Music comes to San Diego schools

Over the past decade, schools across the country have experienced the loss of music. San Diego schools also had to replace music in many of their schools with another curriculum dictated by state or federal law. The San Diego schools budget only goes so far, and unfortunately, the arts have been hit the hardest.

Frank Glasson and Presidio Brass are changing all that for San Diego schools. Frank, a trumpeter by profession, is also president of Local 325 of the American Federation of Musicians and director of the Presidio Brass, a brass quintet. The veteran musician has performed with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Opera and the San Diego Westwind Brass, as well as with ensembles in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Glasson saw that music was steadily disappearing from San Diego schools and wanted to do something about it. He believes that the constant influence of television, movies, computers and CDs could erode the senses of youth towards more refined music. He enlisted the help of fellow Presidio Brass members: Ray Nowak, Mike McCoy, Sean Reusch, and Scott Sutherland, who play trumpet, horn, trombone, and tuba, respectively.

Working under the umbrella of the nonprofit San Diego Performing Arts Association, Presidio Brass developed the “Musicate the Mind” program for San Diego schools. Musicate is a music education and outreach program, developed specifically to fill the music void in schools. With Glasson’s wife, Robyn, coordinating the events and developing contracts with San Diego schools, Presidio Brass presents several customized programs for different grade levels to fit any educational or outreach school requirement.

Glasson and his ensemble want to create relationships with students, not just play music for them. Within that relationship, he hopes that children will grow to appreciate live music and keep it alive by becoming the supporters of tomorrow’s live instrumental music. He plans to eventually do 200 shows a year throughout Southern California.

For children in kindergarten through fifth grade, Presidio Brass introduces brass instruments, their development, and historical context. The members of the quintet also provide some basic musical concepts in a fun and engaging way.

For fourth and fifth grade students, the ensemble can integrate music into the core curriculum by teaching language arts, math, social studies, and science through the language of music.

For middle and high school students, they present their one-day residency program, which exposes students to the brass quintet. The hope is to inspire students to promote and cultivate their own musical abilities. In addition, they want to give encouragement and instruction to those who already play instruments, knowing that this support is crucial.

For high schools, Presidio Brass offers master classes and concerts for your school’s orchestras and bands.

Although Glasson and the Presidio Brass quintet are also located in other school districts, the schools and their students will benefit greatly from this unique music outreach program.