Photo by Hall Middle School student
Why bring Music
to my classroom?
Music is good for children’s developing brains! Research shows the benefits of learning music include:
* Improved spatial-temporal reasoning (a key foundation for math and science)
* Improved achievement across the curriculum
* Better self-esteem and lower anxiety, especially among children with emotional or developmental disabilities
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A cappella Workshop
Mentor Artist: Austin Willacy
Grades: 6-12 Duration: 1 session
Cost: $300 for a 60-90 min workshop in one classroom
This one session workshop provides an interactive introduction to the world of vocal a cappella, singing without instrumental accompaniment. Discover the magic behind creating various sounds with only the voice and body as instruments. Students hear a song with traditional instrumentation and then learn to compose their own arrangement utilizing their own bodies.
Arts Learning Link: `Til DawnA CappellaAssembly.
A Musical Bridge to the Andes
Mentor Artists: Francy Vidal & Edmond Badox
Grades: 4-8
Cost: This class is highly customized. Please contact AIS staff for pricing.
Students experience an in-depth exploration of Andean music over the centuries, learning about native, Spanish, and African influences that helped shape today’s Andean musical culture. YIA Mentor Artists teach rhythmic clapping, percussion instrument playing, and traditional folk dances. Lesson overviews, teacher study guides, and follow-up activities are provided.
Arts Learning Links: Assembly with Francy Vidal and Chaskinakuy
Teacher Workshop: Learn to Play and Make Andean Panpipes
Indigenous Music of Meso-America
Mentor Artists: Miguel Martinez & Ernesto Olmos
Grades: K-12
Students learn traditional music and dance of the Xtole and Nahuatl tribes of southern México. Students make their own instruments and learn to play them to the traditional Indigenous music of Meso-America, as part of a musical ensemble. Students will learn songs in three languages: Spanish, English and Nahuatl.
Arts Learning Links: Assembly with Ernesto Olmos and Balamcoatl
Teacher Workshop: Music, Cultural Understanding and Language Arts
Instrument Making
Mentor Artist: Rachael Bouch-Dimonstein, William Rossel, Francy Vidal or Ernesto Olmos
Grades: 3-12
Students learn to make a variety of percussion instruments from recycled and found materials. Instruments range from traditional African “shekere” made from a natural gourd covered with a net of beads, to the Latin American “maraca”, a shaker traditionally made from the fruit of the totuma (Venezuela), and filled with dried seeds, beans or other small objects. Students will also learn to play their instruments to traditional and/or modern music.
Klezmer Music and Yiddish Dance
Mentor Artist: Julie Egger
Grades: 1-8
This course will give students the chance to study the history and culture and spirituality and religious life of Klezmer music. We will listen to many Klezmer melodies. The classes will encompass intellectual explanations but more importantly, students will find spiritual places within themselves in creating this music. We will also review trope symbols and their melodic motifs, comparing them to the Klezmer melodies. We will talk about singing spiritual chants and how the body becomes open harmonically when singing trope from a more open and healing place.
Latin American Music
Mentor Artist: Miguel Martinez
Grades: 3-12
Students learn the basics of music theory, through a variety of Latin genres of music. YIA Mentor Artists create a fun and nurturing environment, where kids learn to take initiative and become part of a musical ensemble. Students explore many folk and pop songs from Latin America while learning about the fusion of African, European, Middle Eastern and Indigenous sounds and traditions that have contributed to today’s Latin American music.
Arts Learning Links: Assembly with Miguel Martinez and Balamcoatl
Teacher Workshop: Music, Cultural Understanding and Language Arts
Literacy Through Music
Mentor Artist: Hannah Dworkin
Grades: PreK-2
Students develop core literacy and musicianship skills through engaging music and movement activities. Each session will develop students’ phonemic awareness and fluency, as well as their understanding of rhythm, pitch and harmony. Movement is used to reinforce vocabulary that students are learning through song and explore the relationship between musical rhythms and syllable patterns.
Music Basics
Mentor Artist: Miguel Martinez, Nina Pasquale, William Rossel, or Hannah Dworkin
Grades: 1-8
Students learn basic musicianship including rhythm, pitch and harmony. Though fun songs and games from Orff, Kodaly, and other music education traditions, students will learn essential skills to participate in a wide range of musical activities. Love of music is nurtured as well as ability to perform with passion and accuracy. Each class will have the opportunity to share songs they have learned with other students. For more advanced students, Mentor Artists provide classes in specific instruments such as recorder, flute or piano.
Arts Learning Link: Assemblies featuring various music Mentor Artists
Storytelling Through Song
Mentor Artist: Nina Pasquale or Hannah Dworkin
Grades: K-3 Duration: 6 or more sessions
Students in grades K-3 are introduced to interactive, participatory songs and “story songs”, exciting stories featuring sing-along musical refrains. Songs range from traditional nursery rhymes to original works addressing diversity, world peace, environment and other contemporary issues.
Vocal Music
Mentor Artist: Nina Pasquale, William Rossel, or Hannah Dworkin
Grades: K-12
Students explore a variety of vocal techniques, developing the musicianship essentials for all types of singing. Students find their natural singing voices through guided vocal exercises, improving vocal skills for choir and ensemble singing. Students can share their new skills through a short concert.
Arts Learning Links: `Til DawnA Cappella performance
West African Music
Mentor Artist: Amadou Diawara
Grades: K-12
Students learn the popular jembé and sabar styles of West African drumming. Students learn about traditional West African music. Students will also learn the stories and traditions behind the rhythms.
Arts Learning Links: Assembly with Bu Falle or Duniya Dance
World Percussion
Mentor Artist: William Rossel or Kim Atkinson
Grades: K-8
Students learn musicianship and experience rhythm and music by playing percussion instruments, working rhythm into the body through drumming, singing, body percussion, and dance/movement. World music is a central theme in the curriculum, including songs in other languages, and movement games from other cultures. Students are connected to the whole wide world of music. For the younger students, students participate in songs and movement/rhythm games as an introduction to the sounds, beats and endless possibilities in music.
Arts Learning Link: Assembly with Rachel Bouch-Dimonstein & Magic Carpet
