El Sistema

10/27/2017

What are your thoughts on the El Sistema music program in Venezuela? How do you think this music program helps young students deal with living in cities, such as Caracas, where there is horrific poverty and crime? What social and educational values do you see these children developing through learning music? In your opinion, how important is providing an Arts education for any student in the world?

19 Comments

Whitney Hii Period 4

10/20/2016 10:08:45 pm

My thoughts about the El Sistema music program in Venezuela are quite positive. I think it's a great program that gives children an opportunity to find a passion and hope for something that probably didn't even exist for their own parents. It gives hope for the young ones to strive for a better future. I do indeed, think that the music program helps students deal with their everyday life style, especially since they live in an area where the situation is not-so-great compared to California. If students, and this includes anyone really, are focused on their music studies and practice their passion for music, I'm pretty sure the crime rate and the number of gangs would decrease. Violence would probably decrease as well, since a love for music is shared by many people to enjoy. As for social and educational values the children develop through learning music; social values can include the children's interactions with each other. When they bond with each other through music, it (from experience) feels great and welcoming, since you get to express your passions and also share common interests with potential friends. As for educational values, something such as getting children off of the streets is good enough, in my opinion. Plus, if students/young children are able to visualize a future and strive to become great musicians, who knows what great things they could become and contribute to the world? Now, about arts education; I do think it is important for students and people worldwide to have some experience within the arts such as music, dance, writing, and other forms of it. But, I wouldn't stress the need for arts as much as something such as world hunger or the need of "world peace." But for places with similar backgrounds Venezuela, I do think it is very important for young people to be exposed to arts education (assuming that food, shelter, and other basic living requirements are already met even at the bare minimum). As mentioned, basically throughout the whole documentary, music is enjoyed by the students and gives them hope, passion, and inspiration towards their "hopefully" better futures.

Jayda Carrillo period 5

10/20/2016 10:41:54 pm

I think El Sistema music program is really neat and helpful for students who live in areas where there exposed to poverty and crime because being in this music program may help them keep there mind off of hard times they go through by doing something they enjoy. Maybe for some students playing music can help them think things out and can release stress. The music they play can also be away to express how they feel. Alot of diffrent kids are in this program they can form a friendship with each other by doing something they all love to do. Kids are learning something new not just about music notes but discovering new talents about them selfs while they play. Just because there learning how to play music doesnt mean it less important than solving a math problen or learning new vocabulary. Some students can find there own selfs and happiness while playing there music. Providing visual and performing arts classes at school is important because not all students want to become a doctor, lawyer, or teacher Etc.. Some students want to become an artist, musican, singer, dancer, or actor. Some may say thats hard to become but it not impossible. Having visual and performing arts classes can help a student get better at something they enjoy doing by using there talents. If you dont have any talents related to these then maybe you disagree and think its not important but thats because you wont know how important it is unless you have the talent and passion for it.

An Tran - Period 4

10/23/2016 11:37:28 pm

I believe that El Sistema is a beautiful program created by Jose Antonio Abreu, which had enlightened so many children in Venezuela. It has became an national anthem and created so much harmony and delightment toward kids! Even though, the program provide 4 hours of musical training and rehearsals per week day after school, as well as work on the weekends, kids loved rehearsing and they know that all these hard work/effort would lead to great success in the future! I was very glad and relieved to see all their happy faces in the movie/documentary and blessed to hear all of them shared how much they feared stepping out of their home due to their poor neighborhood; crime; violence; everywhere. It made me realized how theres a totally different world from where I'm being raised. Music helped all the little ones endured all the pain and fear in their poor neighborhood. In fact, El Sistema was a free classical music education that promotes human opportunity and development for impoverished children. This reveals how much this program means to these children in Venezuela due to their horrible condition today in Venezula. In fact, the social and educational values that these lovely children will develop through learning music includes their ability to enchance their knowledge through music art culture. In addition, these children would also learn to work hard and recognize one another's efforts they all put in to create this wonderful program together. I strongly believe that art education means the world for them in Venezuela. And, for any students in the world, music consoles our heart and emotions. The art education would benefit children by creating harmony through music and help them meet famous musicians all around the world to find their talent through music!

Sydney Jou

6/22/2017 08:51:32 pm

Watching the documentary on the El Sistema music program left me with nothing but admiration. El Sistema takes students of different age groups and gives them music lessons for no tuition. The most impressive aspect of the organization, however, is its ability to provide an escape for these Venezuelan children, who mostly live in areas ravished with crime and danger. Personally, I believe this program is important because it gives students in impoverished neighborhoods the chance to explore music, which they might not be exposed to elsewhere. By learning how to play instruments and read sheet music, it allows them to possibly pursue a musical career and gives them opportunities to audition for different orchestras. It also has programs for students that require special attention, including deaf children. I believe El Sistema is an important musical program because it helps children who are hindered by background disadvantages.

