During the last five minutes, the children are allowed to come to the musicians and personally ask them questions. The children are allowed to touch, even play the instruments. This last element of the session has become their favorite time. Children love to feel the instruments vibrate as they are played. From September through June, GPAC holds twenty Peanut Butter and Jam Sessions exposing over 1,200 children to classical music.
Many children subscribe to all of the sessions.
At the end of the season, these children are familiar with musical terms, the instruments, and have their favorite performers. These sessions take place at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre and are then taken to Douglas Elementary School, an inner-city school in Memphis. The positive effects of this program have been recognized nationally. Listening to classical music has been a proven tool in increasing intelligence quotients in students. Children who are exposed to classical music at an early age are likely to continue embracing cultural and artistic endeavors throughout their lives.