Luther Burbank Center for the Arts Launches Official Ukulele Residency

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced today that the official Artists in the Schools: Ukulele Residency program at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School has launched for the entire 2017-18 academic year. The arts-integrated classroom learning initiative is a key component of LBC's Education and Community Engagement Department, which piloted an abbreviated version of the program in 2016. Through Artists in Schools, LBC is bringing professional artists into the classroom for extended residencies that deepen learning by introducing arts skills to other core subjects. The free Ukulele Residency offers the school's 4th and 5th graders the opportunity to learn about the ukulele through instruction from musician, artist and teacher, Andrew DeVeny.

"It is exciting that we are able to bring the Ukulele Residency program from our Artists in the Schools initiative back to Lincoln Elementary School for the full school year," says Ray Gargano, Director of Education and Community Engagement at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. "We know that with every student we reach, we are able to provide arts education that prepares students to find success in school, work and life. It's rewarding to be invited back by teachers who now strongly believe in the impact the arts have on their students. Inspired by the teachers' support and the students' experience, our department has identified an ongoing need, so we are working to build our Artists in the Schools program to include more arts opportunities for students."

At no cost to the participating school or students, the official program hosts a weekly 45-minute lesson for each of the four participating classes at Lincoln Elementary School. Under the direction of DeVeny, students take a deep dive into the history and origin of the ukulele, learn how to play four chords in unison before learning how to tackle a familiar pop song. Once the students hone their skills, they will compose an original song that will connect with their curriculum. The program will culminate with a final performance in April 2018.

With over 20 years' experience instructing children of all ages, DeVeny currently teaches music in public schools, bringing weekly classes to more than 1,500 children in 12 different schools throughout Sonoma County.

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts was able to initiate the pilot program last year with generous support from the Santa Rosa CHOICE Mini-Grant Fund, Kala Brand Music Co. and Healdsburg Forever. Funding for the official launch this year is made possible by an Arts Education Innovation Grant from the joint fund established by Creative Sonoma and Community Foundation Sonoma County.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is home to world-class performances, nationally recognized education programs, contemporary visual art, and many popular events. The Arts Center is located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country and ranked among California's top performing arts presenters. Together with its resident companies, the Center presents more than 230 performances in music, dance, theater, renowned speakers, and comedy; provides many diverse education programs; and hosts more than 1,000 community events a year. Owned and operated by the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, the Center relies on charitable community donations to achieve its mission-to enrich, educate, and entertain.

About LBC' Education and Community Engagement Department
Core to Luther Burbank Center for the Arts' mission, the Education and Community Engagement Department creates quality experiences that fully engage audiences in the artistic experience and increase the impact and sustainability of the organization through four primary strategies: Equitable Arts Access, Community Engagement Programs, Strategic Partnerships, and Professional Learning Communities. These programs serve nearly 40,000 youth, educators and parents each year. The philosophy of "Education and Engagement Through the Arts" is a fundamental concept of the Center's ongoing outreach initiatives. It may seem like one small word, but it conveys the primary distinction to other arts company's "Arts Education" efforts as LBC contributes in a dynamic and evolving way to an arts-rich community.

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