Roaring Fork Valley students are creating their own musical compositions thanks to two week-long residencies by gifted young composer Andrew Norman and the Aspen Music Festival and School’s Musical Odysseys Reaching Everyone (M.O.R.E.) program. The AMFS Composers Forum — a model for programs nationwide — takes place in schools throughout the Valley, offering budding composers hands-on training.

Deborah Barnekow, director of educational outreach for the Aspen Music Festival and School, will blog about her experiences this week as Andrew works with local school children.

Day 1

What a great first day! Anticipation segued into excitement-Andrew is a real charmer, tuned into what appeals to young people. Much of his music is generated from a visual source: architecture, paintings and film. Both the Aspen International Baccalaureate students and the Basalt High School band students were riveted on Andrew’s presentation of a collaborative film project, premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra. The piece is based on 11 action verbs (fun to say linked all together!) with the film demonstrating the meaning, the music linking to the sounds. Trombonist Zach exclaimed at the end, “That is the coolest thing I have ever seen!”