Submitted by Moy Eng, Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA)

As I reflect on the holiday season and the pervasive, rampant gift buying, the greatest gift we can receive is love.  Love given openly, freely, generously.  This is what I love about working at a music and art school.  Every day, every single day, a teacher gifts a student with how to spark and nourish her/his creativity.  A thought… a suggestion… a question… or sometimes showing a student how to sing that phrase or draw that line.  And in the spirit of gift giving, the student receives the lesson and inspiration, and makes it her/his own.

CSMA guitar teacher Ruth Parry and student work on chords.

What do I mean by that?  As a voice student, in that moment, I can sing that phrase not only technically better, but in my voice and in my own way.  And, that is the gift that teachers everywhere, especially at CSMA, give us when they do their “job” to guide and inspire us to simply become ourselves.  Isn’t that at that heart of love?

A CSMA art camp student gets advice from art instructor Anna Fankhauser.

On May 24, Ballet San Jose surprised workers at Intel World Headquarters with performances of Dancing on a Dime.

Why Does Knight Foundation Fund Random Acts of Culture™? Knight Foundation, like its founders Jack and Jim Knight, focuses on promoting informed and engaged communities. To that end, we strongly believe in the potential of the arts to engage residents, and bring a community together. Hearing Handel, or seeing the tango in an unexpected place provides a deeply felt reminder of how the classics can enrich our lives. As you’ll see in our videos, the performances make people smile, dance, grab their cameras – even cry with joy. For those brief moments, people going along in their everyday lives are part of a shared, communal experience that makes their community a more vibrant place to live. In these days of shrinking audiences, we also hope that these random acts will encourage people to attend traditional performances. We can’t promise it. But it’s hard to watch what unfolds during a Random Act of Culture™, and not be inspired to see and hear more.

On Oct 1, Opera San Jose surprised attendees at the Grantmakers in the Arts conference with a performance from Carmen.

Why Does Knight Foundation Fund Random Acts of Culture™? Knight Foundation, like its founders Jack and Jim Knight, focuses on promoting informed and engaged communities. To that end, we strongly believe in the potential of the arts to engage residents, and bring a community together. Hearing Handel, or seeing the tango in an unexpected place provides a deeply felt reminder of how the classics can enrich our lives. As you’ll see in our videos, the performances make people smile, dance, grab their cameras – even cry with joy. For those brief moments, people going along in their everyday lives are part of a shared, communal experience that makes their community a more vibrant place to live. In these days of shrinking audiences, we also hope that these random acts will encourage people to attend traditional performances. We can’t promise it. But it’s hard to watch what unfolds during a Random Act of Culture™, and not be inspired to see and hear more.

On Sept 19, 2011 Ballet San Jose surprised attendees at the National Conference on Foundations with a spontaneous ballet performance set to Gershwin.

Why Does Knight Foundation Fund Random Acts of Culture™? Knight Foundation, like its founders Jack and Jim Knight, focuses on promoting informed and engaged communities. To that end, we strongly believe in the potential of the arts to engage residents, and bring a community together. Hearing Handel, or seeing the tango in an unexpected place provides a deeply felt reminder of how the classics can enrich our lives. As you’ll see in our videos, the performances make people smile, dance, grab their cameras – even cry with joy. For those brief moments, people going along in their everyday lives are part of a shared, communal experience that makes their community a more vibrant place to live. In these days of shrinking audiences, we also hope that these random acts will encourage people to attend traditional performances. We can’t promise it. But it’s hard to watch what unfolds during a Random Act of Culture™, and not be inspired to see and hear more

In May 2011, Ballet San Jose surprised travelers at San Jose International Airport with performances. Enjoy the video above.

