The Mendelssohn Project


	FAMILY / CHILDREN The Mendelssohn Project feels deeply committed in having its foundation establish children and family oriented programs. Felix Mendelssohn was a remarkable family man – the loving father of four, and a composer who wrote numerous pieces dedicated to and for use by children. Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel was a deeply devoted mother to her son, Sebastian, and was a beloved aunt to Felix' four children. TMP would like to be able to fund a series of children's concerts, perhaps to be given in cooperation with local area school, churches and synagogues featuring the works of the two composers. These concerts geared not just for children, but for the entire family, would also include brief presentations about the importance of family in the lives of the Mendelssohns and would reflect this aspect of their creative personae. These concerts would hopefully generate a broader understanding of the beauty of classical music and generate interest in other aspects of The Mendelssohn Project, such as the CDs, books, theatrical productions, and more. The Family/Children concerts could be presented in different formats depending on the venue in which they were given; they could include a variety of solo works, chamber works for strings with and without piano, and orchestral works. Most interestingly, the concerts could grant solo roles to children who are gifted performers. One such concert could have a young pianist performing some of Felix or Fanny Mendelssohn's piano music; one might feature a young violinist or cellist and pianist in a performance of one of their Violin or Cello Sonatas; another might use a student orchestra to play one of the string symphonies Felix Mendelssohn wrote when he himself was 10-13 years old – all a vivid demonstration for young audiences of the brilliance and musical talents of these composers. The Mendelssohn Project already has a growing roster of young artists who portray Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn in its salon concerts and believes in promoting the careers of these talented people. TMP would like to expand its roster of young artists and create a weekly workshop to work with them in understanding and mastering the art of performing different styles of music in the way which the composer originally intended. TMP believes that funding such a program would pave the way for a deeper community involvement from a wide spectrum of people. The Mendelssohn Project would also like to work with local areas and schools to host lectures and seminars dedicated to the entire Mendelssohn family, including Moses Mendelssohn, and their contribution to music, literature, philosophy and the arts. A series of books geared for younger audiences would also be a logical means of generating interest in the entire Mendelssohn story. Such books would be geared for all age groups and designed to make music enjoyable and fun, and at the same time be great learning tools. TMP would also like to be able to further the concept of making music and the arts fun for children by producing a series of toys and games. Some ideas include: 1) a see-and-touch book designed for children ages 3 through 6 about learning the instruments of Felix Mendelssohn's orchestras; 2) a series of see-and-touch reproductions of music by Felix Mendelssohn teaching children 4 through 10 how to read music. It would use basic well-known scores which he composed: "My Country 'Tis of Thee", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", the "Wedding March", etc; 3) a DVD teaching older children how to build a symphony orchestra, with interactive features allowing the user to add and subtract instruments from a work being played and learn how each instrument relates to the whole. They would also learn to identify some of the basic sounds of these instruments, and would learn to pick out the various sounds whenever hearing music – rather than simply hearing melodies and rhythms. This would make the listening experience a learning experience as well, and would foster children's inquisitive nature and imagination. And certainly not least, The Mendelssohn Project would like to be able to establish outreach programs for less fortunate children and families in conjunction with local government and existing community programs. < Back

FAMILY / CHILDREN

The Mendelssohn Project feels deeply committed in having its foundation establish children and family oriented programs. Felix Mendelssohn was a remarkable family man – the loving father of four, and a composer who wrote numerous pieces dedicated to and for use by children. Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel was a deeply devoted mother to her son, Sebastian, and was a beloved aunt to Felix' four children.

TMP would like to be able to fund a series of children's concerts, perhaps to be given in cooperation with local area school, churches and synagogues featuring the works of the two composers. These concerts geared not just for children, but for the entire family, would also include brief presentations about the importance of family in the lives of the Mendelssohns and would reflect this aspect of their creative personae. These concerts would hopefully generate a broader understanding of the beauty of classical music and generate interest in other aspects of The Mendelssohn Project, such as the CDs, books, theatrical productions, and more.

The Family/Children concerts could be presented in different formats depending on the venue in which they were given; they could include a variety of solo works, chamber works for strings with and without piano, and orchestral works. Most interestingly, the concerts could grant solo roles to children who are gifted performers. One such concert could have a young pianist performing some of Felix or Fanny Mendelssohn's piano music; one might feature a young violinist or cellist and pianist in a performance of one of their Violin or Cello Sonatas; another might use a student orchestra to play one of the string symphonies Felix Mendelssohn wrote when he himself was 10-13 years old – all a vivid demonstration for young audiences of the brilliance and musical talents of these composers.

The Mendelssohn Project already has a growing roster of young artists who portray Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn in its salon concerts and believes in promoting the careers of these talented people. TMP would like to expand its roster of young artists and create a weekly workshop to work with them in understanding and mastering the art of performing different styles of music in the way which the composer originally intended. TMP believes that funding such a program would pave the way for a deeper community involvement from a wide spectrum of people.

The Mendelssohn Project would also like to work with local areas and schools to host lectures and seminars dedicated to the entire Mendelssohn family, including Moses Mendelssohn, and their contribution to music, literature, philosophy and the arts.

A series of books geared for younger audiences would also be a logical means of generating interest in the entire Mendelssohn story. Such books would be geared for all age groups and designed to make music enjoyable and fun, and at the same time be great learning tools.

TMP would also like to be able to further the concept of making music and the arts fun for children by producing a series of toys and games. Some ideas include:

1) a see-and-touch book designed for children ages 3 through 6 about learning the instruments of Felix Mendelssohn's orchestras;

2) a series of see-and-touch reproductions of music by Felix Mendelssohn teaching children 4 through 10 how to read music. It would use basic well-known scores which he composed: "My Country 'Tis of Thee", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", the "Wedding March", etc;

3) a DVD teaching older children how to build a symphony orchestra, with interactive features allowing the user to add and subtract instruments from a work being played and learn how each instrument relates to the whole. They would also learn to identify some of the basic sounds of these instruments, and would learn to pick out the various sounds whenever hearing music – rather than simply hearing melodies and rhythms. This would make the listening experience a learning experience as well, and would foster children's inquisitive nature and imagination.

And certainly not least, The Mendelssohn Project would like to be able to establish outreach programs for less fortunate children and families in conjunction with local government and existing community programs.

< Back