Arts Learning

Outcomes for this project include an increase in students’ musical skills (tone production, note-recognition, rhythm, listening, etc.), providing students with the chance perform alongside professionals (increasing self-confidence and motivation, and cultivating community support through excellence and achievement), and creating strong leaders within the band programs, encouraging excelled participation in band. The ultimate project outcome of Brass T.A.C.S. is to provide an experience to public school students in Minneapolis that supplements school music curricula through sustained music instruction and mentorship, engaging students not only in music, but also in activities enhancing their creativity, sequential thinking, and self-control using specific educational concepts and techniques to facilitate an experience that instills an appreciation of music and advances the school arts curriculum.The primary form of evaluation is from the students and the band directors through a feedback survey to measure overall reaction to the program and to solicit ideas for improvement. We also keep journal records of student progress, assignments, and teaching methods, we audio and video tape our showcases and master classes in order to critique our teaching methods, and we also will document feedback from the Minneapolis Public Schools Arts coaches who will observe the Brass T.A.C.S. teaching artists working, providing the teachers the extraordinary benefit of a neutral third-party educator-observer to help identify ways we can better reach students and strengthen current teaching methods.