Why Does Knight Foundation Fund Random Acts of Culture™? Knight Foundation, like its founders Jack and Jim Knight, focuses on promoting informed and engaged communities. To that end, we strongly believe in the potential of the arts to engage residents, and bring a community together. Hearing Handel, or seeing the tango in an unexpected place provides a deeply felt reminder of how the classics can enrich our lives. As you’ll see in our videos, the performances make people smile, dance, grab their cameras – even cry with joy. For those brief moments, people going along in their everyday lives are part of a shared, communal experience that makes their community a more vibrant place to live. In these days of shrinking audiences, we also hope that these random acts will encourage people to attend traditional performances. We can’t promise it. But it’s hard to watch what unfolds during a Random Act of Culture, and not be inspired to see and hear more

By Evy Schiffman, Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA)

As the children watch the painter creating the mural at their school, they are eager to provide helpful suggestions and critical commentary. “I don’t think that the apple should be green,” says one boy. “The green will blend in too much. You need a color with more contrast.” The muralist agrees, as does Lyndale School Principal Gretchen Dietrich-Wynne, who has a big smile on her face as she listens to the children’s articulate use of words learned in art class.

For Principal Dietrich-Wynne expanding vocabulary and having children apply their learning in conversation are only two of the many benefits that she attributes to the Art4Schools program of the non-profit Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Lyndale School, part of the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District serving low-income families in East San Jose, CA.

Exhibition at Lyndale School of work created by students in weekly art classes provided by the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA). Students share with family and friends all that they have accomplished and learned through the language of art!

With more than 80% of Lyndale students English Language Learners (ELL), the weekly art lessons not only provide language development through discussions, but all students develop vocabulary through the use of new art-related words and the constant use of positional words, which are difficult for ELL to master. “It is amazing to hear our students in grades K-5 speak so freely and comfortably with the vocabulary acquired in their art lessons,” says Dietrich-Wynne.

In a letter to Linda Covello, CSMA Art School Director, the principal described the “overflow of learning” that the students carry with them from their art classes into all subjects. Many teachers create meaningful science, social studies and reading activities for their students by integrating skills and techniques used by CSMA art instructors in their classes.

Children learn the language of art in their weekly classes provided by the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA). Grade 1 lesson teaches students about shape.

While math skills are enhanced through lessons on patterning, geometric shaping and spatial orientation, students’ fine motor development and eye-hand coordination develop resulting in improved penmanship and letter formation.

Lyndale teachers also report that students’ narrative and expository writing skills improve, noting that when children write soon after Art4Schools lessons and discussions, their “work displays a more developed and descriptive sentence structure.” Students also have a chance to share their learning with family and friends. At an end-of-the-year exhibition, the children enthusiastically discuss their art, taking great pride in showing what they have accomplished.

An added benefit of art at the school is the ease with which projects can continue beyond the classroom. “Since all art lessons involve simple materials,” says Dietrich-Wynne, “students are able to recreate or adapt the activities at home.”

In a third-grade district-wide writing test, when Lyndale students were given a prompt to write about what makes their school special, art was a big part of their essays. Of course, this was no surprise to Principal Dietrich-Wynne who says, “The art program has helped to transform our school’s character, creating a new energy and enthusiasm for student success and unlimited possibilities for everyone.”

CSMA's Art4Schools program teaches children about famous artists. Students in grades K-1, working in the style of artist, illustrator, children's book author Faith Ringgold, learn how art in the format of a quilt can tell a story and color and line can be emotive qualities.

By Joel Slayton, ZERO 1

October 27 marked the kick-off of the ZERO1 Garage, where principles of artistic creativity will be applied to real world innovation challenges. The buzz among the 40 participants – who included art world professionals, business leaders, tech entrepreneurs, and policy makers – was at high pitch. Seated at four round tables, attention quickly turned to opening remarks from Joel Slayton, ZERO1’s executive director.

ZERO1 Garage

I want you to imagine:

• The largest and most prestigious contemporary art Biennial in North America at the intersection of art and technology:  a Silicon Valley Biennial.
• Imagine a robust network of regional, national, and international partners from the cultural, corporate, and academic sectors working together to leverage expertise and resources creating a “there there” for Silicon Valley.
• Envision what is possible when disciplines rub up against each another:  Artists, Designers, Architects, Technologist, Scientist, Educators, and Entrepreneurs working together to change the world.
• Close your eyes tighter.
• Now imagine a complimentary platform…..a place, a community, a network for radical experimentation.
• Part think tank, part incubator, part research lab.
• A place where the principles of artistic creativity are applied to real world innovation challenges.
• Open your eyes… Welcome to the ZERO1 Garage. 

