ECoSistema at the Boys & Girls Club of Goshen
ECo at the Boys & Girls Club of Goshen…
….is all about music and youth development. We learn fundamental music skills as well as social skills like cooperation, teamwork, and grit. Being part of ECoSistema takes hard work and dedication, but it’s also lots of fun! ECoSistema is a year-long commitment.
Students MUST be members of the Boys & Girls Club of Goshen to participate in ECo at the Club.
Upcoming Events
- Wednesday, November 29: Residency with the Kenari Quartet through the Fischoff Chamber Music Association. Community Music Celebration at 6:00 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Goshen.
- Thursday, December 14: ECoSistema Winter Concert at the Boys & Girls Club of Goshen gymnasium at 6:00 pm.
- Monday, December 18: Performances for the Cadets and Juniors at the Club.
ECo Boys & Girls Club of Goshen Programs
ECo Foundations
Music Together: Ages 0-5 and parents/caregivers
Rhythm Kids: 1st grade
Song Circle: 2nd grade
ECo Strings
Crescendo Orchestra: grades 3-4
Presto Orchestra: grades 4-5
Teen ECo: grades 6-8
Teen Guitar & Drumming: grades 6-12
Youth Honors Orchestra: grades 9-12
ECo Sings
ECo Sings vocal ensemble: grades 3-6
ECo Foundations
Music Together: ages 0-5 with a caregiver
Music Together is a music and movement class for babies and toddlers with their parents or caregivers! Music Together at the Goshen Club is offered through our partnership with Goshen College Music Together. Teacher: Rachel Hostetler, certified Music Together instructor.
*To participate in Music Together through ECoSistema at the Club, families MUST have an older child who is a member of the Club, OR must live in the North Goshen neighborhood. If this isn’t you, please enroll in one of our Music Together classes at the Goshen College Music Center!
SPRING 2024 SCHEDULE
- Mondays, 5:15-6:00 PM
- January 8 – March 18, 2024
Rhythm Kids: First grade
Rhythm Kids is all about singing, moving, drumming, and learning rhythms inspired by global percussion traditions! Rhythm Kids at the Goshen Club is offered through our partnership with Goshen College Music Together. Teacher: Jenny Campagna, certified Music Together and Rhythm Kids instructor.
*Students MUST be members of the Boys & Girls Club to participate in Rhythm Kids at the Club. For non-members, please enroll in Rhythm Kids at the Goshen College Music Center!
SPRING 2024 SCHEDULE
- Mondays, 4:00-4:45 PM
- January 8 – March 18, 2024
Song Circle: Second grade
Song Circle prepares 2nd graders to learn and perform music together as a group in a fun and creative environment. Activities include singing, drums, mallet instruments, creative movement, and musical games. Students learn how to improvise, compose their own music, and perform as part of an ensemble. Song Circle is based on the Orff-Schulwerk method of music education. Teacher: Kent Dutchersmith, ECoSistema Lead Teaching Artist.
2023-2024 SCHEDULE
- Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:00-4:45 pm
- FIRST DAY: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
- September through May (full school year)
ECo Strings
Crescendo Orchestra: grades 3-4 *FULL – WAITING LIST ONLY*
*7/25/23 Crescendo Orchestra is now full! If you are still interested in Crescendo, please fill out this form and your child will be placed on the waiting list.
Crescendo is our beginning orchestra for third and fourth graders who want to learn how to play a string instrument for the first time. We offer violin, viola, and cello. Instruments are provided for free at the Club! (Instruments don’t go home with students.) Teachers: Kent Dutchersmith and Hillary Harder, ECoSistema Program Director.
*For 5th graders who want to learn a string instrument, we ask that you sign up for the excellent school orchestra program at Goshen Intermediate School!
2023-2024 SCHEDULE
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 pm
- Private lesson, 30 minutes once a week (we will contact you to schedule your lesson)
- FIRST DAY: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
- September through May (full school year)
Presto Orchestra: grades 4-5
Presto is our second-year orchestra for students who played in Crescendo last year. Presto 4th and 5th graders learn more advanced repertoire in a fun and supportive environment. Presto often combines with Teen ECo to do special performances in the community. Teacher: Kent Dutchersmith.
2023-2024 SCHEDULE
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00-6:00 pm
- Private lesson, 30 minutes once a week (we will contact you to schedule your lesson)
- FIRST DAY: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
- September through May (full school year)
Teen ECo Ensemble: grades 6-8
Teen ECo provides chamber music, private lessons, and leadership experience for middle school students. Teen ECo includes one ensemble rehearsal, one 30-minute private lesson, and one hour of Musical Mentoring every week. For Musical Mentoring, Teen ECo students are placed with a younger ensemble to provide support, learn how to coach younger students, and gain leadership skills. Teachers: Kent Dutchersmith and Hillary Harder.
2023-2024 SCHEDULE
- Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 pm
- Private lesson, 30 minutes once a week (we will contact you to schedule your lesson)
- Musical Mentoring, 1 hour per week (we will contact you to schedule)
- FIRST DAY: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
- September through May (full school year)
Teen Guitar & Drumming: grades 6-12
Teens at the Boys & Girls Club (grades 6-12) are invited to explore music-making by trying out new instruments in a fun, small-group environment. Each semester, guitar and drumming classes will be offered for six weeks at a time. Teacher: Kent Dutchersmith.
2023-2024 SCHEDULE
- Fall Guitar, Mondays from 5:00-6:00 Sept. 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, 30
- Fall Drums, Mondays from 5:00-6:00– November 6, 13, 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11
- Spring Guitar, Mondays from 5:00-6:00– Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, 26, March 4
- Spring Drums, Mondays from 5:00-6:00– March 11, 18, 25, April 8, 15, 22
Youth Honors Orchestra: grades 9-12
When students graduate from Teen ECo, their next step is to audition for the Youth Honors Orchestra (YHO) at Goshen College. YHO is a long-standing community orchestra program for Elkhart County youth. ECoSistema helps prepare students to move to the next level by entering YHO in high school. YHO offers a paid internship program to students age 16 and up. Interns are paid to work with younger ECoSistema classes as their after-school job. Learn more by clicking the purple button below! Teacher: Tori Petrak, YHO Music Director.
PLEASE NOTE:
- YHO is free for graduates of ECoSistema. Simply fill out the simple scholarship form on the YHO website to enroll in YHO at no cost.
- Students must audition for YHO. Please see the audition requirements and sign up for an audition slot by clicking the purple button below.
- YHO takes place at the Goshen College Music Center, not at the Boys & Girls Club.
- Students may sign up for only one semester of YHO, or sign up for both to receive a $20 Whole-Year Discount
2023-2024 SCHEDULE
- Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 pm *at the GC Music Center
- August 29 – November 14, 2023 (fall semester)
- January 16 – May 7, 2024 (spring semester)
ECo Sings
ECo Sings is for students in grades 3-6 who love to sing! ECo Sings helps students learn how to use their singing voice and prepares them to sing in a children’s choir. After at least one year of ECo Sings, students can audition for the Rejoice Children’s Choir or the Shout For Joy Singers at Goshen College. ECo Sings is directed by Katy Thornthwaite, Goshen College graduate and former ECoSistema intern.
2023-2024 SCHEDULE
- Mondays, 5:00-6:00 pm
- FIRST DAY: Monday, September 11, 2023
- September through May (full school year)