El Sistema gives underprivileged children an outlet to have fun and release themselves while embracing the music. The staff report that the school is easily the children’s “happy place,” where they can play music and get along with their peers and friends. I think it distracts them from whatever problems are occurring at home or in their neighborhoods. I also believe El Sistema will steer these children and steer them towards a much safer and beneficial future. Although they may grow up around people who can encourage them to use drugs or guns, El Sistema will replace these dangerous influences with musical instruments. It will also instill other values in its students, including increasing their self-worth, confidence, and drive. They push themselves to improve their musical talent so they can hopefully join an orchestra in the future. They also feel comfortable and accepted around children with the same backgrounds.

I think the various types of arts, including music, dance, visual, and performing, are important to include in students’ curriculum. It encourages them to be creative and to think abstractedly. Children use different areas of the brain when taking fine arts that are not often used otherwise. Teaching the fine arts directs them away from the Internet, social media, and video games, and challenges them instead. The fine arts will also help students with cultural exposure and emotional expression. All these benefits show that the fine arts and El Sistema’s emphasis of it will undoubtedly benefit the children learning it.

Crystal Oriz p.4

10/27/2017 11:28:58 pm

I think the El Sistema music program in Venezuela is the best thing that the children there have. Obviously, the government and environment in Venezuela is not so great. With El Sistema, children have a way to escape their poor, everyday lives that are a part of the crime-filled world in which they live in. El Sistema also helps young students learn to do good things and fuel their creativity in a safe environment rather than joining gangs and living off the streets where they could die. The music program also helps them develop social and educational values as they connect with other students (who also live in poverty) and with their music (through their hearts). An arts education like El Sistema provides the same things for anyone in the world. Studies in the past have also shown that the arts has helped young students with themselves, including their general education. Therefore, I believe an arts education is important for many children and students besides the necessary subjects/courses offered by school as they can express themselves through their work. The arts should also be offered to anyone of any background.

Garret period 5

10/28/2017 11:13:26 am

There are people who have nothing to look up to on their daily lives, with no joy or satisfaction. The El Sistema helped with that. Their organization brought the art of music into their lives. Watching the children in the movie showed the unbelievable faces they had when playing and learning the musical arts.
Not everyone has a good life. They are dealt with the challenges that the people of the U.S hardly experience so to escape them from their fear of crime and poverty, it is nice to know that people are helping take their mind off of that with the beauty of music.
Visual arts help a lot on multiple levels of life. Especially music it can tech social interaction, teamwork, coordination, and creativity. I enjoy the fact that people spend their time and effort to help other kids to give more opportunity and joy in they life and with this new system they are able to learn more and music especially can take them places. The El Sistema program really show there are good peoples trying to help the people who need it.

Tian Jun Zhang --- P. 4

10/29/2017 03:46:42 pm

The El Sistema music program in Venezuela is very fascinating. The music instructors can effectively teach their students in a unique way with the lack of fine equipment. Considering their finance, their financial status must also be in a very critical status. During the movie, I see students who play their instrument with their heart, truly becoming part of the melody itself. This would also affect me since I am currently involved in Alhambra High School’s Orchestra, playing the instrument violin. It motivates me to play with more feelings than simply moving my arm and hands. El Sistema is also a great program due to its effects on the mental states of the students themselves. In a city that has high crime rates and deals with poverty issues, the citizens would be experiencing a very stressed environment. El Sistema gave children, though not necessarily parents, a sense of relief. Playing an instrument is a form of entertainment, it allows the students to freely enjoy themselves. Thus temporarily allow them to escape the reality of the world, a hideout if I may say. While El Sistema provides a very positive effect on the mental states of the children, without doubt, it also has a strong educational purpose. Learning how to play an instrument professionally is a very hard task, I have experienced it myself. I see El Sistema as a very enjoyable educational program, this allows children to develop a liking to education. As in social values, being involved in programs with kids of the similar age allows them to develop valuable friendships, as well as communication skills. Social skills are highly important for students. For example, in high school, you will need communication and social skills to smoothly fit into the community, it also comes in handy when you want to develop a good relationship with your teacher for writing a very positive and strong college recommendation letter. In my opinion, it is very important to provide an arts education for any students in the world. Playing an instrument may discover gifted musical talents. Providing an arts education may give students a sense of the past (depending on the subject of the arts education), providing a taste of what “classic” is. Additionally, studies have shown that students who are actively involved in musical programs have proven to be smarter than normal students. In conclusion, El Sistema is a fascinating musical program due to its capabilities and its effect on the community it is in.

