By increasing the school’s profile and reputation, students may also begin to put in greater time and effort into representing the school, and joining the programs that will allow them to flourish worldwide. The following are the benefits of international performances for school music programs. 

Increase School Visibility

Putting on good performances in overseas events and festivals will increase the school’s profile and general visibility from both the audience of the performances and from staff involved in the performance events. By having greater fame, the school may benefit by being well known. 

Families looking to move overseas may choose to go to a school they know is high-quality based on the talent and skill displayed by the school’s music program in these festivals and events. Others may send their children to an overseas school because the music program and general education may be better than what is locally offered, but they have a greater guarantee they may see their children sooner because of a set international performance date. 

Showcase The School’s Education

International performance opportunities are a chance for the school’s best musicians to show what they have learned in a professional and public space. A school may show that their education programs encourage skill, passion, mastery, helps students gain wide and intense experiences through the performance tours, as well as show the general identity of their schools spirit.

The school may also show that it is willing to challenge its students in safe and interesting ways, but asking them to leave their comfort zones of home and take responsibility for themselves away from their parents, which can also prepare students for their future careers.

Interested in learning more about what international performances your school could be a part of? Get in touch with us today and we can show you our favourite tours. 

Encourage Other Students To Pick Up Music

An international performance opportunity could also attract more students to the music program, for both the chance to travel as part of the school’s orchestra, and to be part of the international performances, which could become a point of pride that students will be invested in maintaining. 

With more students being interested in studying music, the school will have a reason to dedicate more resources to the music program. This not only allows more students to pick up a new instrument, but it also means the performances on international tours can become better and better as the program gains more traction. 

Become Associated With Prestigious Events

By making sure a performance tour attends the same event multiple times and consistently puts on the highest quality performance they can, that school can become a mainstay of certain events and festivals, gathering a following and becoming well thought of by the local community due to the quality and effort the program continually shows. The association will not only make the school more famous, but will increase the general prestige the school is associated with as a constant sight on high-quality events.

The post How International Performance Opportunities Can Enhance Your School’s Music Program (And Reputation) appeared first on World Projects South Pacific.

Performance tours are a great way to help young musicians develop as it challenges their musical skills, makes them interact with unfamiliar surroundings while also letting them see how much their practice and training has paid off, both in the actual performance and because their musical practice has allowed them to travel to a new destination as part of the tour itself. The following are the ways a performance tour can help young musicians become better at their craft. 

Creates a Drive to Excel

School music tours or tours that are part of educational music programs offer many students and young musicians an opportunity that they may only get from a musical education program. Travelling with a performance tour can be one of the only ways certain students can leave their homes and experience new and exciting places they may never get the chance to otherwise, as well as enjoy a level of freedom and independence that can help them develop into greater musicians. 

With the promise of travel and the general experience of school music tours, the student will want to excel and perfect their musical craft, so they can keep having new experiences on different tours and dedicate themselves to this lifestyle once they leave school or complete their education program. 

Tests Musical Skills

Young musicians should have been practising well in advance for any actual performances they may be booked for during a tour, however when it comes to actually playing a venue, the experience could be completely different than what they are used to. Many ‘training wheels’ that a young performer may have gotten used to will not be with them on stage, as they are in front of a live audience that is fully focused on their playing. 

This gives young musicians a chance to honestly test their musical abilities in a fair and unbiased way, as their performances will have to adapt to the new environment, the many different performance stages and, when possible, to new musical techniques as well.

Creates Learning Opportunities

Performance tours may see young musicians interacting with new forms of music, new teachers and directors and other students from different tours or local programs. Students will be learning and studying fascinating forms of music, as well as working with local teachers and mentors to learn new and exciting music techniques. 

Venues such as the Chicago Symphony Theater or the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles are built for concerts and have acoustics and aesthetics that are well crafted, beautiful and gigantic, each hall having been designed for professional performers usage, letting students experience the next level of their musical career and learn what the future of their career has in store for them in a vivid and real way. 

Want to book a music tour in Europe or America for your students? Contact us for vivid and organised tours across the world. 

Develop Teamwork

During performance tours, musicians will be working with each other not only to make performances and concerts the highest quality they can be, but they will also need to spend personal time together and work as a team in order to make the tour run as smoothly as possible. 

The benefits of teamwork development aren’t just for young musicians either. Directors, teachers and conductors will also be spending time with their tour group and developing bonds with each other in and out of performances, as well as directly seeing their students perform in a way that may reveal more about their strengths and weaknesses as musicians. 

