Our Activity Model
Educational Approach
Makor’s approach holds that everyone has musicality and creative abilities. As this creativity develops, a person is able to experience and develop capabilities of thought and expression, and close and empowering interpersonal relationships.
In Makor’s conception, the conditions for cultivating creativity are the acceptance of every adolescent as unconditionally valuable, creating a non-judgmental atmosphere with empathetic understanding and mental and emotional freedom.
Therefore and based on these conditions, our method of music teaching emphasises the abilities and needs of each girl and boy for finding their individual inner music. Our unique teaching method encourages a free and active exploration of music brought in by the students; with guidance, they discover their own musical capabilities and gain the confidence to develop them further.
STUDENT
Musical
ensemble
volunteering
projects
MUSIC
COMMUNITY
Performances in
the community
GROUP
In addition to the routine course of music education, we operate several complementary enrichment frameworks of various types:
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Master classes taught by leading musicians;
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Theory of music, sound, and production classes
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Production of community musical events
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Musical content enrichment through films, listening sessions, and introduction to various musicians, as well as mentoring workshops, as an individual and collective support envelope.
In total, each student receives between three and five weekly hours of study, not including additional activities in which they take part.
It should be noted that the music center functions as a second home for the youth, where they can come in their free time, to practice, to meet their friends, and to make musical progress.
Activity Methods
Each of the youth participating in the Children of Music project undergoes a systematic and structured three-layered process, carried out over three years:
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The personal layer, where the student acquires personal skills in writing/singing/playing an instrument, based on individual choice, in individual lessons, for an hour or two hours a week.
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The group layer, where the student is an integral part of musical ensembles, for about three hours a week.
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The communal layer, where students initiate, produce and actively participate in cultural events in the community, as well taking part in other communal contribution events.
Makor provides to the centers under its management a complete support structure, which includes:
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Close escorting and guidance of center staff, which include training days for theory and practice, monitoring, mentoring, and professional and pedagogical guidance, provided by professionals experienced in music education for youth at risk, devising annual plans to reflect Makor’s vision based on the particular needs and requirements of the center.
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Program participants are offered recording studio facilities – according to their individual program.
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Instrument loans, as per need.
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Initiating and implementing broad collaboration efforts with external sources, such as Tel Aviv University, various professional recording studios, Synthesizer Association and more.
Success Indicators
The framework of activity in our music centers is process- and project-based. That is, we strive to reach a tangible goal – a performance or a recording. Thus, an ongoing, consistent participation of youth in the activity will mature into a “product”, attesting to the process they have experienced.
Performances in the community and the recording of musical products in the studio are indication of the fruition of these processes and ultimately, the project’s success.
In addition, the music center’s success is measured by qualitative and quantitative indicators, such as:
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Number of participants: The number of youngsters taking part in the activity of the music center. The number we aspire to achieve is in accordance with the size of the community in which it operates, and the center’s own resources, size and budget.
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Rate of consistent engagement: Our goal is for the youth to continue their engagement with the project for three years, and to attend 80% of the activity.
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Integrating the center within the fabric of its community: The level of interaction between the center and participating youth and the surrounding community. We aspire to a lively and vibrant relationship between the Music Center and the community. To achieve this, we will initiate the greatest possible number of events in which students perform their own works.
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Products: We review the quality of the products achieved (recordings and performances) and the number of students who take part in their creation.
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Contribution to the Community: Performances in nursing homes, hospitals, etc.
Future Directions
Through their years of participation in the project, some youngsters will realize that music is a field in which they want to keep growing. For these students, we intend to develop several paths in which we can assist their development.
* Preparation for auditions to IIDF Entertainment groups.
* Cooperation with the IDF for placement in appropriate positions.
* Assistance in getting scholarships for higher education.
* Linking to music industry executives.
* Forming a music label that could offer financial support to young musicians as performing artists.