Max Wong p.5

10/29/2017 04:36:27 pm

The El Sistema music program is nice because it helps children take their mind off of poverty and lets them focus on something that interests them. It teaches them that life is not so bad even if you are not rich because you can still do many things without money such as playing music. Values that the children learn through music might be to not commit as much crimes because the children will be the future of Venezuela. It takes their mind off from thinking of doing illegal actions. I feel that it is important to provide arts education to students around the world because kids might have big intrests in music but they dont have to the money to learn it, so buy providing them to kids, they are able to experience learning music and might want to pursue a career in it.

Marco Alarcon Per.4

10/29/2017 11:19:21 pm

The El Sistema music program is great because it allows kids in Venezuela improve their lives by giving them something to work for, in this case a career in music. Kids in cities like Caracas, where there is poverty and crime, can use the El Sistema program to achieve an education and teach themselves that even in places like Caracas, there are more things that they can do with their lives, not just surviving by committing crimes or becoming gang members. The social and educational values that these children can develop through learning music are an education, a future career, meeting new people, learn to play instruments, and make friends. Providing an arts education for any student in the world is very important because it teaches students that art is in many forms that can be found anywhere. This can show them that the beauty of art exists even in the most terrible conditions or places, and thus inspire students to work towards a career in order to improve their lives.

Esperanza Cervantes Per.4

10/30/2017 05:09:33 pm

In my opinion, I believe El Sistema music program is a great program that should be provided to many around the world. It’s something beautiful because it takes the mind of a person off the problems they have to deal with at home. It’s also an opportunity for a lot young people to succeed in something and learn from. These students may develop social and educational values through mucic , because music deals with learning , numbers even letters. Therefore they can get a concept of education and develop more learning. I think it’s very important for arts education to be provided because it’s something fun and to distract them from there problems.

Lylli Duong Per. 2

10/31/2017 03:29:03 pm

The El Sistema music program is a wonderful program that enables students to have a future in, possibly, music. The program helps the future generation deal with the horrific life going around them. Every day, the students would wake up and have a yearning to continue their education, so they can have a better future and live in a better community. The children are allowed to make friends and experience the joys in life. They are also given the opportunity to gain the educational values as a student where they learn new things every day. Every student should have the opportunity to have an Arts education. The education they receive could give them back hope that they may have lost and, overall, they get the feeling of being a part of something greater.

oscar zhou per. 1

11/1/2017 01:31:30 pm

The El sistema music is a wonderful program for kids that wanna know how to play instrument. kids learning how to play music or make remix the learn a new skill that they have not discover or what to do in there life. A deep sense of value, of being loved and appreciated, and a trust for group process and cooperation, enables them to feel that excellence is in their own hands. The development of children with music make them to recognize what they can do fir there life and to show their parent what they can do with instrument. In the video it show that kids have fun with instrument, and they show themselves what they can do with instrument. teacher have fun to teach the kids how to play instrument. EL sistema is a art that child can learn when they are in elementary school they child can develop there true self that they can play instrument such as the violin,piano, orchestra, and the trumpet. Student can make social friend, and talk to each other is a benefit of the child that they can make friend and when they grow up they make more Truth friend and be a musician for a famous band

Adrian Vicente-Nation Per.5

11/2/2017 10:18:49 pm

My thoughts about the El Sistema is positive because the children in Venezuela want to learn how to play an instrument and try something new. The way how i see it is that it gives children hope and potential in order to move on and be more open minded, based on their living conditions and how they live their life in Caracas. The socials skills for the children is that they can learn how to play an instrument from the basics of paper mache versions to the real deal, the educational value for them gives them a skill open doors not only in their country but abroad. I do believe programs like art programs like this can encourage kids to reach out and obtain success in many different areas.

Serena Ong P2

11/3/2017 03:39:20 pm

I think the El Sistema music program in Venezuela is a great way for children to learn how to play an instrument. These children live in areas of poverty and violence and being a part of this program helps them take their mind off of all the crime that is happening around them. Instead of going home and fear shootings in their neighborhood, they can go learn music which can give them inspiration and hope. This could be a time where they can relax and feel safe and learning music could give them something to look forward to and escape from their harsh reality. These children can learn very valuable lessons of perseverance because learning how to play an instrument takes a lot of patience. Providing an Arts education for students all around the world is very important because it encourages students to learn new skills and find new hobbies. If a child is having something going on in his or her own life, they could use music as a technique to escape from it all.

