Engage AFA

Engage AFA offers low-cost, customized music education programming to schools throughout the Greater Houston area, supplementing and enhancing existing instruction. Engage AFA programs and residencies are designed to increase student engagement through direct instruction and coaching, working alongside classroom teachers to reach specific program goals. AFA’s ability to customize our program offerings to meet the needs of our partners is essential to the success of each initiative. Rather than simply providing programming, we aim to partner with directors and school faculty to help students reach new heights.

Many Engage AFA programs feature collaborations with AFA’s Presenting Partners or other professional arts organizations. Almost all residencies include performance or presentation opportunities for participating students that involve their peers, parents, and school communities.

Are you interested in bringing an Engage AFA program to your school or community? Contact Director of Education Mark Buller.

Programs fall into four broad categories:

  • Arts Exposure

    Arts Exposure programs are intended to introduce new skills or concepts relating to music, giving students an introduction to a specific musical technique or methodology. Customizable programs are for any K-12 audience and may include:

    • Clinics for large ensembles with expert clinicians (orchestra and band); focus and subject matter are mutually agreed upon
    • Contest preparation or small ensemble coaching (UIL, Solo and Ensemble, etc.)
    • In-school performances by AFA Faculty Artists, modeling effective chamber music practices for school groups
    • One- or two-time lectures/seminars in an area of particular interest to your students (please contact us to discuss topics and target audience)
    • Composition/Improvisation workshops

  • Arts Integration

    Arts Integration projects help students use music and musical concepts as vehicles to enhance their learning in other subject areas. The programs below are best for grades 2-9 (but can be adapted for older students) and may include:

    • Setting/responding to written text (creative writing, ELA)
    • Instrument making and improvisation (math and science)

    Arts Integration also uses music as a vehicle to help students express themselves creatively in a variety of areas. Composition programs are appropriate for all grade levels and include:

    • Composing and arranging for school ensembles
    • Songwriting
    • Improvisation
    • Composition Clubs

  • Arts Education/Applied Music

    Many Engage AFA programs focus on applied music, helping students and ensembles improve their musical abilities. AFA focuses on the “whole musician” by including elements of music theory, analysis, and history as part of its curriculum as appropriate.

    These custom-designed curricula are intended to enhance and support music programs and range from short, introductory residencies to semester- or year-long instruction.

    Programs include:

    • Group Piano, Violin, Cello, or Percussion (at introductory or beginner levels)
    • Clinics or master classes for any orchestra or band instrument
    • Small Ensemble Coaching for UIL Solo & Ensemble
    • Chamber Music Residencies
    • Composition Classes