Next Harry Saal, ZERO1’s new board chair and new media artist Scott Snibbe talked about the relationship of art to innovation.  Among the many insights was Scott’s comment that “almost all art is failure and therefore artists are ideal risk-takers; pushing-boundaries and experts at experimentation.”  The comment recognized that creativity is not an end in itself, but rather a process that shapes the relationship between risk and failure.

Primed by the talk, the four groups were challenged to answer the following:

• What are the essential characteristics of risk-taking and risk-takers?
• What innovation challenges do you believe art can provoke new strategies for and solutions to?
• What is possible for the ZERO1 Garage as a place, a network, and community for radical risk-taking?

The answers were robust and wide-ranging; too many to share here. Suffice it to say that people were galvanized by the discussions and ready to help move the vision of the Garage forward.

By Evy Schiffman, Marketing & Communications Director Community School of Music and Arts

It’s almost show time and backstage at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA, the young stars are excited, giggly and nervous as they look out at an audience of a couple of thousand people. When one girl sees her parents close to the stage, cameras and videos set to roll at show time, she screams, “Awesome!” What do 500 children from the Mountain View Whisman School District have in common with Linda Ronstadt, Santana, Neil Young, Justin Bieber and countless other stars? All have performed at one of the country’s premier entertainment venues.

For the past 10 years, a one-of-a-kind collaboration among the nonprofit Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA), Live Nation’s Shoreline Amphitheatre, the local PTA Council and the public school district has made it possible for young singers to share the joy of music at an annual Choral Fest, a free community event.

CSMA's annual Choral Fest embodies collaboration and partnerships to benefit arts education for kids in the Mountain View Whisman School District, photo by Evy Schiffman

As chorus members at the city’s seven elementary and two middle schools, the children prepare for the big event all year. Most of the children receive their choral instruction through the Community School of Music and Arts, which has been the primary provider of arts education at all the city’s public elementary schools for over 30 years. Major funding for these programs is currently provided by the Mountain View Educational Foundation, with additional funding from the City of Mountain View, school PTAs, California Arts Council and CSMA.

“Choral Fest represents a highly successful partnership among three different ‘worlds’ – a nonprofit organization, a business corporation and a public entity,” said Moy Eng, CSMA executive director. “The entire community benefits from this collaboration, but especially the children.” Eng adds that an important element of CSMA’s Music4Schools and Art4Schools Program curriculum is sharing accomplishments in a public performance or exhibition.

CSMA's annual Choral Fest shows importance of community collaborations and partnerships in bringing music education to children in local public schools, photo by Evy Schiffman

At Choral Fest, months of hard work, practice and dedication, both by the kids and their CSMA teachers, show the benefits and importance of all children receiving arts education. For many of the children the only music and art instruction that they receive is at their local school through CSMA’s in-school programs.

“The children represent the city’s diverse socio-economic population from affluent to those who qualify for the free-lunch program because their families are below the poverty level as defined by the government,” says Eng. Because English is a second language for many kids, Choral Fest incorporates culturally diverse music, clearly showing that no matter what language you speak, music is a powerful connector of people of all ages across all cultures.

Kids at CSMA's annual Choral Fest share music at free community event. The next Choral Fest will be in May 2012 at Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View, photo courtesy of CSMA

“This event is a testament to how children benefit when the nonprofit, business and public sectors, supported by parents and the community at large, coalesce around a common goal — using music to educate, inspire and bring people together,” says Eng. And although few, if any, of the kids will go on to have big-time careers with recording contracts, fan clubs and public performances, on one very special night, every young singer is a star sharing an experience that will last a lifetime.

By Margot Helm, Opera San José 

Christopher Bengochea as King Idomeneo; image by Pat Kirk Photography

Opera San José, a Knight Arts grantee, proudly opened its 28^th Season on September 10^th, with the company premiere of Mozart’s Idomeneo. Made possible by the generous support of David W. Packard and the Packard Humanities Institute, this epic production has been met with critical acclaim and garnered high praise from audience members alike.