Cienna lopez P.1

11/3/2017 04:44:38 pm

El Sistema is a great program that allows children in a complicated and difficult surrounding to express and gain inspiration on what they want to be as a citizen in Venezuela. The children can develop many beneficial attributes in these music programs such as communication and expanding their creativity within them. This program gives an outlet for the children dealing with poverty and crime. They are surrounded by mentors and life long friends that have hopes and dreams that everyone will excel. Arts education is important to be provided to every child, every student out in the world. Learning the arts can provide a new confidence within these students. The arts allow students to show their talents visually rather than academically. Academics are important but not everyone can easily excel like others.

valerie ramirez

11/3/2017 08:43:36 pm

My thoughts about El Sistema Music Program is very positive . I feel that this program helps kids unite together ,and supports them through all the mess they are going through in Venezuela . Yes there is poverty and crime, there was shootings at any time, gang related violence everywhere you went , people wouldn’t even care about who it was and shoot . I believe everywhere we go there is gonna be violence but in Venezuela it sounded like people really didn’t care about there community , the gangs made such a bad impact on the people who are living there because they are afraid to losing a loved one. I think the program helps young students by keeping them busy and giving them a good reason to stay educated . When they are at school they are safe and able to play music which i believe helps them relieve from all the gangs in there city . The social and educational values these children develop through learning music is wanting a good future , meaning they put in so much hard work to show they really do care. They put all of there free time to playing music, and if it wasn’t for the school they most likely wouldn’t know much about themselves or music . Music really defines who they are as a whole. I believe it is very important to provide Arts education for students in this world because it’s like people don’t get interested into school with just classes that we learn . They have fun in Arts Education and it helps the kids realize that they can have a future with something they truly desire even if it’s a long path to get through .

Erine Duclan Period 4

11/3/2017 09:17:45 pm

El Sistema is such an amazing musical education program that encourages children as young 2 years old to develop and share their skills or talent in music. This program founded by Jose Antonio Abreu reached a lot of children and young adults that were interested by this program. He helped a lot of them achieve their greatest goal in life: to be a successful musician. This program, in a way, helped children cope with the ugly truth about life. Music is a great part in the lives of these children and the program served as an escape from the ugly reality of life. It made children realize and learn that there could still be harmony and unity amidst the chaos the world is facing. By this program, he ignited the fire of passion inside every person. He gave them the chance to change their lives and he gave them hope to go through the difficulties in life. I believe that we should give importance to Arts education all over the world because it gives a positive impact to the students. Music is not just a hobby. It can teach you moral lessons in life such as learning discipline, having unity and of course, being patient and doing your best in everything that you do. Music serves a big part in our lives because it is also a form of speech where we get to express ourselves. It brings people peace and it can touch peoples' lives, just like any other art. Music has a deeper meaning and if it is taught and understood well, it serves as the power that can connect us all as we strive to achieve unity and peace.

Jonathan Aparicio

11/13/2017 03:16:00 pm

In my opinion, El Sistema is honestly an amazing program. Using something as simple as music and instruments to bring together an entire community in peace is really astonishing. Not only that, but the program itself is a great learning opportunity for the children. It teaches them cooperation, team efforts, patience, and how to play an instrument. Furthermore, this program gave hope to all these children thag there’s still peace and light even in the darkest places. Despite all the violence they grew up with and all the negativity, they can still achieve their goals and grow up to be something great as long as they stay positive. Another amazing thing about this program is that it’s not only an oppurnity to learn music, but it’s also an opportunity for deaf and special children to learn and develop as well. Music comes in many ways, and in a way music is more than just music. It has meaning, touches our hearts and can bring us all together. So to conclude all of this, El Sistema is an amazing program, and i hope that one day it’ll achieve it’s goal of uniting everyone and continues on to make people’s lives better.

Sarah Calderon

11/17/2017 07:39:56 pm

I believe that El Sistema is a wonderful program for kids who live in these types of areas because it shows them that they can create something beautiful even in the darkest times of their life. These children have a lot of talent in them and it is an amazing opportunity for them to achieve their goals in life with the help of a music program like this. I think there should definitely be more programs out there like this so that children who live in rough areas actually get a chance to express themselves in a positive way. It’s like a new door of opportunity had opened up to these kids and now they have something else to look forward to in life. I’m glad that Jose Antonio Abrea has shined a light on these kids with hope, using a great program like this.

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