2023 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

ORIGIN

Educational levels are increasingly higher, although in general culture and specifically, musical culture, there is still much to motivate, promote and develop, especially in the child and youth population.

That is why today, at the initiative of the mayor, the City Hall Choir was formed, with the purpose of providing a space for girls, boys, young people and people who are willing, not only to a musical project, but a project of life, in which those who attend can not only see music as an aspect of fun and entertainment, but also as a project of life, inclusion and social coexistence that contributes to the Reconstruction of the Social Fabric. 

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Create a children's / youth choir in our Municipality, as a social and artistic project that allows the development of a musical and choral culture in the participants and extends to the community, generating processes of personal, group and community development.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. Document the evolutionary process of the choir through different methods (films and written material).

2. Capture the way in which the participants perceive and experience the process, through the use of specific methodologies (logs and filmed interviews).

3. Make a personal reflection about how the environment can affect the development of the choir, and how the choral work could influence the environment of the participants.

FUNCTIONING

The Choir initially began with one hour of class per week; Starting in February of this year, we increase one more hour, with a class on music theory, reading, writing and intonation of notes. They will be supported for the intonation of notes with a melodic instrument: recorder. Each session initially involves body relaxation, breathing exercises, vocalization, and practice of songs from different musical genres.

RESULTS

The social and community impact has been the most relevant, since the community and the public that have listened to the Choir, express their admiration, attraction and motivation for the way of interpreting well-known songs and other lesser-known ones. They also express a desire to get closer and be part of the project. The parents of the participants express that it has been a way to distance a little from the unconstructive activities of social networks. The attitude of participating children and young people has improved in discipline, attention, organization and responsibility, an attitude that is projected at a personal, family, school and social level.

FOLLOW-UP

Permanent monitoring is carried out to verify the evolutionary processes, and from there, continue or reconsider the methodology. The follow-up also implies a survey that is carried out on the parents and the community that participates in the presentations. The opinions of the audience will always be of the utmost importance to follow up on the project.

ASSESSMENT

Monitoring and evaluation in this project go hand in hand; through videos and audios taken in class and in different presentations, children and young people are the first to self-evaluate. They are listened to and graded. Parents and the various audiences have expressed their approval through expressions of admiration and astonishment.

"WE NEED MORE ART, CULTURE AND MUSIC IN SCHOOLS AND IN SOCIETY, NOT TO PROMOTE MORE ARTISTS, BUT TO PROMOTE BETTER HUMAN BEINGS."

https://ocoyoacac.gob.mx/  (External link)