August 8, 2024
The Cliburn’s signature education program, Cliburn in the Classroom, goes back to school September 3, presenting interactive concert experiences designed specifically for elementary school students. Recipient of D CEO Magazine‘s 2024 Innovation in Education Award—designed to recognize the organizations and leaders driving innovation in North Texas—Cliburn in the Classroom takes a holistic approach to music, catering to multiple learning styles, utilizing movement and peer-building activities, and addressing social-emotional learning objectives, while utilizing adaptive strategies so that every child can fully participate.
The Cliburn brings its own Steinway grand piano into every school, along with a virtuoso pianist to perform impressive music. A teaching-artist leads students through activities and bridges connections between the music and ideas of the program. Our interdisciplinary themes explore the intersection of music and multiple subjects, and include comprehensive study guides, which together address state and national standards for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education for elementary students.
In 2023–2024, Title 1 schools comprised 68% of the 201 partnered schools; more than 33% of program artists, hosts, and composers were people of color; and 35% of presentations featured full bilingual (Spanish/English) integration. Highlights include:
- Each school year, Cliburn in the Classroom reaches approximately 60,000 students through 300 presentations in 250 North Texas elementary schools—from school districts around North Texas, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Birdville, Castleberry, Crowley, Everman, HEB, Keller, Midlothian, and Northwest ISDs.
- The Cliburn’s education piano—a 5’7″ Steinway grand piano—travels over 5,000 miles annually, visiting North Texas schools.
- Cliburn in the Classroom is entirely free for schools and students.
Visit cliburn.org/education to learn more about Cliburn in the Classroom programs.
2024–2025 PROGRAMS
Cliburn in the Classroom introduces five all-new programs for the 2024–2025 school year, featuring a diverse array of composers, subjects, and interactive activities for students. Learn more about each program below and at cliburn.org/education.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a pianist?! A musical conversation about heroes, from caped comic book characters to heroes we meet in everyday life; told through the lens of how Van Cliburn used the superpower of music to connect people around the world.
Featured Composers: BEETHOVEN, CHOPIN, TCHAIKOVSKY, HOUGH, BENZECRY
Let’s take a stroll through America’s National Parks! Learn about the great eco-diversity of our country and see why these natural wonders spark so much imagination and creativity in music.
Featured Composers: BANSAL, LIAS, HAILSTORK, THOMAS, BRANDON, GOLIJOV, SIBELIUS
PianoBlox
Have you ever wondered who wrote the epic music to your favorite video game or movie? In this program, we learn about some of the most celebrated composers of this unique genre and how much music adds to the thrill of play.
Featured Composers: RAINE, UEMATSU, SHIMOMURA, HISAISHI, ROSENFELD, BADELT-RADNICH, CHOPIN
Pictures at an Exhibition
Imagine yourself in the grand hall of an art museum. There are so many rooms to explore, each representing a different culture, style, and time period of art. What sorts of things will you see…and hear?
Featured Composers: MUSSORGSKY, BELLIDO, AGÓCS, LEE III, RANJBARAN, MACDOWELL
Pianos in Space
Cliburn in the Classroom launches into space! We visit each of the planets, learning about the music and mythology behind their names, while photos from NASA bring the planets right into your school.
Featured Piece: HOLST The Planets
The 2023–2024 school year saw Cliburn in the Classroom make record growth in expanding its reach to new programs and communities. The Cliburn produced nearly 300 presentations in 244 schools, reaching approximately 60,000 elementary school students across nearly a dozen districts. Host, artist, and composer diversity consistently marked above one-third, over a quarter of programs included bilingual instruction, and Classroom experiences incorporated STEAM and adaptive standards.
THE SCHOOL YEAR
- Reached an estimated 60,000 elementary-aged children
- 296 programs in 244 schools
- School Districts: Arlington, Birdville, Castleberry, Crowley, Dallas, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Everman, Fort Worth, HEB, Midlothian, Northwest + Charter Schools
- 201 (68%) Title 1 Schools
REPRESENTATION
Artists and Hosts
- 15 artists & hosts
- 33% (5) people of color (Black, Asian, Hispanic)
Language
- 35% (103) bilingual Spanish/English presentations
Composers
- 41 Composers represented in programs
- 24% female
- 36% people of color (Black, Asian, Hispanic)
PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM
- Address current educators’ priorities and concerns
- Interdisciplinary programs focusing on state and national standards for STEAM address losing class time for students behind grade-level standards
- Movement, peer-building group activities, and social-emotional learning address developmental delays due to COVID isolation
- Adaptive strategies cater to multiple learning styles so all students can fully participate