Every culture distinguishes itself through music, and through its music dispels cultural ignorance and bridges differences. Just as we are special, so are others, and music helps us appreciate each other.

The process of performing music uses skills taught in schools today under the heading of conflict resolution -- positive communication techniques, respect and appreciation of each other's differences, willingness to learn and compromise.

The 2007 Music in School curriculum recognizes music's unique role as a peacemaker. In live performances in schools by professional chamber ensembles, students will experience how music teaches peace.

The Sitka String Quartet Activities: Sounds & People Teamup Different Is Beautiful United We Stand Divided We Fall Recommended Reading

The Del Sol String Quartet Activities: Mock Rehearsal Intro to Instruments of the String Quartet Ringing the World Together Protest: A Path to Peace

The Sitka String Quartet appreciates our state's rich cultural diversity and celebrates it in their music. In 30-minute performances in schools the Sitka will lead 1st and 2nd grade students on an exploration of the idea of peace, using music to help understand what teamwork is, and how putting different ideas together can make things sound richer and more full. See what happens when we don't work as a team.		The Del Sol String Quartet is known for its international outreach and collaboration with musicians and composers from the Americas, Europe, Asia in celebration of diverse and expanding musical frontiers. In 45-minute performances for 3rd through 5th grade students, plus additional tutorials for 5th grades, the Del Sol will show how musicians keep peace between each other, how the sounds of music can battle and resolve, and how music can bridge cultural gaps.
Sounds & People Teamup Playing any old way makes the music fall apart. Watching each other, working together, makes beautiful music. Learn about the science of sounds through the demonstration of the instruments of the string quartet.		Mock Rehearsal Address negotiation, consensus, relationships. Use appropriate language. Express your own feelings, not accusations. The tone of words and musical notes can sound very different with different intentions. Learning to enjoy differences can bring people closer -- and make music sound better.
Different Is Beautiful Many people think that we all have to share the same ideas about things in order to get along. But that is not true. We can all play the same tune or add different ideas to the tune so it will sound even more beautiful.		Introduction to Instruments of the String Quartet Consonance and dissonance in music, tension and release. Composers often use the instruments as characters that converse and agree or disagree with each other. Sometimes music must live with differences just like people.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall Musical ideas, like characters in a story need company. Some music sounds incomplete when standing alone -- it falls down! Put together different musical ideas, like different people, become more interesting than before.		Ringing the World Together Performers travel finding new ideas in the places they go and from the people they meet. Composers who travel will often bring with them in their music a part of their homeland and also adopt new sounds and ideas from the "new world."
Sharing Stories Leads to Peace Sharing leads to understanding. Understanding leads to caring. Caring leads to peace. These charming books from your local library will show you more ways to make peace with your friends, neighbors and the world.		Protest: A Path to Peace Peacemaking isn't always easy. It often means taking a strong stand for improving things that are wrong. What do you do when you see something wrong? What are good ways to protest? Shostakovich (and many others) used music to speak out.