Caramoor cultivates the next generation of great performers … and listeners.
Kids & Families come to Caramoor for music and activities!
Grades 2-12 come to Caramoor for educational field trips, and Caramoor goes to middle schools and high schools for hands-on music instruction. These programs, geared toward public schools in the area, are interdisciplinary, multi-cultural, interactive, and curriculum-based.
Professional musicians in the early stages of their career join us at Caramoor for intensive mentoring programs — helping these musicians attain their dreams.
Student Strings
Geared toward middle school and high school music classes, our Student Strings program builds music literacy and confidence through in-class workshop intensives, discussions, and live performances.
For more information about this program, please contact our Artistic Coordinator Tim Coffey at [email protected] or 914.232.5035 x424.
Elementary & Secondary School Programs
Our elementary and secondary school programs focus on making the arts and creativity integral to the education process. We work with thousands of school children each year, many from underserved schools, and help them open their eyes, ears, and minds through exposure to music and culture.
Led by a team of teaching artists and musicians, our curriculum-based programs make full use of Caramoor, offering students and teachers opportunities to interact with our gardens, grounds, greenhouse, performance spaces, and historic Rosen House.
In Fall 2019, we started a planning process to reassess our programs so they are the best they can be. We did a survey with teachers from over 50 schools, held a focus group with area teachers and college administrators, met with area superintendents and community leaders, and spoke with teachers visiting our campus. In light of what we learned, and because of the impact of Covid-19, here’s what you can expect for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years:
2021 / We will not host school field trips at Caramoor.
We do hope to host special events for educators to celebrate and support their work without adding pressure or taking away from time with students.
Spring of 2022 / We plan to resume school trips to Caramoor.
Students will explore the entire campus — the Rosen House, grounds, and the Education Center — with new curricular enhancements. This means we will not be focusing exclusively on Renaissance or Chinese Art, but we will continue to tie into the school curriculums for history, art, architecture, music, the environment, and socio-emotional learning.
For more information about programs for elementary school students, please contact Kathy Schuman, at [email protected] or 914.232.8239.
Student Tickets
We understand that schools have limited resources but strong desires to expose children to music and culture. To support that goal, we offer free and half-price tickets to select performances during the year for students and their families.
Past Programs
Chinese Arts and Culture
The day at a glance
Students tour the historic Rosen House to view our collection of extraordinary ancient Chinese art and artifacts, and listen to traditional Chinese music performed by musicians born and educated in China. Students also learn about and participate in the ancient tradition of brush painting using bamboo brushes and Chinese ink, and participate in traditional Chinese dance workshops, including Lion Dancing with Masks and Ribbon Dancing.
Program standards
This program complies with the following New York State standards: Arts – Standard 3 (Responding to & Analyzing Works of Art), Standard 4 (Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of the Arts); Non-Arts – Standard 2 (Social Studies / World History), Standard 4 (Science / The Living Environment)
The Renaissance and The Middle Ages
The day at a glance
Hear and learn about traditional Middle Ages and Renaissance music while surrounded by one of a kind Renaissance artworks. Students begin their day with a docent-led tour of the historic Rosen House — focusing on the extensive collection of Renaissance paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects. They will hear Renaissance music in concert played on period instruments and will learn about the music of the era. In addition to the tour and concert students will take part in a Renaissance architecture workshop and garden tour.
Program standards
This program complies with the following New York State standards: Arts – Standard 3 (Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art), Standard 4 (Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of the Arts); Non-Arts – Standard 2 (Social Studies / World History)
For more information about programs for elementary school students, please contact Adina Williams, at [email protected] or 914.232.8421