“El Sistema”: The National System of Youth Orchestras
and Choirs of Venezuela

Summer 2010: May 17 to June 4 (tentative dates)

Program Location

The program will take place in the cities of Caracas and Mérida. With five professional symphony orchestras, the capital city of Venezuela, Caracas, is one of the most musical cities in Latin America. In addition to state of the art performing venues, the city boasts the Center of Social Action for Music, two conservatories for the training of professional musicians, and dozens of centers for after-school music instruction.

Six-hundred miles southwest of Caracas, the Andean city of Mérida is home to one of Latin America’s oldest universities. The city is also known as a popular tourist destination for its geography, climate and history. The aerial tramway in Mérida is the world’s highest and second longest, ascending eight miles to Pico Espejo at fifteen thousand feet in elevation. In the arts, the city boasts a major symphony orchestra as well as some of the best natural history museums and art museums in the country.

Academic Program

This program is designed to familiarize students with the philosophy, methods, and objectives of The National System of Youth Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela (“El Sistema”). Deemed as one of the most important movements in the world of music today, “El Sistema” is a free after-school program that teaches music to nearly three-hundred-thousand children in Venezuela. After spending one week in Caracas investigating the organization of the program at the national headquarters, we will travel to the city of Mérida where students will have an opportunity to participate in the daily operations (administrative, pedagogical and musical) of several music centers. The program is intended for music majors. However, under special circumstances (i.e. students interested in focusing on the sociological or educational aspects of “El Sistema”) may be considered.

Instructional methods include lectures, guided tours, field work, journal assignment and/or papers.

Tentative course offerings:
MUS 480: Advanced Seminar in Musicological Topics, 3 credits
MUS 490: Special Studies in Music, 3 credits

Accommodations

Students will reside in hotels and hostels during the program. Group meals will be provided.

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

Applicants must be proficient in Spanish and have permission of instructor and/or school of music director.

For More Information

For additional information about the El Sistema in Venezuela program, please contact the program director:

Dr. Pedro R. Aponte
Assistant Professor of Music History/Musicology
School of Music
Tel.: 540-568-5367
E-mail: apontepr@jmu.edu