Festival at Sandpoint Completes First Year of New Pre-K Outreach Program

Since its launch in spring 2022, over 70 students at Selkirk School and Little Lambs Preschool have participated in the Festival’s Pre-K Outreach Program. Students learn to play six different non-pitched percussion instruments, count and read rhythms, and play parts within a group.

This free series of classes is designed to engage students through rhythm, movement, and song, culminating with a live performance. 

The curriculum is tailored each year to work with existing music requirements in the local schools and introduce students to a myriad of instruments and new genres of music.

“During each class, students focus on a specific rhythmic element while integrating new instruments,” The Festival at Sandpoint’s Education Manager Paul Gunter said. “After the final performance, the students can take home their self-designed set of rhythm sticks to keep the music going strong.”

The program is currently designed as four 30-minute classes with a short performance directly following the final class; however, classes can be adapted to fit the school’s needs and can be integrated into the school day or offered as an after-school program.

Gunter works with numerous local instructors from a wide variety of musical backgrounds to provide the best teaching experience for each group. 

Part of the Festival at Sandpoint’s mission is to foster a love of music through ongoing youth education programs, and the organization is excited to offer free educational outreach programs to local schools within the community.

Thanks to the generous support from donors, volunteers, and the local community, the Festival at Sandpoint is able to continue to actively work on new programming to expand and grow its musical education mission and positive impact on youth in the community.

To learn more about The Festival at Sandpoint’s education programs and donate to its nonprofit mission, visit www.festivalatsandpoint.com/education