Presented by The Playground Ensemble, students create music in a spontaneous and improvisatory way using this unique hand gesture language. Playground musicians teach students hand gestures and then make music together. By the end of the session, students will be performing, composing, conducting, and laughing! This system works regardless of training, skill level or genre preference and meets Colorado State Standards for composition, performance, and improvisation. Thanks to generous funding from the Denver County SCFD, this program is available free of charge to any elementary school in the City and County of Denver.

With its program, Can You Hear the Difference?, the Ivy Street Ensemble (violin, viola, and flute) presents a classical music program with music from many periods and styles. The ensemble showcases the different sounds of string instruments and several flutes. Ivy Street reinforces basic science as they demonstrate the correlation between the size of the instrument and the sound of the instrument. They also highlight the idea of theme and variation (useful in teaching writing) with words, music, and audience participation. Program is designed for all elementary school audiences (minimum of 125 per performance). Thanks to generous funding from the Denver County SCFD, this program is available free of charge to any elementary schools located in the City and County of Denver.

The Bartels Brass is a dynamic ensemble of orchestral brass players (2 trumpets, trombone, french horn, tuba) all currently performing with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Delivering an unmatched caliber of brass playing, these musicians have extensive performing and teaching experience. The Bartels Brass offers students a detailed educational program featuring individual instrument demonstrations mixed with lively brass music from a wide variety of periods and styles. Thanks to generous funding from the Denver County SCFD, this program is available free of charge for any schools in the City and County of Denver.