Arts in the Schools
Arts in the Schools
Ross Sutter Dulcimer Residency
Cheryl Avenel-Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity council; Justin Beck, chair of Hutchinson Public Arts Commission, president of Hutchinson Center for the Arts, photography, music; Judy Beckman: vocal music, Big Stone Arts Council, Big Stone County Historical Society, Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce CEO; 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. Cheryl Avenel Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity Council volunteer; Kylie Rieke: ceramics, murals, music, theater, T-Bird Community Arts Board; Kristine Shelstad: visual arts, Madison Mercantile art gallery, Madison Arts Council, Lac qui Parle Players; VFW; Gillian Singler, MN West Community and Technical College chair of Humanities and English instructor, Creative Healing Space volunteer, writer, theater director; Michele Knife Sterner: theater (actor), SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Pipestone Performing Arts Center board, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB director; Mark Wilmes: Lake Benton Opera House board president, actor/director, musician, reporter;
Cynthia Demers, visual art, education; Georgette Jones, theater, education, SMAC board; Patricia Lindeman, music, writing, education; Joyce Meyer, visual art, education; Kaia Nowatzki, visual art, theater, music; Mark Wilmes, theater, SMAC board.
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. We have had students in the past get frustrated on the first day of practicing their dulcimers and want to quit. It is so rewarding to watch their attitudes change as they get excited about playing a new instrument. We have our students self-reflect on their time spent learning to play the dulcimer. They will answer 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?
Lakeview 5th grade consisted of 52 students this year with varying musical, academic, and physical abilities. All students successfully built their very own dulcimer, and all were successful at playing their instrument. Even students who had no interest i