Up Great programs to be announced at later date, including PNC Grow Up Great series participation in the Kimmel Center’s annual New Year’s Day Celebration, Tuesday, January 1, 2013.

PNC Grow Up Great
Saturday, November 3, 2012, 11 a.m. to noon
All Aboard the Jazz Train
Commonwealth Plaza

Kids and parents, get ready to board the Jazz Express! In this interactive concert, we will begin our journey to experience jazz. Children will be up close to instruments and understand each musician’s job within the group. While playing jazz, musicians have to take turns and share musical ideas. Children and families will sing, scat, and move along with the band as we take you on a ride through jazz. All Aboard!

PNC Grow Up Great
Saturday, December 8, 2012, 11 a.m. to noon
Keep Talking: Improvisation is Conversation (Talkin’ Jazz)
Commonwealth Plaza

We learn language through listening and speaking to each other. We learn music the same way. We learn jazz through listening, singing, playing, and improvising with other musicians. This interactive concert will focus on how jazz musicians use improvisation to talk to the audience and each other. Audience members will learn musical vocabulary and have a chance to sing, scat, and move with the band.

PNC Grow Up Great
Saturday, February 2, 2012, 11 a.m. to noon
We’ve Got Rhythm (We’ve All Got Rhythm)
Commonwealth Plaza

In the swingin’ 1930s, George Gershwin wrote a song called “I Got Rhythm.” Since then, musicians and audiences have been movin’ and groovin’ to this popular tune. In this interactive concert, children and parents will explore the evolution of this Gershwin classic that has become the model for endless musical variations.

The Kimmel Center is the recipient of partnership funding through the nationally recognized PNC "Grow Up Great" initiative, a ten-year, $100 million investment in preparing children for success in school and life. Funding gives support to the Kimmel Center's early childhood program "Bop and Swing", a jazz arts program designed to promote literacy development in Head Start schools throughout the Philadelphia region.