Community Outreach

The Artists-in-the-Community program is directed primarily to students and to the clients and patients of health care organizations in the region -- including hospitals and nursing homes, senior centers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and learning centers for the physically and mentally challenged -- those in the community not able to attend formal concerts and not otherwise able to enjoy the educational, social, and theraputic benefits of live classical music.

By providing year-round community outreach presentations, guitarists Laura Oltman and Michael Newman actively fulfill their commitment to help enrich the lives of area residents and make music an important part of people's everyday lives.

The following headlines eloquently addressed the work of residency:

"Guitar Duo Weaving Music Into Fabric Of Community."
        --Hunterdon County Democrat

"Math and Music: Perfect Together"
         --Courier-News

"Guitar duo keys on health and education"
          --The Morning Call

"Music Where It's Needed"
          --Hunterdon County Democrat

SCHOOLS

"I loved watching you play the guitar. It was better than watching a basketball game and I love watching basketball games." -Michael L., fourth grader at Whitehouse School

Through the use of music, these educational programs demonstrate to the students various cultural, historical, and scientific aspects of the world around them. By participating in music, they are able to gain a greater understanding of the influence of music and the arts on people's lives.

Teachers and staff from Clinton Public School have assisted in the design of two integrated learning programs for elementary school students -- From Distant Lands and Math and Music Together.

* From Distant Lands traces the history of the guitar from the ancient middle east, through the Balkans and Africa into Europe, and on to the New World. Included are discussions and illustrations of geography, history, literature, cultural migration, and musical styles.

* Math and Music Together explores ratios, fractions, and other mathematic relationships through interactive performance and demonstration of meters and rhythmic patterns.

A variety of educational programs are available for children of all ages. The ability to work directly with educators and to tailor programs to individual classes enhances the duo's school programs.

"Thank you for coming to our school and talking to us about guitars. We learned a lot about rhythm and how team work effects a song." -Jessy H., sixth grader at Clinton Public School

HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

"The Artists-in-the-Community program allows us to return to locations on numerous occasions during the year, developing deeper relationships with the patients and clients of facilities throughout the community." -Laura Oltman

Developed with the guidance of health care professionals, the duo's discussions and demonstrations address many critical patient issues through the role of music in healing, including

• Social connection
• Recreation without drugs
• Memory stimulation
• Sharing experiences
• Reminiscence therapy
• Singing and dancing
• Relief of isolation

The duo has presented programs at such local facilities as

• Hunterdon Developmental Center
• Anderson House (halfway house for women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction)
• Stone Arch Nursing Home
• Day Hospital of Hunterdon Medical Center's Behavioral Health Department
• Atrium for Health
• Hunterdon Learning Center
• North Hunterdon Senior Center

"Thank you for the guitar performance. It was very inspirational and soothing to listen to your music. We enjoyed it immensely." -Ellie Redington, LCSW, Atrium for Health/Center for Wellness

"National Cancer Survivors Day was certainly a day to celebrate life and united cancer survivors, their families and the healthcare community in a bond of strength and determination. Your classical music created a great beginning to a special day."
          --Kathleen Chubrick, Hunterdon Regional Cancer Program

SUPPORT

"Laura and Michael are true artists. They give of themselves and are doing something that needs to be done." -Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission

The Artists-in-the-Community Residency Program was established in 1995 with a Matching Grant from Chamber Music America (one of only six new programs funded nationwide) and with assistance from the Hunterdon Medical Center.

Designed to bring the joys of live, intimate, classical music performances and discussions to schools and health care facilities throughout the area, the program receives major funding from Merck & Co., Inc. and Ethicon, Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson company). Additional support is provided by Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and numerous businesses and iindividuals statewide through contributions to Raritan River Concerts.

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo is a 1997-98 participant in Chamber Music America's A Musical Celebration of the Millennium. Support for concerts, residency work and commissions that are part of this program comes from The National Endowment for the Arts, the Josephine Bay Paul and C. Michael Paul Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and the CMA Endowment Fund.