Higher Scale

A Public School Music Education Partnership

Responding to the critical need for a revival of music education in Tulsa Public Schools, Signature Symphony at TCC piloted a project called Higher Scale in the fall of 2000.  A hiring partnership between TPS and the Signature Symphony, the overall goal is to establish string programs where none existed, and to maintain consistency in the quality of string instruction throughout the TPS district.

The initial step in Higher Scale was the creation of the Signature Quartet—the members of which form a team of instrumental string specialists for Tulsa Public Schools. Teaching 20 hours per week for TPS, they are also regular players with the Signature Symphony and the Signature Quartet. In their position as players, they perform as members of the Signature Symphony—but they also perform in school outreach programs as the Signature Quartet.

Currently, Higher Scale String Specialists are active in the following Tulsa Public Schools: Academy Central Elementary, Barnard Elementary, Central High School, Edison Preparatory, Eisenhower International, Lanier Elementary, Madison Middle, Mark Twain Elementary, Mayo Demonstration, Roosevelt Elementary, and Phillips Elementary.

This program has had an incredible impact on the students in Tulsa Public Schools. Now in its second year, Higher Scale has directly impacted more than 1100 TPS string class music students in Tulsa Public Schools. Countless more have been influenced by the quartet’s in-school performances throughout the Tulsa metro area.

For information on Higher Scale participation at your school, call the Signature Symphony at 918-595-7786 or e-mail jfellows@tulsacc.edu.