Link Up educational materials have been translated into four languages as the program continues to expand, reaching more than 400,000 students and teachers worldwide. These partnerships span 38 U.S. states from Alaska to Florida, plus Puerto Rico, as well as Canada, Kenya, Spain and Japan.

The Akron Symphony is entering its fourth season of offering the program to area schools, which has now grown to include a dozen school districts. This year’s performance will take place on March 13 at the Akron Civic Theatre.

For 33 seasons, the Link Up music education program has facilitated deeper
connections between orchestras and schools in their communities through its classroom curriculum for students in grades 3–5. The program gives participants the opportunity to join the orchestra by teaching them to sing and play an instrument in the classroom. In culminating concerts, students perform with a professional orchestra from their seats, often marking the first time many students set foot in a concert hall.

“We are thrilled that Link Up, our long-running music education program, originally created for third through fifth graders throughout New York City, has reached so many communities around the country and worldwide” said Sarah Johnson, chief education officer and director of the Weill Music Institute. “By working in collaboration with an incredible network of organizations, educators, and arts leaders nationally and around the world we have seen an exponential increase in Link Up’s impact as these meaningful partnerships provide resources, support and, of course, great music to hundreds of thousands of young people.”

The Link Up programs are comprised of four distinctive, year-long classroom curricula: The Orchestra Moves (exploring movement within music), The Orchestra Sings (exploring melody), The Orchestra Rocks (exploring rhythm), and The Orchestra Swings (exploring the intersection of classical music and jazz). Partner organizations can use the program materials—including teacher and student guides, concert scripts, and concert visuals—in their own communities, free of charge, to engage local students and teachers in musical learning and exploration.

Additional resources include interactive webinars, a digital curriculum with sheet music, lesson plans, video and audio tracks available through the Carnegie Hall website, and continuous support from Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

Inspiring the next generation of music lovers, the Weill Music Institute’s national education programs are the perfect opportunity for students and teachers to build a deeper understanding of music’s importance to the culture of local communities and the world. Professional development for music teachers is also available locally and nationally through the Music Educators Workshop.