Arts in the Schools
Arts in the Schools
Ross Sutter Dulcimer Residency
Cheri Buzzeo: theater, music, The Barn Theatre administration, Willmar Main St participant; Jessica Welu: writing, music, SW Regional Development Commission; Anna Johannsen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women's Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician, Hinterland Art Crawl board; Shawn Kinsinger: theater director, actor, musician, Palace Theatre executive director, Green Earth Players vice president, Luverne Street Music board member, Luverne High School Theater artistic director; Darlene Kotelnicki: theater, city council, library board. Kristen Kuipers: musician, private lesson and K-12 classroom music instructor, theater, writing, volunteer with Jackson Center for the Arts; Cheryl Avenel Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity Council volunteer; Alison Nelson: art, music, and dance teacher, KMS Community Ed director, Kerkhoven Fire Department Auxiliary fundraiser; Anne O'Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Michele Huggins: Granite Area Arts Council treasurer and volunteer, member of the Artisan Grain Collaborative, founding member of ACHALA; Betsy Pardick: musician, actor, Dept. of Public Transformation committees; Michele Knife Sterner: theater (actor), SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Louella Voigt: music, fiber art; Blue Mound Area Theatre board; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Pipestone Performing Arts Center board, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB director; Janine Teske: music, theater, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley school board; Mark Wilmes: Lake Benton Opera House board president, actor/director, musician, reporter;
Reggie Gorter, music, education; Michele Huggins, SMAC board; Jeff Iverson, music, theater, education; Georgette Jones, theater, music, SMAC board SMAC board; Alison Nelson, music, theater, SMAC board; Lori Sieg, arts education
ACHF Arts Education
The project allows students to build their own melodic instrument. The instrument will be used in the classroom after the completion of the residency to give students more time to practice and learn. Students can use the dulcimer to play and create music. Because the dulcimer is an instrument the students created, there is more ownership and responsibility than with the regular classroom instruments. There will be no fees charged to the students. We will use money from this grant to cover the cost of materials and Mr. Sutter's time/expenses. Because the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, we are unsure the students will have the opportunity to perform live in front of an audience. Our contingency plan is to hold a virtual dulcimer performance via livestream. Students will complete a self-evaluation, answering the following questions. Reflect on your thinking, learning, and work during our dulcimer unit? What were you most proud of? What did you find frustrating with our dulcimer unit? What did you do to deal with the frustration? What can be done to make the dulcimer project a better experience for you?
Our goal was for 35 kids, but in our 1st year past COVID, I feel 23 participants is a good success. About half of the kids participating were first time attendees, which is great to see. The post interview showed that several of the students had been scared of public speaking and performing, but they all realized it wasn't as scary as they thought. As the students worked through the script, it was great to see express themselves artistically by giving Grace suggestions of changes they thought would help streamline and add to the program. During practice, the group worked as a team, with the older kids helping the younger kids with lines, where to stand, and just made them feel part of the group as a whole.