Experience New Cultures

Travelling to musically rich destinations allows students to experience completely different cultures and how those cultures’ stories and histories have influenced their music. Going on a performance tour can be very inspiring, as students and young musicians interact with cultural landmarks like Carnegie Hall and learn the history that was developed on its stage, or hear about Benny Goodman’s performance of ‘Sing Sing Sing with a Swing’ in 1938. 

Young musicians may also meet local musicians of a similar skill level to them, and can make lifelong friendships across the world, all while learning about cultural and musical differences to inspire them to study and develop into better artists. 

Inspires Confidence

Succeeding or even simply seeing a good reaction in person from an audience during a public performance can help a young musician gauge their current skill level and inspire confidence and courage in their performances.

Young musicians may also find they are becoming more confident simply from daily life during performance tours, as they will be completely responsible for themselves in a way that they may not have experienced before, at home with parents and guardians.

The post How Performance Tours Help Young Musicians Hone Their Craft appeared first on World Projects South Pacific.

An essential music festival should give you a once in a lifetime experience that is special and incredibly specific to what that festival offers, such as cultural music, stunning locations and incredible service. The following are 5 essential music festivals from around the world that you don’t want to miss. 

Glastonbury

Glastonbury Music Festival is an essential music festival because it is one of the most iconic and well known music festivals in the world. Glastonbury festival is held for five days in summer, during late June, near the civil Parish of Pilton, Somerset. 

Glastonbury music festival needs no introduction, and without exception the festival is guaranteed to have an incredible, ever-changing line-up of incredible stars and musical legends. Glastonbury is almost a right of passage for any true music lover, and festival goer will experience a world like no other for five days, from rough and unpredictable weather, to hundreds of places to visit and sites to see, to mainstays of the local culture to enjoy, like food and famous cider. 

Please note that parts of the Glasonbury music festival may not be suitable for younger festival goers. 

Australian International Music Festival 

The Australian International Music Festival is a festival that is essential to a young musician’s experience and education. The festival is held at the Sydney Opera House in New South Wales, Australia, during a 7-day period that lasts from June to July. 

The Australian International Music Festival is an event that gives young musicians from all around the globe a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at the Sydney Opera House with over 1000 other participants in Jazz bands, wind bands, orchestras and choirs. The festival also puts young musicians in touch with world-class musicians in workshop classes and allows them to meet new and diverse people with rehearsal exchanges and a festival afterparty to make time for new and old friendships. 

Are you browsing for the best choices of music tours and festivals for your students? Why not look at the many options available here at World Project South Pacific?

Coachella

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, more commonly known simply as Coachella, is a mainstay of American culture and has formed a popular zeitgeist all of its own since it officially started in 1999, making it a must-see and essential festival. Coachella is held at the Empire Polo Club in Coachella Valley, Riverside Country of Southern California, for two weekend periods during April. 

Coachella is famous for outstanding and breathtaking performances from some of the most popular and famous musicians of every year. Coachella is an interesting and absolute way to step away from daily life for a weekend and enjoy and participate in Bohemian fashion, interactive and interesting art, and a unique culture that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. 

Please note that parts of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival may not be suitable for younger festival goers. 

The Midwest Clinic

The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference, also known more simply as the Midwest Clinic, is the world’s largest instrumental music education and is an essential music festival for both learning musicians and their teachers. The Midwest Clinic is held in Downtown Chicago, in the United States, during the mid-December period. 

The Midwest Clinic is an event that is solely dedicated towards musical education, and is made for both young artists and their teachers. Young musicians will be given the chance to perform and learn from some of the best in the industry, not only in music, but in the act of teaching itself, while musical teachers can attend lectures, workshops and demonstrations on how to teach their craft in newer, more interesting and effective ways. 

Summa Cum Laude Festival

The Summa Cum Laude Festival, also known as the SCL Festival, is a youth music festival of classical bands, dancers, choirs, and orchestral performance. The festival also includes competitions for each of these categories, with the winners performing at the winners gala event. Summa Cum Laude Festival is held in Vienna, Austria, from the start of July onwards, typically for a period of five days. 

Summa Cum Laude is an essential music festival because it offers young and upcoming musicians a chance to celebrate music in such classic venues as the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as participate in competition and workshops to truly develop their musical skills in a way that few other festivals offer. 

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School music tours offer students incredible moments that they can remember for years to come, plus a unique opportunity for students to develop in a safe location away from what they may be familiar with, and directly see where future dedication to their craft may take them after they have graduated and are ready for the next phase of their life. From developing as individuals to broadening their horizons and interests, the following are 5 vital benefits that school music tours offer students.

