As author of what has been labeled "the original blog" on Sistema, I reluctantly accept the responsibility of writing its obituary. Where to begin... Sistema was born in the 1970s as a conventional elitist youth orchestra, founded by a career civil servant with conducting ambitions... Or: Sistema was born in the late 1990s in Venezuela … Continue reading Sistema is dead – a post mortem
Sistema in the crossfire
The least comfortable seat is the one on the fence, but that’s where the Fundación needs to be right now.
Something is rotten….
A Danish program defies Maestro Abreu and the Fundación - how should the international community respond?
This is where things really get interesting – Logic Model additions Part 2
The goal of social action through music has never been to impart instruction in the most efficient manner, but in the most organic.
No silver bullets – on the nature of “Proof”
The social power of music is something we hold to be good and true. And in many ways, this is greater proof than any study
El Sistema in Canada – 2012 Update
Canadian núcleos are some of the oldest in North America; Canadian universities have hosted the first academic conferences related to el Sistema; a national foundation presented the Símon Bolívar Orchestra in its largest venue to date and formally honoured Maestro Abreu's achievements in 2008; and a Canadian youth orchestra has set the current gold standard internationally in advocating for and securing major government funding.
Thirty Minutes with Maestro Abreu
“Teaching is not something hierarchical. It’s a pleasure. We consider ourselves privileged to be a teacher, especially because in Venezuela we didn’t have the profession of music teacher in the past. There’s a sense of pride to achieve through your students.”
“Five Fundamentals of El Sistema” now available online and in print – en francais aussi!
I'm very happy to say that my formal article on The Five Fundamentals of El Sistema is now available in print in the current edition of Canadian Music Educator (53-1), the official publication of the Canadian Music Educators' Association. The editor, Ben Bolden of Queen's University, has very graciously allowed the Québec Music Educators' … Continue reading “Five Fundamentals of El Sistema” now available online and in print – en francais aussi!
Venio, Video, Vinco
Not just two blog posts in one week, but the second is a video blog post at that. Enjoy this mini-documentary of a component of our activities in Baltimore last week.
Jonathan Andrew Govias 