The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival is set to launch its newest project, IM: In Music for Young Ones.

“There isn’t an off the shelf program for this. It’s unusual,” OICMF executive director Victoria Parker said.

In Music for Young Ones is a continuum of the festival’s musician-in-residence program for k-12 students. It is designed to provide music education to early learning centers on Orcas. The Orcas Island Children’s House, Orcas Montessori School, and Kaleidoscope are all participating.

The goal of the program is to prepare children from ages birth through five for a lifetime of music through an interactive music education curriculum and to give training to Orcas Island early learning teachers.

After several months of planning, the materials have been ordered and the first visiting instructor will be here from April 13 through 17. Dr. Patricia Campbell with the University of Washington will teach at all three pre-schools throughout the week and will spend her last day coaching teachers on music education.

Campbell teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, including music for children, world music pedagogy, sociology of music, and research methods.

She was instrumental in developing curriculum for IM: In Music for Young Ones, and Parker said Campbell was so excited about the project that she volunteered to be the first instructor.

OICMF purchased instruments through Eastsound Instrument and Supplies, where owner Jack Becker gave the non-profit a significant discount. He even built a thumb drum for the children after balking at its high price in a catalog.

“The focus was to seek instruments that were multicultural and of natural materials,” Parker said. “The materials are beautiful, long-lasting, and will create wonderful sounds. The collection of instruments, CDs, and DVDs will stay at each school.”

Campbell will present a lecture for the community on Thursday, April 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall. Parents, caregivers, and teachers interested in learning about early music education are invited to attend the free talk.

Early learning students will also be involved with the Chamber Music Festival’s summer Children’s Concert, which provides an opportunity for young people to both listen to first-rate music and participate in live performances with visiting artists. More than 200 children between the ages of two and 10 attend the concert.

“Not everyone can attend the concert and we want children to learn about music all year long,” said Parker.