Create Better Musicians

A vital benefit of school music tours is becoming a better musician, because students engage with dozens of different styles of music on these tours, sharpening their skills in addition to learning and studying styles of music they may be less familiar with. 

A school tour to destinations like Tokyo or Paris will see students interacting and learning from some of the best musicians in the world, and performing in public spaces for hundreds of people passing by. Receiving direct feedback from the local audience creates a deeper level of interaction with the people of the culture, and will help students gauge their current musical level in a way that is easier to notice than a teacher’s grading or judgements. Students will see a tangible example of why they should be academically dedicated and how hard work pays off. 

Experience Other Cultures

Experiencing other cultures is a great benefit of school music tours because it helps a student to empathise with and truly participate in other cultures’ music, lifestyles and lived experiences. 

A cultures’ music is very often formed by that society’s story, the people’s unique backgrounds, trials, conflicts, values and pastimes, and simply hearing it is often not enough to truly understand it.

It can be difficult for students to truly understand the historical and social value of other cultures just by reading about them or being told in a lecture. There is a strong difference between hearing about Old Havana and the Spanish treasure galleons that once launched from its port and touching the 500-year-old walls in person during a school music tour in Cuba. By going on school music tours in locations like China or Japan, students expand their range of interest, learn new hobbies, and become more knowledgeable. 

Looking for safe and fun music tours for your students? Why not browse through some of our favourite destinations?

Students Gain Confidence and Development

School Music Tours are out of many students’ comfort zones, as it could be their first time travelling without their parents, family or other guardians, and they may need to be more aware and more responsible for themselves than they are used to, causing students to learn independence, communication and planning in an environment that is safe and overseen by the relevant authorities. 

The following are ways in which students develop and grow when they experience a school music tour:

1. Self-reliance and independence:

On a school music tour, students may be left to their own devices or otherwise be responsible for themselves at certain times. Students will also be asked to ensure they are ready in time on their own accord and that they are taking care of their instruments as well as eating and drinking when they need to. 

During these moments, students must learn to trust and depend on themselves to not only look after their own livelihood, but also to plan and prepare for what they would like to do during their School Music Tour. 

2. Planning and navigation skills:

To get the most out of any school music tour, students will have to learn and develop skills that will be vital for them later in life, such as planning a trip, where they want to spend their free time and when in the day they can make it there. 

By learning planning and navigation in an environment where someone of authority is still mindful of their presence, students can safely grow these skills in an environment that is more forgiving than what may be required outside of school sponsored events. 

3. Confidence:

As students’ skills grow, they realise the extent of their personal capabilities and will grow more confident knowing that they can handle the challenges of travel and planning. 

As they may not have the usual oversight of an authority figure like a parent or guardian, students will know that any successes, plans that went well or experiences that they’ve enjoyed were crafted without anyone else’s help, greatly increasing the students confidence and self esteem. 

4. Strong work ethic: 

Students will consistently be practising and preparing for concerts before a tour may even start.

By the time the music tour has finally started, the entire group on the tour will likely have put in hours of hard work that will then be rewarded on the tour, and encourage students to keep improving and working hard through the rest of their studies. 

Increase Motivation and Gain New Opportunities

A benefit of school music tours is that some students gain an opportunity to visit distant countries that they may never get the chance to see otherwise, increasing general student excitement, motivation and playing ability. School Music Tours are a unique and beautiful moment for any student, where they are rewarded for their hard work and dedication to their studies in a way that is immediate, fun and gives them life-long memories of new and interesting experiences. 

An increase in motivation is caused by a good school music tour because a student who enjoyed a previous tour or wants to look for a profession where they can travel more when they graduate will now have an example of what life could be like in the career they have chosen, or generally give students a clear and achievable goal (travelling around the world) to work towards for any point in their life. 

Develop Teamwork

Teamwork is a vital part of any concert or performance, and on a school’s music tour, that performance will also be judged by the local community, encouraging students to work together and uplift each other so that they can put on the best possible show they can. 

Students will also need to develop teamwork during a tour in order to keep the entire experience running as smoothly as possible, as well as being aware of each other and looking out for their fellow pupils. The tour group will develop teamwork as they both perform in a new and exciting environment, as well as becoming closer and more aware of each other during the journey. 

World Projects South Pacific specialises in unique music tours to incredible destinations around the world. We customise every tour to your requirements, with tours incorporating full-time tour managers, performance opportunities, sightseeing activities and workshops with talented clinicians.

