Carnegie Hall to Host Interactive Spring Family Day This Month

On Saturday, May 21, Carnegie Hall celebrates families with a highly interactive Spring Family Day in the Hall's Resnick Education Wing. During this free musical extravaganza, with activities ongoing from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., kids and grownups alike can participate in songwriting workshops, create and play their own instruments, join in sing-alongs and percussion jams, listen to musical stories, and explore a digital music playground.

Guests will also have the opportunity to take a photo in front of a backdrop of the legendary Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, and enjoy pop-up musical demos by instrumentalists from Ensemble ACJW and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. The day will be highlighted by high-energy performances in the Weill Music Room by Sonia De Los Santos, Elena Moon Park and Friends, and The Itty Biddies.

RSVPs will be accepted online at carnegiehall.org/FamilyDays or by calling 212-247-7800 starting at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 5.

Carnegie Hall hosted its first-ever Family Day open house event in fall 2014. This historic occasion marked the public opening of the Resnick Education Wing, the inspirational home for Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute (WMI), and the event was so successful that it has become a regular feature of family programming during the current season.

For more information about Carnegie Hall's offerings for children and families, visit carnegiehall.org/For_Families.

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Spring Family Day Schedule:

Performances

Sonia De Los Santos | 12 PM
Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and actress Sonia De Los Santos delights audiences with her heartfelt songs in Spanish and English. Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, De Los Santos has been a performer with the Grammy Award winning Dan Zanes and Friends since 2007. Her songs tell touching tales of her life journey from Northern Mexico to the Latin American cultural center of New York City. De Los Santos inspires and excites as she builds cultural bridges that bring together people of all ages and nationalities.

Elena Moon Park and Friends | 1:30 PM
Elena Moon Park and her band-comprising traditional Asian and western rock and folk instruments-perform folk and children's songs from East Asia in fascinating arrangements, mixing native languages with English. As heard on her album Rabbit Days and Dumplings, Park mixes family music with folk in a cool, contemporary way.

The Itty Biddies | 3 PM
The Itty Biddies' imaginative shows are irresistible blends of storytelling and song. Audiences young and old are transported by soaring vocals, sweetly twanging ukulele, melodic piano, funky bass and drums. With a sound that's equal parts cabaret, jazz, and pop, The Itty Biddies will have you and your family standing and cheering during their all-new show.

All-Day Activities

Storytelling Room & Percussion Workshop (Recommended for ages 3-10)

Storytelling Room | 12 PM and 2 PM
Linda Humes is a storyteller, educator, and the founder of Yaffa Cultural Arts Inc. She presents Griots in Concert, an inspirational and educational show that combines music, song, and storytelling.

Percussion Workshop | 1 PM and 3 PM
A student of master drummers from Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, and the United States, Trinidad-born Sanga of the Valley mesmerizes with his exotic beats. Join him for an introduction to drumming!

Sing-Along Suite (Recommended for ages 3-10)
Join us in the Sing-Along Suite for vocal games led by Emily Eagen. Eagen is a musical innovator who sings and whistles everything from early music to traditional Americana. Visit Emily and friends in their interactive vocal playground, and then stick around to play vocal games.

Songwriting Lounge (Recommended for ages 6 and up)
Have you ever thought about writing your own song? Now you and your family have the chance to complete the entire songwriting process-in less than 30 minutes! Work with professional songwriters to brainstorm ideas for your family song. Then move to the composition and recording studios on the same floor to work with more songwriters to have your ideas turned into reality. Finally, record your finished product to bring home and share with friends.

Instrument Making Zone (Recommended for ages 3 and up)
Performing and teaching with musical instruments made from recycled materials, Bash the Trash transforms an entire floor into a performing extravaganza for families. Families work with the artists to build instruments out of recycled materials and then use these new instruments to participate in an interactive performance with Bash the Trash. Ongoing demonstrations lead up to the shows at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. in 11M-A. Take your instruments with you to create musical memories at home.

Digital Music Playground (Recommended for ages 6 and up)
Discover an entire floor dedicated to turning the most unexpected objects into electronic musical instruments powered by Makey Makey and Scratch. Tinker with sound on your favorite fruits and veggies by joining the Play With Your Food "ensemble." Found Sound Nation will also help families record their own sounds and remix them in the digital music playground.

Pop-Up Performers (All Ages)
Experience Pop-Up musical demos and performances by instrumentalists from Ensemble ACJW and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

Photo Booth (All Ages)
Remember your visit to Carnegie Hall by having your family photo taken in front of a backdrop of the legendary Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage and dress up your photo with musical props.

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Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute (WMI) creates visionary programs that embody Carnegie Hall's commitment to music education, playing a central role in fulfilling the Hall's mission of making great music accessible to as many people as possible. With unparalleled access to the world's greatest artists, WMI's programs are designed to inspire audiences of all ages, nurture tomorrow's musical talent, and harness the power of music to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. An integral part of Carnegie Hall's concert season, these programs facilitate creative expression, develop musical skills and capacities at all levels, and encourage participants to make lifelong personal connections to music. The Weill Music Institute generates new knowledge through original research and is committed to giving back to its community and the field, sharing an extensive range of online music education resources and program materials for free with teachers, orchestras, arts organizations, and music lovers worldwide. Half a million people each year engage in WMI's programs through national and international partnerships, in New York City schools and community settings, and at Carnegie Hall. This includes 350,000 students and teachers worldwide who participate in WMI's Link Up music education program for students in grades 3 through 5, made possible through Carnegie Hall partnerships with over 80 orchestras in the US, Brazil, Canada, Spain, and Japan.

For more information, visit carnegiehall.org/Education.

Photo Credit: Stefan Cohen