Educational Resource Hub & Archive
This project is designed to preserve the Minnesota Sinfonia’s 37-year commitment to symphonic artistry and K through 8 education under the leadership of its Artistic Director and Conductor, Jay Fishman. As live operations conclude after 1,800+ educational and concert performances, this permanent digital education hub seeks a long-term institutional steward to continue placing turnkey, video-backed curriculum modules directly into the hands of educators and classrooms.
Teaching Core Academics with Music
Educating our communities’ children was a primary focus of the Minnesota Sinfonia. Music in the Schools was created during our inaugural season of 1989, and during the 33 years pre and after Covid, we worked with up to 22 schools and 8,000-9,500 students every year. Over the years, more than 165,000 Minnesota students participated! Partnering with legacy keeps this preeminent program alive and available to classrooms and students nationwide for years to come.
This video provides a retrospective look at the orchestra’s community impact, featuring educator testimonials and highlighting the Music in the Schools (MIS) curriculum preserved in this legacy archive.
Music in the Schools (MIS) Overview
A nationally supported, locally proven educational initiative that uses classical music to help elementary students master core academic subjects like math, science, history, and literature. Developed by the Minnesota Sinfonia, the program features multi-month classroom curricula, academic integration tools, student-chorus performance components, and high-definition orchestra performance videos.
Prestigious National Backing
Backed by major national organizations, foundations, and corporate giants—including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Target, 3M, Ecolab, and General Mills.
Proven Local Impact
Reached over 200,000 students across 33+ years in public schools, more than doubling student interest in classical music (from 30% to 76%).
Turnkey Legacy Assets
Includes four comprehensive, video-backed curriculum modules, standardized educator guides, and instructional videos designed for K-8 classrooms.
Core Value
Provides a turnkey model to eliminate economic barriers to arts education by keeping multi-disciplinary, standards-aligned resources directly in the hands of educators.
Core Archival Programs
Focusing on core video-backed curriculum guides, including proper instrument handling and use, for maximum classroom impact.
🔬 Introducing the Orchestra: The Science Behind the SoundFocuses on the science of sounds created by the orchestra, utilizing Minnesota state academic science standards for grade levels K-8. Designed to explore acoustic properties, this module features works by master composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and others, including composers of color, alongside classroom activities and student chorus and orchestra participation. |
📖 Music Tells a StoryFocuses on literature and how musicians help tell stories through music, utilizing Minnesota state academic literature standards for grade levels K-8. Featuring masterworks by Peter Tchaikovsky, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and others, this program links musical interpretation to narrative structure, classroom activities and student chorus and orchestra participation. |
📐 The Magical Mysteries of Math and MusicFocuses on mathematical principles and their practical applications in music, aligning with state-mandated math standards for grades K through 6. Combining great orchestral works such as Franz Joseph Haydn’s Surprise Symphony with classroom activities and chorus and orchestra participation, students learn about the mathematical foundation of rhythm, meter, and note values. |
💧 Water – Our Most Precious ResourceFocuses on science and uses water as a theme for music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Paul Dukas and other great composers, utilizing Minnesota state academic science standards for grade levels K-6. Examines water science, conservation, and wave dynamics through symphonic imagery, classroom activities and student chorus and orchestra participation. |
What Else Comes in the Institutional Handoff
Beyond the core PDF curriculum guides and main high-definition performance video, the complete digital repository includes a comprehensive library of modular program components and supporting archival files designed for immediate, turnkey classroom deployment.
Examples of Included Archival Assets:
- Student Choir & Vocal Sheets: Downloadable scores and computer-generated practice accompaniments for songs like The Ants Go Marching One by One.
- Orchestra & Instrument Parts: Dedicated conductor scores, student string parts, and arrangement files scaled for varying youth proficiency levels. Example
- Instructional “How-To” Videos: Specialized technical segments created by Sinfonia musicians covering wind embouchures, string bowing techniques, and proper instrument handling –such as Julia Persitz: On Holding the Violin.
- Original Story Frameworks: Full narrative guides and character scripts written by Bernie Fishman (e.g., Bears!!, Cinderella Updated!, and The Field Trip) integrated directly into the musical lessons.
- Plus a broad collection of additional supporting documentation, teacher resource files, and digital media assets accumulated over 37 years.