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About Me:

My name is Kristina Allocco and I am a New York State certified music teacher. I recieved my Bachelor's degree in Music Education and my Master's degree in Music History. Over the last six year I have traveled Europe and China, performing in various countries. Currently, I work as a substitute teacher, giving music lessons in the evenings, and playing musicals on the weekends.

What I Will Be Doing:

This Christmas break I will be traveling to Ethiopia for 9 days with a group of 16 people including doctors, engineers, teachers, and artists. Each member of the team will be bringing a sustainable idea into the two villiages we will be visiting that can be accomplished not only while we are there, but continued after we leave. I plan to bring with me recorders which will provide an instrumental opportunity to children where singing and percussion use is already a staple in the community. I chose recorders because they are light, durable, and affordable instruments that will provide something new. During my stay in each villiage I will work not only with the students, teaching by rote (ear-training), but I will also spend time with the teachers in the schools, discussing ways to continue music classes, with use of not only the recorders, but other ways as well.

Why is this Sustainable:

The group of people that I will be traveling with have visited these areas before. Some are working with citizens providing basic medical training, while others work with the people on how to find, use, and store clean water. Many of the people return every 8-10 months, but communicate monthly with the members of the community as well. This provides the opportunity for 'hands-on' interaction throughout the year, giving me the opportunity to not only speak with the teachers in the schools, but also be able to ship additional supplies or recorders throughout the year.

Music: Home and Beyond:

Music: Home and Beyond was created 5 years ago on Long Island as a way to bring music to home-schooled children who had no other way to experience music in a group setting. Based on the New York State Standards for music the program included music history, theory, movement, choral and recorder work. The program continues today, and is run by college music majors. This provides a double learning experience, giving future teachers hands-on experience, while continuing to bring music class to children across the island.

Goal:

The goal of this trip is to provide children with an opportunity to learn an instrument they may never otherwise be exposed to, and create a venue for the music program to grow within both the school and community.