Housing

The Los Angeles campus of the Longy School of Music of Bard College MAT Program is integrated with the campus of Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA). Many of the standard college facilities do not exist at the residency program site. There are no dormitories or dining halls. Graduate students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements.

Overview

The Longy School of Music MAT, Los Angeles, is a unique partnership between Longy School of Music of Bard College, Bard College, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which offers graduate study for musicians with the desire to respond to today’s educational needs and who aspire to participate in the growing El Sistema movement in the United States. The Los Angeles program is located at the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) campus, the site of Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA), the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s premier El Sistema–inspired teaching program. MAT candidates complete their course work at the Los Angeles campus, where they experience hands-on learning with YOLA students and practiced teachers. They also engage in field experiences at local public schools. Additional information on the Longy School of Music of Bard College MAT program may be found at www.take-a-stand.org.

Curriculum

The music curriculum recognizes that performing and teaching are integrally interrelated and inform each other continually. The curriculum is designed specifically to build context and experience in socially based teaching, with an emphasis on the growing El Sistema movement in this country, preparing musicians to teach in these contexts as well as in public schools. MAT students in music will be grounded in their own experiences of creating music—from improvising and composing to arranging—and uniquely prepared to design and implement curriculum that places the act of musical creation at the center of learning. Balancing course work, research, and a wealth of practical experience in classrooms, the music curriculum challenges students to apply their own musical voices and social conscience to rigorous teaching practice.

Location

The Los Angeles program is located at the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) campus, which is the site of Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA), the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s premier El Sistema–inspired teaching program. MAT students complete their course work at the Los Angeles campus, where students have a hands-on learning experience with YOLA students and experienced teachers. They also engage in field experiences at local public schools. Additional information on the Longy School of Music of Bard College MAT program may be found at www.take-a-stand.org.

Course Highlights

Writing and Thinking: MAT students gather for a weeklong intensive introductory course modeled after Bard’s signature Writing and Thinking workshop. Here they examine core beliefs and assumptions about music and education and begin to build the sense of community integral to the MAT.

Core Courses: MAT students are required to take four graduate-level courses in music and four graduate-level courses in education. These courses are thematically designed to answer essential questions about teaching and learning and are framed by practice-based research.

Teaching Laboratory: MAT students, joined by resident faculty and outside guests, convene for weekly sessions that examine the practical applications of concepts and ideas they encounter in their core courses.

Teaching Practicum: As teaching interns, MAT students design and teach classes, assess student understanding, and modify practices to adapt to students' needs. MAT students teach in school classrooms, community music centers, and El Sistema-inspired nucleos.

Private Lessons: Students enrolled in the MAT take private lessons on their major instrument, voice, composition or conducting.

Research Projects: MAT students work closely with faculty mentors to prepare two final research projects: a performance based presentation, as well as a scholarly inquiry focused on teaching and learning in the classroom.