The team at the Local Sound Collaborative is growing! So excited to bring on a new Music Education Facilitator: Briana Horton! She is an incredible talent in our music community, but also brings with her a wealth of experience in working with children and childcare sites in Rochester. When you watch her work and perform with the kids, you can immediately tell how effortless her passion and energy is. She will be running music maker sessions and hopefully more! Welcome Briana everybody! - Ray
Hi everyone! My name is Elaina, and I am so thrilled to be joining the LSC team. After one month I can say with confidence that our education programs are the real deal and I am grateful everyday to take part. Inside the classroom, I have the opportunity to collaborate with students from various age levels and backgrounds. Each day carries a different schedule, but that allows for the music to be shared in a safe and educational space. From entering daycare centers and singing Music Makers songs to playing in a percussion ensemble at Young Women's College Prep—it’s really cool to have a variety of spaces to teach in and something that feels unique to what we do at LSC.
Elaina teaching in action!
I’ve learned to be flexible when it comes to teaching with the Local Sound Collaborative and the schools we work with. As a former classroom teacher I had a pretty rigid routine outlined for students year after year. Leading Music Makers classes has taught me that having the ability to pivot is crucial. There are times that a prepped song may not work, and we have to engage the kids in a different way. Kids may need a moment to wiggle around, or relax depending on the day. I think this component of my job is really unique and allows me to use my classroom background in a new way. Redirecting a class and practicing flexibility wasn’t always familiar in my book, but using this skill in a Local Sound Collaborative fronted program has been very insightful.
This year I’m really excited about my World Music Drumming Course at Young Women’s College Prep! Meeting the kids at first was a little intimidating because in my recent classroom years I had primarily worked at the elementary level. While I have a background in adolescent education - it had been a while since I was exposed to that environment. Even with this thought in the back of my mind, I made it clear that this class is whatever they make of it. If students come in with a positive attitude and are willing to learn then it’s truly a fun experience.
Watching the girls slowly grasps the skills of playing rhythms and staying together as an ensemble has been super rewarding to watch. This group understands that identifying the pulse or first beat in a drum ensemble is crucial when it comes to playing as a full group. As a teacher, seeing students really become interested in percussion is amazing to witness. It’s truly a testament to the work that we do as an organization through Local Sound Collaborative. We are bringing music to spaces that may not necessarily have the resources to provide it. Seeing the smiling faces on students and allowing them to express themselves through music is something all kids need the opportunity to do.
I’ve always had a passion for music so when approached by Local Sound Collaborative about the Program Coordinator position - it was an easy yes!After working at fundraisers we have hosted like Be Kind Fest and Flower City Thaw, I already had an understanding of what the purpose of LSC is. Rochester already has a pretty close knit community, but this organization really bridges the gap between folks that may have not crossed paths before. Working with Local Sound Collaborative has really shown that music can build connections within the community and make them stronger than before. Everyone on the team takes pride in their work and we all have the same mindset of allowing music to be a tool to foster the change we want to see in the world.
The question I get asked frequently is, “How do you juggle your new role with all the other things you do musically?” My honest answer… using a google calendar! But also finding downtime to relax when I need a breather. As a working musician in Rochester my current workload includes solo acoustic work, playing with Stunt Double, singing with the Uptown Groove and DJing! Adding a full time position at Local Sound Collaborative as a Program Coordinator was the cherry on top.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds and to see LSC cast a wider net into 2027!
Elaina Alston
Program Coordinator