To arrange an unforgettable music tour experience, contact us today.

The post 5 Vital Benefits of School Music Tours appeared first on World Projects South Pacific.

World Projects South Pacific specialises in curating unforgettable music tour experiences for schools and music groups: here’s our top five music tour destinations for 2024.

1. China

As one of the most culturally rich destinations in the world, China is the perfect option for a truly unique music tour. China’s vast and diverse landscape greatly compliments the country’s history as one of the world’s first ancient civilisations. The options for a life-changing music tour are endless and only limited by your imagination. Popular activities include: 

• Walking the ancient path of The Great Wall of China 
• Visiting the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square 
• Viewing the profound size and detail of the Terracotta Warriors 
• Learning about the art of silk making through a silk factory tour
• Enjoying the sheer beauty of Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as ‘the city of heaven, the most magnificent in the world’.

2. The United States

For a diverse and vibrant music tour, you can’t beat the USA. Whether you traverse the entire country to soak up the sights and sounds, or focus on a particular region, the sheer variety and depth of the musical options available are unparalleled. American schools, universities and community groups are always excellent hosts who welcome with open arms the opportunity to exchange and collaborate with Australian performance ensembles.

Potential tour highlights include:

• The East Coast: enjoy a Broadway show in New York, visit the monuments and discover the rich history of Washington DC, or even obtain a truly new cultural experience through a visit to the Amish country in Philadelphia. 
• The West Coast: visit sunny Anaheim to experience a Disneyland Soundtrack Sessions workshop, enjoy the marvellous beaches of San Luis Obispo, take a guided tour of Hollywood and the Sunset Strip, visit the Grammy Museum or even soak in the many sights and museums of San Diego’s Balboa Park.
• The South: a truly American cultural experience to see where so much of today’s popular music was born. Enjoy attractions such as the Alamo and Johnson Space Center in Texas, the Blues Highway of the Mississippi Delta, The French Quarter of New Orleans, Sun Studios and Graceland in Memphis and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

3. The United Kingdom

Whether you’re experiencing the beautiful valleys and mountains of Scotland and Wales or the buzzing metropolis of London, a music tour in the UK will inspire and amaze, as well as raise your performance skills and experience to the next level.

With a rich musical history dating back through the Middle Ages (and beyond), the UK offers a plethora of enriching experiences – musical and otherwise. Uniquely British experiences include:

• Trips to iconic historical sites such as Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the British Museum, the Roman Baths, and many historic castles. 
• Literary experiences such as visiting the birthplace of Shakespeare in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Wordsworth’s Lake District, and of course the Harry Potter Tour!
• Unparalleled musical experiences like workshops at the Royal Northern College of Music, sectionals with the London Symphony Orchestra, tickets to the latest West End musicals and performances in inspiring spaces such as Stoller Hall and St John’s Smith Square.

4. Cuba

Cuba is arguably the most musical destination on the planet – indeed, music is inseparable from daily life. Cuban music is internationally renowned due to its strong African and European influences. Uniquely Cuban experiences include: 

• Walk through the streets of amazing Old Havana 
• Visit the historic Cueva del Indio 
• Take part in a Cuban salsa dance workshop 
• Enjoy a night concert at the Buena Vista Club at Plaza America
• Take part in public performances at the Prado of Cienfuegos City and Santa Clara Square 
• Undergo exchange performances with educational institutions including Amadeo Roldan Conservatory, Alejandro García Caturla Conservatory and The National School of Music in Havana.

5. New Zealand

Just a stone’s throw from home, New Zealand is the perfect introduction to international music travel. 

The spectacular sights and sounds of the North Island and the South Island never fail to deliver, with multiple opportunities for performances, exchanges and workshops, along with learning about the rich culture of the indigenous Maori people and how their music is ingrained in life in New Zealand. 

Meanwhile, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore some of the southern hemisphere’s most dramatic natural landscapes from the high peaks, lakes, volcanos, glaciers and more. Other popular activities include: 

• Visiting Rotorua’s Whakawerawera Thermal Reserve 
• Visiting Matamata’s ‘Hobbiton’ movie set, as featured in The Lord of the Rings 
• Experiencing a traditional Maori Hangi meal 

World Projects South Pacific specialises in unique music tours to incredible destinations around the world. We customise every tour to your requirements, with tours incorporating full-time tour managers, performance opportunities, sightseeing activities and workshops with talented clinicians.

To arrange an unforgettable music tour experience, contact us today.

The post Five Must-Visit Music Tour Destinations in 2024 appeared first on World Projects South Pacific.