A Transformational Journey: a Youth Orchestra Travels to South America and Comes Back Changed Forever

Sep 30, 2017 12:50:03 AM / by Benjamin Zander posted in Video, Shaping Future Leaders through Music, Assignments, White Sheets, Tour, BPYO, Dear Mr. Zander, Audio, Franck, Peru, Argentina, Elmer Churampi, Elgar, Hindemith, Lima, Possibility, Benjamin Zander, Buenos Aires, Concerts, south america, Montevideo, Uruguay, Tour 2017, Buenos Aires concert, Centro Cultural Kirchner, Mark Churchill, Classical Music, Richard Dyer, Art of Possibility

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Zander has lead 22 youth orchestra tours, but the most recent tour with BPYO to South America has left a different and deep impression. Read to learn why!
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Symphony Hall Audience Reflections

Nov 12, 2015 3:49:10 PM / by BPO Staff posted in Shaping Future Leaders through Music, White Sheets, Insights

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Audience members reflect on the opening concert of the 2015-2016 season.
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Symphony Hall Reflections from the BPYO

Nov 12, 2015 12:16:14 PM / by BPO Staff posted in Shaping Future Leaders through Music, White Sheets, Insights

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BPYO members reflect on the opening concert of the 2015-2016 season.
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What are White Sheets?

Nov 3, 2015 11:39:28 AM / by BPO Staff posted in Shaping Future Leaders through Music, White Sheets

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BPYO members are asked not only to master their parts and to gain a deep understanding of the musical score, but also to compete weekly leadership assignments from Mr. Zander. Musicians engage in dialogue with Mr. Zander through "white sheets" each week, where they are invited to share their thoughts on all aspects of the music and the rehearsal process, as well as offer feedback and reflections about the leadership assignments and their musical and life experiences.
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Assignment: The Power of a Child

Nov 2, 2015 5:00:00 PM / by Benjamin Zander posted in Shaping Future Leaders through Music, Assignments, White Sheets

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To dramatize this assignment, I told the orchestra the story of the great cellist Jaqueline Du Pré, who, at the age of five, entered her first competition. She was seen running gleefully down a corridor with her cello held high, like a banner. The parent of another child, seeing the broad grin on Jackie’s face, said: “Well, I can see that you have already played”. “No!” Jackie flashed back, “I am just about to!”
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Assignment: Lighten Up

Nov 2, 2015 5:00:00 PM / by Benjamin Zander posted in Shaping Future Leaders through Music, Assignments, White Sheets

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Emily used the first assignment to resolve a difficult situation concerning a perennial issue for musicians playing in orchestras – namely her seat assignment, and thereby, came up with an insight that could be useful for everybody:
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Assignment: Take Three Giant Steps

Nov 2, 2015 5:00:00 PM / by Benjamin Zander posted in Shaping Future Leaders through Music, Assignments, White Sheets

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For this assignment I asked the members to report back about their steps, so I was inundated. It was hard to choose from the vast number of written responses to this assignment. One day I will put their responses in a book!
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Shaping Future Leaders through Music

Nov 2, 2015 5:00:00 PM / by Benjamin Zander posted in Shaping Future Leaders through Music, White Sheets

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What does “Shaping Future Leaders through Music” really mean? Surely, in an orchestra there can only be one leader, or at best a few chosen players who sit in the first chairs. And how can we say we are shaping future leaders? Isn’t leadership an innate quality born only in few people? “No”, we say, “indeed it is not!” Leadership, like playing the violin is learned through good training and lots of practice. Every time we open our mouths, or interact with another person, it is an opportunity for leadership.
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