Arts in the Schools

The goals of this project are to: 1) give my students the opportunity to learn from professionally-performing full-time musicians in a unique and unparalleled up-close and in-depth learning experience; 2) supplement my music program curriculum; 3) provide a high-quality arts experience for the community of Worthington; 4) provide youth with the skills and tools to take music outside of the classroom and past the printed page; 5) instill in young people (and in the community) an abiding love of music that results in lifelong engagement on many levels (i.e. performing, attending concerts, teaching and learning, and supporting or donating to the arts with both money and time); and 6) provide a more comprehensive and lasting understanding of instrumental techniques for band instruments that both my students and I can use in the future. There are three benchmarks that we will monitor: 1) Students who are engaged - asking questions, participating in activities, and volunteering to play. This is a strong indicator that kids are interacting with the material and processing the information in ways that will be retained. 2) Improved instrumental playing - band members will be more in tune, play together better, and use proper warm-ups prior to ensemble playing. 3) Concert attendance and crowd interaction with the Copper Street Brass at the evening performance. We will evaluate the residency in three ways: 1) in-class responses from the students, 2) exit surveys after the evening performance for the audience in attendance, and 3) online surveys for school faculty/staff, parents, students, and community members upon the residency's culmination. A print and online feedback survey will measure the overall reaction to the project and to solicit ideas for improvement. The Copper Street Brass stays in the classroom and on stage after each performance and invites conversation from students and/or audience members. This informal audience feedback is an immediate reflection of their effectiveness on stage. This is also an opportunity to hear from parents and receive their perspective on the Copper Street Brass' impact on their child.