Artist Statement
Anita loves working with students of all levels in a wide array of settings.
As a result of her passions in music composition and music education, she created original curricula to bring young students through the process of music composition "organically". This strange use of this word simply means composing with an instrument in hand, using the language of music notation with paper, pencil, an eraser and some fun collaboration with classmates.
These two unique curricula are designed to serve elementary classroom recorder classes and/or secondary school instrumental programs, planning and booking finite periods of time for a residency.
An alternative to a residency in music composition, a General Music residency called What Does A Composer Do? is designed for ages 5-12. It introduces pertinent vocabulary, utilizes simple demonstrations with a Q&A option, incorporates an original song for all to sing and activities for reflection and follow-up.
Let's Compose! for elementary recorder class works beautifully in Spring for first year players and any time of year for more experienced players. With custom planning, residencies using at least five sessions produce wonderful results.
The Composer Residency Project for secondary school instrumentalists assumes students have command of a Concert Bb Scale and most of the chromatic scale on their instrument. A five-session minimum offers the best results and a 5-15 session booking can yield far more. With custom planning, a residency with Anita can offer students the sense of empowerment, bring creative inspiration and is designed to prompt discussion about intellectual property.
Commissions: Anita is accepting commissions for new music composed specifically for your ensemble, be it of traditional instrumentation and size or one of unique instrumentation for which commercial music is not available. All levels accommodated as per consultation.
Ms. Brown also has experience with and very much enjoys working with the elderly in senior living facilities. She encourages residents to learn basic improvisation at the piano in duet with her, and/or to sing along with her at the piano.
Educational Background
Brown has been a respected composer/conductor on the New York jazz circuit since 1995. She is the recipient of a 2019 NYSCA Individual Artist Composer Commission award and has been commissioned The Count Basie Orchestra, Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, The Frank Wess Nonet. Her works have been performed by The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, The US Army Jazz Ambassadors and her own Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra. Brown received an ASCAP Award for New Big Band Music for The Lighthouse and a Legislative Proclamation by The Honorable Harriet D. Cornell, Chairperson of The Rockland County Legislature, for Stand: A Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, a work commemorating our National tragedy on 9/11. Ms. Brown’s passion for engaging others in musical activity is the source of creative solutions backed by a broad spectrum of experience.
As an eight-year Fellow in the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in New York City, Brown honed her skills as a composer/arranger under the tutelage of renowned composers, Jim McNeely and Manny Albam.
Her Bachelors and Masters degrees are both in Music Education from University of New Hampshire at Durham and CUNY Herbert H. Lehman College, respectively.
Anita loves working with students of all levels in a wide array of settings.
As a result of her passions in music composition and music education, she created original curricula to bring young students through the process of music composition "organically". This strange use of this word simply means composing with an instrument in hand, using the language of music notation with paper, pencil, an eraser and some fun collaboration with classmates.
These two unique curricula are designed to serve elementary classroom recorder classes and/or secondary school instrumental programs, planning and booking finite periods of time for a residency.
An alternative to a residency in music composition, a General Music residency called What Does A Composer Do? is designed for ages 5-12. It introduces pertinent vocabulary, utilizes simple demonstrations with a Q&A option, incorporates an original song for all to sing and activities for reflection and follow-up.
Let's Compose! for elementary recorder class works beautifully in Spring for first year players and any time of year for more experienced players. With custom planning, residencies using at least five sessions produce wonderful results.
The Composer Residency Project for secondary school instrumentalists assumes students have command of a Concert Bb Scale and most of the chromatic scale on their instrument. A five-session minimum offers the best results and a 5-15 session booking can yield far more. With custom planning, a residency with Anita can offer students the sense of empowerment, bring creative inspiration and is designed to prompt discussion about intellectual property.
Commissions: Anita is accepting commissions for new music composed specifically for your ensemble, be it of traditional instrumentation and size or one of unique instrumentation for which commercial music is not available. All levels accommodated as per consultation.
Ms. Brown also has experience with and very much enjoys working with the elderly in senior living facilities. She encourages residents to learn basic improvisation at the piano in duet with her, and/or to sing along with her at the piano.
Brown has been a respected composer/conductor on the New York jazz circuit since 1995. She is the recipient of a 2019 NYSCA Individual Artist Composer Commission award and has been commissioned The Count Basie Orchestra, Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, The Frank Wess Nonet. Her works have been performed by The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, The US Army Jazz Ambassadors and her own Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra. Brown received an ASCAP Award for New Big Band Music for The Lighthouse and a Legislative Proclamation by The Honorable Harriet D. Cornell, Chairperson of The Rockland County Legislature, for Stand: A Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, a work commemorating our National tragedy on 9/11. Ms. Brown’s passion for engaging others in musical activity is the source of creative solutions backed by a broad spectrum of experience.
As an eight-year Fellow in the prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in New York City, Brown honed her skills as a composer/arranger under the tutelage of renowned composers, Jim McNeely and Manny Albam.
Her Bachelors and Masters degrees are both in Music Education from University of New Hampshire at Durham and CUNY Herbert H. Lehman College, respectively.