Schools & Teachers

In partnership with schools and school districts across Kentuckiana, the Louisville Orchestra invests in local educators and students by creating and providing impactful music performances and education experiences, professional development, and online curriculum and resources. 

MakingMUSIC

MakingMUSIC is the long-running, premier music education program in Louisville with an investment in educators (music and general ed), providing robust, high-quality musical performances for students, both online and in-person. For 80 years, the LO has provided music education experiences to every 4th and 5th-grade student in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). The program features thoughtfully curated programming, musician engagement opportunities for students and professional development for every music educator in the district. The MakingMUSIC curriculum supports Kentucky state and national standards in Music/Arts, English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies for 4th and 5th grades. 

For all other non-JCPS schools, MakingMUSIC Memberships are now available at a cost of $1,000 per school. School membership services include:

  • Online Music Education Learning Library: Instrument demonstrations, concerts, chamber ensemble performances, teacher resources including PBL units, and more.
  • Individual live musician classroom visits: Musicians will play and demo their instrument, discuss their background and participate in a Q&A. Visits are great for STEAM or arts-integrated units for general education classes. Up to four (4) classrooms may be visited by a single musician during the service. 
  • Priority access to a new MakingMUSIC concert (spring 2022): LO education concerts introduce students to a symphony performance with a focus on musical and interdisciplinary themes. ($8.00 per student)
  • One (1) customized teacher professional development session 

FAQs – MakingMUSIC Memberships

Financial support and sponsorships are available. District memberships are also available and customizable upon request. If interested in a MakingMUSIC Membership, please email education@louisvilleorchestra.org.

Additional Services for Schools

In addition to the MakingMUSIC program for 4th and 5th-grade students, the LO offers various services  at individual program cost for students of all ages in all Kentuckiana schools. Please contact education@louisvilleorchestra.org to discuss details. 

Musician Classroom Visits 

Would you like your students to meet a professional musician? Do you have a STEAM unit that could benefit from a guest artist and speaker? LO musicians are experienced in visiting elementary general education and music classrooms. The experience is fully customizable to fit your classroom needs and visits can be live/in-person or virtual. Cost: $250 / Program length: 30 minutes per classroom up to 4 classrooms / Primary audience: Grades 4–5 only

FAQs and Reservations – Musician Classroom Visits

MakingMUSIC Education Concert (spring 2022) 

The LO education concert series introduce students to a symphony performance with a focus on musical and interdisciplinary themes. Concerts will be performed at The Kentucky Center twice daily on March 16, 17 and 18, 2022. Cost: $8 per student / Chaperones free 10:1. Program length: 45-50 minutes / Primary audience: Grades 4–5 only

FAQs and Reservations – MakingMUSIC Concert

Small Education Ensemble Performances

Request an in-school performance with a LO chamber ensemble. Performances are designed to expose students to a variety of instrumental music and themes, familiarize them with the instruments of the orchestra, and provide an opportunity to meet and talk with professional orchestra musicians. Cost: $800 / Program length: 45-50 minutes / Primary audience: Grades 3–5

FAQs and Reservations  – Small Ensemble In-School Performances

Musician Masterclasses 

LO musicians lead masterclasses around the world. From partnering with the Louisville Youth Orchestra to their own private teaching studios, LO musicians bring a robust musical experience to every masterclass they lead. Classes can be live/in-person or virtual. Cost: $300 / Program length: 60 minutes / Primary audience: Middle and High School music students

FAQs and Reservations – Musician Masterclasses

Coffee Concerts: Discount Tickets 

Coffee Concerts are 11AM matinee concerts on Fridays that are open to students who are ready for the full-orchestra public concert experience. Each performance is held at The Kentucky Center and is preceded by a “Concert Talk” that offers students the chance to learn about the concert program, including history, composers, and musical genres. Study guides are provided for each concert. Cost: $12 per student / Chaperones free 10:1. Program length: 60 minutes / Primary audience: Middle/High School and college-age students

View Coffee Series information

FAQs and Reservations – Coffee Concerts

Partners in Education

The Louisville Orchestra wholeheartedly thanks the thousands of individuals who support our education and outreach programs through their annual gifts. For information about how you can impact our education programs through an annual gift or the creation of a scholarship, sponsorship, or outreach fund, please contact the Louisville Orchestra’s Chief Development Officer, Bert Griffin at 502.587.2425 or bgriffin@louisvilleorchestra.org.