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 Dawn a cappella Assembly.

Mentor Artists: Francy Vidal & Edmond Badox

Grades: 4-8

Duration: 6 or more sessions

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

Mentor Artist: Ernesto Olmos

Grades: K-12

Duration: 6 or more sessions 

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: Youth in Arts Presents April 28, 2009, Balamcoatl

Teacher Workshop: Music, Cultural Understanding and Language Arts

Mentor Artist: Rachael Bouch-Dimonstein, Francy Vidal or Ernesto Olmos

Grades: 3-12

Duration: 6 or more sessions

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. 

Arts Learning Links:
Assembly with Ernesto Olmos

Assembly with Rachel Bouch-Dimonstein & Magic Carpet

Mentor Artist: Miguel Martinez

Grades: 3-12

Duration: 6 or more sessions 

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 CORAZÓN SUR

Teacher Workshop: Music, Cultural Understanding and Language Arts

Mentor Artist: Hannah Dworkin

Grades: PreK-2.

Duration: 6 or more sessions 

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.

Mentor Artist:  Reed Fromer, Miguel Martinez, Rachael Bouch-Dimonstein, Nina Pasquale or Hannah Dworkin

Grades: 1-8

Duration: 6 or more sessions 

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

Mentor Artist: Reed Fromer

Grades: 3-8

Duration: 6 or more sessions 

Through vocalization techniques and group exercises, students learn the fundamentals of choral music, building collaboration skills as they learn to work as part of an ensemble. YIA Mentor Artists use singing favorites such as Lean on Me, You Can Get it if You Really Want, Proud Mary, and other popular songs to engage students in the art of singing.  Students can share what they have learned through a performance for the school and/or community. 

Arts Learning Links: Assembly with Reed Fromer, Assembly with ‘Til Dawn contemporary a capella performance

Mentor Artist: Nina Pasquale, Reed Fromer 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. 

Arts Learning Links: Assembly with Reed Fromer

Youth in Arts Presents: Winter Holidays Sing-Along, December 16, 2008

Mentor Artist: Nina Pasquale, Rachael Bouch-Dimonstein or Hannah Dworkin

Grades: K-12

Duration: 6 or more sessions

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 Dawn a capella performance

Youth in Arts Presents: Winter Holidays Sing-Along, December 16, 2008

Mentor Artist: Ken Doumbia

Grades: K-12

Duration: 6 or more sessions 

Students learn the popular jembé and sabar styles of West African drumming, providing his students with an enhanced experience of traditional West African music. Students will also learn the stories and traditions behind the rhythms. 

Arts Learning Links: Assembly with Ken Doumbia 

Mentor Artist: Rachael Bouch-Dimonstein or Kim Atkinson

Grades: K-8

Duration: 6 or more sessions 

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