Commentary: Little Compton non-profit teaches love for the arts

By Neve Carmichael
Posted 1/22/25

Editor’s note: Neve Carmichael is a student at Tiverton High School, and wrote this article as part of her journalism studies.

Music, in one guise or another, permeates through all …

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Commentary: Little Compton non-profit teaches love for the arts

Posted

Editor’s note: Neve Carmichael is a student at Tiverton High School, and wrote this article as part of her journalism studies.

Music, in one guise or another, permeates through all societies. It is an art form that has been accredited for its ability to portray and influence emotions; thus, an art form that is instrumental to reflecting the human experience. It is important for humans to be surrounded by music at an early age, since it allows them to develop this innate emotional expression. One such organization which seeks to endeavor this through their affirmative musical efforts is Up With School Arts.

Up With School Arts is a non-profit based in Little-Compton that is ensuring children in Eastern Rhode Island get opportunities to experience art as they grow. The organization is bringing well-known professional musicians to elementary and secondary schools around the Tiverton area for performances and special instruction in their areas of specialty. Recently, they helped bring the New Bedford Symphony to Wilbur McMahon Elementary School in Little Compton.

According to Wilbur McMahon administrators, “students in the third and fourth grades at Wilbur McMahon School were given the chance to attend a unique assembly with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. This visit was designed to educate the children about the connection between music and ecosystems through a learning in concert program called The Orchestra as Ecosystem."

The Orchestra as Ecosystem is a concert program that explores the concept of balance in music and ecology. By focusing on ecological instability threatening various ecosystems, the program helps children identify specific ideas that could help restore ecological balance. In music, the program helps children hear how composers achieve balance through the orchestration of musical parts among musical instruments. This is helping children develop a strong understanding of the various instruments of the orchestra and hearing how individual instruments, sections, and families interact to achieve balance within a piece of music.

Through the benefactor of Up With School Arts, the kids of Wilbur McMahon School were able to receive this amazing opportunity that helped further their experience and education with music.

You can be a part of this organization's efforts to inspire music within our community too, by applying to become a part of their efforts through Up With the Art’s website, upwithschoolarts.org, or emailing organizers at UpWithSchoolArts@gmail.com.

 

 

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.