Thread by @convergencebos

A thread about how we are creating a more accessible, equitable, and representative #music community!!! (1/20)
#ClassicalMusic #NewMusic

We at Convergence Ensemble pride ourselves on our attention to accessibility in our concerts. This includes handicap accessibility, wheelchair accessibility, etc but it doesnt stop there. Accessibility extends into community, programming, and sensitivity to all disabilities.(2/20

We want to make sure everyone is able to come to our concerts. That's why we bring our concerts to the places that the community already gathers, like churches in Dorchester and Roxbury. We understand that the concert experience can be alienating for people that don't often(3/20)

go to see live classical music. We bridge that gap by bringing the concert to you, in your own backyard. If we're truly trying to bring classical music to new audiences, asking them to travel all the way to Symphony Hall is not going to work. (4/20)

Financially, Concerts need to be accessible for all. That's why almost all of our concerts to date, since the ensemble's inception, have been free and open to the public. We're funded by grants and small donors. Concert donations are always on a pay-what-you-can scale. (5/20)

Accessibility needs to reach programming as well. We are committed to performing works by women composers, Black composers, and living composers, joining them with the canon. We routinely perform literary works by living poets, esp those who live in the Boston area. (6/20)

Our musicians and artists are all New England based. If we pride ourselves in being a neighborhood ensemble, then our musicians and staff need to reflect that. Our musicians and staff come from all races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and education levels. (7/20)

Some of our musicians are immigrants, some are born here, some live in Cambridge, some live in Dorchester, some started music extremely "late" in their lives, and some started as kids. This is one small way we can show that art happens in //every// community. (8/20)

Accessibility extends into our #education concerts too. With every concert we put on, we go into local schools / after-school prgms in underserved communities to put on free, educational concerts for the kids. It's mostly Black and disadvantaged children that make up these(9/20)

programs. We make sure the kids interact with the music and make sure that they voice their opinions, questions, and interpretations. We do not want want to tell the kids how to think. They are creative individuals too! (10/20)

Last month we put on our very first Virtual Interactive Musical Educational Performance for the students in Special Education classes at Charlestown High school. We put on an interactive program where students were (11/20)

engaged and learning about the fundamentals of music. We found this virtual style to be particularly great because it allowed students to control their environment. If a student needed to take a break, turn off the camera, lower/raise the volume, etc. they could.(12/20)

For some students, this was the first time that they could go to a classical music event. The traditional concert hall experience isn't always safe for them. (13/20)

We also played arrangements of pieces the students know (Bruno Mars, for example). We cannot expect to enter classrooms and think that Brahms or Beethoven are easy access points. (14/20)

We made it a point to set students' names to music. How empowering is it to hear your name as a piece of art? This creates ownership and engagement.

Simply coming in with Brahms isn't going to do that... not in a lasting way. (15/20)

We also understood that the students had various learning styles and learning disabilities. It was imperative that we diversified how we presented to the kids. We combined our verbal presentation with visuals+ developed techniques for students to physicalize the concepts. (16/20)

If you're going to do educational programs, make sure to take the time to understand the classroom and the students. We worked with the teachers throughout the entire planning process, asking about the best lesson structures, visuals, tested each activity, etc. (17/20)

Access to Classical music is hard work. You cannot simply program Florence Price and call it a day. You cannot simply make sure your venue is wheelchair accessible and call it a day. You cannot simply "perform for kids" and call it a day. (18/20)

You must think about access in all parts of your organization. (19/20)

We know this was a long thread and thanks for reading! Please check out our website convergenceensemble.org, consider donating, and consider furthering the conversation. Tell us what you're doing to create a diverse, accessible, and equitable community! (20/20)