If you’ve noticed that your child may struggle with asserting themselves in larger groups, you might’ve considered athletics as a top developer for leadership and other abilities, but the Arts – specifically chamber music, has a parallel impact. A recent Journal of Experimental Social Psychology study shows children establish their self-confidence as early as the age of five, but activities and exposure throughout childhood is key to boosting key life skills and attributes. Learning or mastering a musical instrument specifically helps to boost children’s self-image and expression.
Memphis has a gateway to cultivating a love for instrumentation through PRIZM Ensemble. A hidden gem in the community for nearly 20 years, the organization helps children with an interest in chamber music thrive both on the stage, and off. Its mission is to train young chamber music musicians who are underserved and deserve access to music education to ensure that the youth music landscape reflects the city's diversity. Chamber music is born out of literal “small rooms,” or “chambers,” and teaches both musical skills, collaboration, and teamwork – all lifelong skills necessary to navigate social and professional environments.
Photo: Kinnawa Kaitibi, KQ Communications
PRIZM Ensemble Students
Students from sixth to 12th grade are paired with working professional musicians for hands-on training. Many students have gone on to have careers in music with institutions such as Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Arkansas State Symphony, and have continued their music studies in post-secondary education in places like University of Memphis, Boston University, and Manhattan School of Music.
PRIZM Ensemble provides opportunities to students to learn, practice, and perform throughout the year, such as the Summer Music Camp and International Chamber Music Festival, PRIZM’s Youth Chamber Music Competition, and All-West Audition Prep Workshops for string and wind instruments. This school year, 99% of their 2023 prep workshop participants felt more confident for their auditions after the workshop, and 60% of the students passed their auditions and participated in the All-West Conference.
Gavin Wigginson, PRIZM’s executive director and an accomplished vocal musician, knows firsthand the importance of music to children whether they desire a career in the arts or otherwise.
Considering chamber music is a niche artform, I’m always blown away by not only children’s talent, but their commitment to the music,” says Wigginson. “They want to come to PRIZM and be a part of this flourishing, close-knit community. It’s exciting to see them develop and grow from year to year, both musically and personally.”
Here are some ways that manifests:
Chamber music gets kids comfortable with small groups first.
Because chamber music is played among small groups, children may avoid feeling lost in a larger orchestra. There is an opportunity for each musician to contribute and shine. In some cases, no conductor is necessary, and the music is written for a smaller number of musicians.
It exposes them to professional musicians.
From their peers to working artists, students learn the value of collaboration and shared responsibility. Wigginson says the partnership with working artists as well as participating in performance opportunities helps to get students acclimated to working closely with others in music.
Isabelle Nieves, a Germantown High School senior and flute player, has been with PRIZM Ensemble since sixth grade and hopes to attend the University of Mississippi for music. Thanks to her participation, she’s worked with musicians from the Dallas Symphony. “They (PRIZM) teaches us things that we may not get in a classroom setting because we're more advanced,” she says. “You also get to meet people who are from outside of Memphis and you can have connections elsewhere.”
It helps to cultivate new friendships
Nieves has made friends along the way by participating in programs and coaching sessions throughout the years. “That's one of my favorite parts, actually,” she says. “My best friends who don't even go to my school are from PRIZM. We talk all the time, and we look forward to seeing each other for years, and it also gives opportunities to play with each other.”
If your child has been experimenting with an instrument at home, or recently joined a music or band class at school, this is an optimal time to gauge their interest. A parent of a PRIZM Ensemble student violinist said, “Thank you so much for exposing my child to a form of expression that she didn't know she had. I hope you return so she can continue to grow in the art.”
PRIZM Ensemble’s 15th Annual Summer Camp and International Chamber Music Festival runs June 3-15, 2024. To learn more about the organization or camp registration, visit prizmensemble.com.