The Fowler's Take 

Jody is the executive director at Kids Orchestra in Baton Rouge and is doing fantastic work in our community. Lauren serves as a board member and supports the organization in many ways. If you've been looking for a great cause and love music, I encourage you to connect with Jody and see how you can volunteer or give. 

DONATE HERE

According to KO's's website👇🏽

OUR MISSION: To build a community of creative, confident, and socially engaged students through music education.

OUR VISION: To bring Louisiana together through music.

WHO WE SERVE: We serve elementary-age children across East Baton Rouge Parish and provide them with the opportunity to study music, learn an instrument, and practice the art of performance.

HOW WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY: As an El Sistema-inspired organization, we have adopted the guiding philosophy that music education can create great musicians and positively change the life trajectory of children in a given community.

MUSIC

Students are offered instruction in a variety of settings including in-person, online group lessons, and online private lessons. Depending on age and experience level, students can choose to study one or more of the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. In-person instruction is offered at various local elementary schoolsYou can learnrn more here.

For our youngest students in Kindergarten and 1st grade, we offer Foundations classes that explore age-appropriate introductory concepts and skills. We also offer an Instrument Explorers class for new 2nd and 3rd grade students that introduces students to a variety of instruments. 

PERFORMANCES

Each KO student is given the chance to perform twice a year, once in the winter and once in the spring. Both in-person and virtual programs give students the opportunity to show their family, friends, peers, and community how much they have learned and grown.

VSEL

In addition to emphasizing social-emotional learning within in-person classrooms, we offer a series of virtual social-emotional learning (VSEL -- pronounce" "vess"l") lessons that parents/guardians can do together with their children to help pour positivity into their lives by cultivating important social and emotional skills.

ROLE MODELS

Teaching artists serve as role models in the lives oKids's' Orchestra students. The weekly presence of these responsible adults provides structure and consistency to some of oucommunity's's most vulnerable children, allowing them to find success not only in music but in their regular school day and home life.

HEALTHY SNACKS

As we continue to serve students in a virtual setting, we have partnered with O'O' Clock Project to provide afterschool snacks for families. Any child living within the Baton Rouge city limits is eligible. Families can apply for healthy snack delivery her".”