While not a specific place, the SavPhil Community Music School spans across Savannah, taking place within your local schools, public libraries, concert halls, community centers and more throughout the year. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to providing accessible and enriching music education opportunities to all – from our youngest students to adult classes — about the history and practice of music.
Named for the legendary Ben Tucker, this special program provides high-quality instruments to participating students who may not otherwise have access. Often the cost of an instrument and maintenance is unsustainable for a student and their families, so if a school is unable to provide one, the SavPhil works closely with SCCPSS to ensure all deserving students are set up for success as they pursue an instrument of their choice.
The Library currently holds 135 instruments available for student use — 87 strings and 48 wind instruments.
This flourishing initiative provides free violin instruction across the region at no cost and is supported by the Ben Tucker Instrument Library. Over the past year our violin program expanded to four new partner sites – Windsor Forest Elementary, Horizons Savannah, Bethesda Academy, and Charles Ellis Montessori Academy – reaching over 70 students with enriching group and private instruction.
This specialized program is designed to set students up for success by emphasizing fundamental skills of their particular instrument. It not only helps them practice difficult sections of their band music, but also guides participants through the audition process for the District Honor Band.
It is important to note that currently 30 students from Savannah are represented in the District Honor Band of over 100 members. 17 of those 30 are from performing arts schools within our school system, which indicates a large number of our young musicians are underrepresented and are not being set up for a successful audition experience. Our music education programs are designed to shift this trend and solve the issue.
This annual two-day intensive workshop provides a unique opportunity to our area youth, uniting over 100 talented student musicians across Savannah’s high schools. Together, they rehearse, receive mentorship from SavPhil musicians, and then perform a final concert on stage, side-by-side with the professional orchestra members. It is a truly inspirational experience to collaborate and grow their skills among their peers.
Just launched this season, the Concert Notes series is a special partnership with Senior Citizens Inc. and features guest speakers in advance of each concert to help provide insights and background on the music they are preparing to experience and enjoy.
To learn more and register, please visit: The Learning Center at Senior Citizens Inc.
To learn more about our education programs, please contact Education Manager, Mark Spradley.