Jasmina Halimic as Elettra; image by Pat Kirk Photography

Guided by Mr. Packard’s creative vision, the production was strongly influenced by his archaeological interests in the Minoan and Mycenaean Bronze Ages- a rare and appropriate choice of setting for Mozart’s opera seria based on ancient Greek mythology. With its dazzling combination of breathtaking costumes, enormous sets, and painting executed by a firm that specializes in architectural restoration, Idomeneo is, by far, the most ambitious project ever mounted by Opera San José. Together with an excellent orchestra, talented designers and directors, graceful dancers from Ballet San Jose, and two stellar casts, the production has won rave reviews from critics throughout the Bay Area (click on the links to read complete articles):

• “Musical forces radiated from the magical spells cast by Maestro George Cleve, one of the great Mozartians of our era. He led both singers and instrumentalists with finesse…world-class efforts from Opera San Jose’s fine team of production specialists, as well as a galaxy of marvelous vocalists and musicians.” –Mort Levine, Milpitas Post
• “The exciting new production of Mozart’s Idomeneo being staged…by Opera San José…is a jaw-dropper: sets that reproduce the Palace of Knossos in ancient Crete; a troupe of dancers from Ballet San Jose; a 40-voice chorus; plus 180 costumes and a sacrificial altar. And, oops, almost forgot — an excellent cast…Cleve and his players did full justice to the score, building small gestures into long dramatic arcs, capturing effects both storming and delicate, building a running dialogue between orchestra and singers.”–Richard Scheinin, San Jose Mercury News
• “…a stretch of elegant pageantry…vividly colorful and done with a keen sense of Mozartean style…the evening’s most striking aspect was the physical production, with sets by Steven C. Kemp, costumes by Johann Stegmeir and lighting by Christopher Ostrom.”–Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle
• “To attend such an excellent production in the ideal 1,114-seat California Theatre is a rare and special opportunity.”–Thomas Busse, San Francisco Classical Voice

This spectacular production is highly recommended for audience members with a wide variety of interests: fans of Mozart, opera, classical music, theater and costume design, Greek history or archaeology will all be enchanted by this feast for the senses. Tickets to the remaining performances of Opera San José’s production of Idomeneo can be purchased online at www.operasj.org or through our box office at 408.437.4450.

Dancers from Ballet San Jose; image by Pat Kirk Photography

By Evy Schiffman, Community School of Music and Arts

It’s Saturday afternoon, and the ceramics instructor at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) is prepping students for their first experience with throwing clay on the wheel. One of the teen students, Jordan, is particularly excited to explore this new artistic outlet after his experience with other CSMA classes. Jordan participates in a program providing students with special needs, including developmentally disabled and autistic students, the opportunity to explore their creativity, gain new experiences in the larger community, and become integrated into CSMA’s general course curricula whenever possible. CSMA’s music and art programs provide experiences with drawing, painting and sculpting as well as playing marimba and singing.

Jordan, shown working with his teacher Jo, loves working with clay in his class at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA).

So far, drawing has been Jordan’s main passion. “I am very famous for my shading with pastels,” he says. “A lot of people look at my pictures and say ‘wow.’” Jordan’s teacher describes him as an ideal student because he’s not afraid to ask questions and knows intuitively that with art there is no right or wrong. “I wish there were more students like Jordan in my class.”

Jordan is only one of many students who helps CSMA live up to its tagline as being “the home of arts4all.” At the core of the nonprofit’s mission is accessibility to high-quality arts education for people of all ages, abilities, aspirations and financial means. And although accessibility is not synonymous with equity, CSMA’s vision and commitment are to include both in conversations about its programs and the people it serves.

Art work created by special needs students on exhibit at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA).

Jordan clearly loves being at CSMA. “I like being at a place with real professional artists. I feel at home here, and I learn a lot!” His family can see the benefits created for Jordan through his arts experience. “Coming to CSMA has provided Jordan with a creative and therapeutic outlet to express how he feels,” says his mother, Stephanie. “He draws every day at home and loves giving his art to others as gifts.”

With ceramics, Jordan is experiencing the intellectual as well as tactile experience of working with clay and articulately explains that firing clay in the kiln involves science as well as art. When asked how creating art makes him feel, Jordan thinks for a moment and sums it up in one word, “calm.”

“Our special needs students take great joy in sharing their work at end-of-semester exhibitions and performances,” says CSMA art school director Linda Covello. “They are probably our most enthusiastic students, regardless of age, taking great pride in being artists and in sharing their accomplishments with family and friends.” At CSMA, students like Jordan are definitely what is meant by being “the home of arts4all.”