Additional Programming
We believe that the more time students spend with music, the more it becomes a part of their lives.
That is why are committed to creating music-making opportunities in addition to our after school program. All students enrolled in SMP have these additional programs available to them:
The Middle School Music Project (MSMP)
The 2018-2019 Middle School Music Project at the Yesler Community Center.
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"I really like being a part of MSMP. We play full pieces of music, and sometimes the orchestra and band students get to play music together, which is something I’ve never done before... I like how challenging MSMP music is — it makes playing more fun." "MSMP allowed my daughter to continue her skills & take it to the next level & to keep in touch with her SMP peers. |
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After two years with SMP, our students head off to the various middle schools across the city. Some attend schools with terrific music programs. Some go to schools with comparatively few music offerings. And some run into schedule conflicts so that playing music in school becomes impossible.
As a way of ensuring that there would always be a place for our graduates to be part of a fun, music-learning community, in 2015 we launched an evening program for 6th grade SMP graduates, devoting one night each week to the exploration and performance of ensemble music. Volunteers from the community serve as one-on-one and sectional "coaches" who assist students with repertoire and technique. The MSMP evening ensemble supports students as they transition from elementary school to middle school, furthers their musical skills and simultaneously fulfills our desire to keep these students “in the family.” The 2019-2020 MSMP program will include all middle school grades and continue taking place at the Yesler Community Center. Our long term goal is to keep more students involved with music and see more SMP grads return as volunteers during their high school years. 
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MSMP coaches expressing the rewarding
opportunity working with Middle Schoolers MSMP performing Moans Medley at
the SMP Summer program MSMP performing Russian Sailor's Dance
at Town Hall Seattle |
The SMP Summer Music Program
The 2019 Summer Music Program at Madrona Elementary.
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Just because the school year comes to an end doesn’t mean that the music (and the fun) has to stop!
Prior to 2014, we asked students to return our instruments in June so they could be cleaned and maintained - but we hated the idea that opportunities for further learning and practice would stop during the summer months. Seattle’s public schools historically provided their own summer music camps, but these programs were fee-based, and held in other neighborhoods. Never in the Central District. To address these challenges, we launched our own summer program, holding one to two week-long sessions, without cost to participants. For six years now, students from all of our schools have gathered for SMP's summer edition and enjoyed games, art projects, and sunshine in addition to consecutive days of intensive music-playing. The past 3 years have also included a leadership program from the middle school students in MSMP. 
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SMP Orchestra performing Simple Gifts
SMP Orchestra performing Simple Gifts
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