Resources for Youth
Dive into these free educational activities, artist discussions and masterclasses, and performance videos designed to inspire learning beyond the concert hall.
Music Education
Digital Field Trip to Walt Disney Concert Hall (Videos and activities • All Ages)
Take a virtual trip through Walt Disney Concert Hall. Learn about this iconic venue’s history, its design, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Digital Field Trip to the Hollywood Bowl (Videos and activities • All Ages)
Take a virtual trip through the Hollywood Bowl. Learn about this iconic venue’s history, its design, and the range of performers and presenters that have graced its stage over the last century.
Youth activity books (Printable Booklets • Age: Pre-K–11 y/o)
Explore the orchestra, engage with music, and learn about the different instruments in these printable home activity books!
Get to know a composer (Articles & Playlists • Age: High School–College+)
These guides combine a brief bio of the composer and a little about their style— and what makes them great — with a playlist so you can explore their music for yourself. The growing list includes Brahms, Julia Adolphe, Ravel, Stravinsky, Herbie Hancock, and more!
Go behind the music with the Upbeat Live podcast (Podcast • Age: Middle School–High School+)
Some of the sharpest musical minds from the Southland and beyond present a look at the historical and cultural context of the orchestra’s programs.
Behind the concert with the LA Phil orchestra (Videos • All Ages)
Curious what our musicians think about the music we play? Get some fascinating insights here.
Go Behind the Score of Petrushka
Books from the LA Phil Store Book (Recommendations • All Ages)
Check out what’s available to foster a young musicians interest in music.
A few staff favorites to get you started:
Natural History of the Piano, by Stuart Isacoff
Elementary Training for Musicians, by Paul Hindemith
Declassified, by Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch
Listen to the Birds, by Ana Gerhard
Essential listening (Music Playlists • All Ages)
Dive into our Symphonies for Youth playlist, curated based off our very own programming at the concert hall:
Enjoy a playlist made by Gustavo Dudamel's 9-year-old son, Martín. His playlist takes us from David Bowie to Le Sonora Matancera by way of half a dozen or so of his dad’s own recordings:
Discussions & Masterclasses
LA Phil masterclasses & keynotes (Video Sessions • Age: Middle School+)
When YOLA’s national conference was canceled by the pandemic, organizers rethought it as an online experience, allowing even more people from all over the world to take part. You still can hear these events:
Thomas Wilkins Keynote: Conductor Thomas Wilkins speaks on the meaning of home, his path to orchestras, and what music reveals about each of us.
Violin Master Class with the LA Phil's Bing Wang: The orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster works with string players.
In Conversation with La Marisoul, lead singer of the band La Santa Cecilia: She speaks about her journey as a singer, a mother, and a Mexican American based in Los Angeles.
Curated panels & conversations (Video Sessions • Age: High School–College+)
Facilitated conversations with artists and professionals about their origin stories, education, and career development, and how they approach their work.
Classically Black Podcast hosts a conversation with Kenneth Brown II and Jackelinne Rodriguez: Young musicians discuss their musical origin stories and how they incorporate aspects of their culture into their artistic pursuits as college students.
Alex Laing (faculty, YOLA National Institute; principal clarinet, Phoenix Symphony) and musician Monica Ellis: The two explore critical questions around race and equity, and how institutional structures within the classical music field are adapting (or not) to a changing world.
Classically Black Podcast hosts a conversation with guests Clifton Joey Guidry III and Am're Ford: Hear discussion about the questions, issues, and ups and downs of navigating the world of classical music as a Black musician.
Alex Laing with guest Garrett McQueen: Alex and Garrett discuss origin stories, education, and career development, and how they approach their work.
Pathway Explorations with Classically Black Podcast and Alex Laing: After you’ve watched Classically Black and Alex’s sessions above, join the three of them here for key takeaways and calls to action for young musicians, their support systems, and the institutions that hold power in classical music.
Young Artist Series: Bass Forward: Listen in on a conversation among three incredible bass players at different points in their careers, each of whom has created organizations that represent their unique artistic voices, interests, and values.
Self-Promotion, Branding, and Social Media for Musicians: This seminar explores the questions: How do you develop a social media following as a musician? How do you tell your story as an artist online? Do you need a website?
Learn from the community in this eBook, "Music: See Me, Hear Me" (Downloadable eBook • Age: High School–College)
Music: See Me, Hear Me
A collaboration between YOLA National Symposium attendees and YOLA musicians that includes letters to their younger selves, interviews, a look at power and who holds it, and more. We invite you to not only learn from this booklet, but also make your own version!
Get inspired: "A Youth Manifesto for the Arts" (Downloadable eBook • Age: High School–College)
In 2018, 10 YOLA musicians joined their UK and Scottish peers for “Tuning into Change,” a youth symposium focused on the role of artists in creating lasting change in the world. Why not make your own version of their manifesto?
Performances & Recitals
New music recitals (Performance Videos • All Ages)
The LA Phil is committed to new music that speaks to our moment. Follow along here for collaborations among our brightest students, members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and other creative musicians as they explore the music of now. The growing list of recitals features clarinetist David Howard performing Unsuk Chin, cellist David Garrett performing Andrew Norman, pianist Joanne Pearce Martin performing Thomas Adès, and more!
LA Phil in performance (Performance Videos • All Ages)
Dive into our growing collection of performance videos online. Performances range from Beethoven Symphony No. 6 (Movement I) with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, Jessie Montgomery's Strum, and “Rhapsody in Blue” with Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Watch closely and learn from the pros! Are there any instruments you don't recognize? Any soloists with interesting techniques? How does Gustavo move the orchestra from one tempo to the other?
Explore Sound/Stage (Age: Middle School–College+)
An online collection of concert films, bonus performances, interviews, essays and artwork. Each episode speaks to our current moment, exploring timely themes of social justice, the many meanings of love during COVID-19, and the essence of solitude that so many of us have felt in an era of social distancing.
Looking for some hands-on learning?
Check out learning programs offered by the LA Phil and reach out to learning@laphil.org with any questions.
*application required
YOLA (6-18 y/o)*
YOLA National Festival (12-18 y/o)*
YOLA National Institute (12-18 y/o)*
Composer Fellowship Program (SoCal students grades 10-12)*
Symphonies for Youth (5-11 y/o)
Junior Patrons (13 and under)