Arts in the Schools
Arts in the Schools
Residency with the CSB.
John White: writer, photographer, retired journalist; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor, director, teacher; Marilee Strom: musician, former art teacher, business owner; Kathy Fransen: musician, theatre, Rhythm of the River coordinator; Janet Olney: visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Pam Blake: retired art educator, visual artist, Tyler Arts Council, Lincoln County Art Fair, South Dakota Arts Educators Association, Southwest Minnesota Weaver's Guild; Michele Knife Sterner: theatre actor, SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Tom Wirt: artist, owner Clay Coyote Gallery, Hutchinson Center for the Arts, past member Hutchinson Public Arts Commission; Joyce Aakre: visual arts, writing, Discover Dassel committee, Board member for Litchfield Community Education, Exhibit committee for Dassel Area Historical Society; Kelly Muldoon: graphic artist, Prairie Music Association, Prairie Oasis Players; Dan Wahl: writer, visual artist, director, adjunct English instructor SMSU; Anne O'Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Cindy Reverts: visual artist, Rock County Fine Arts Association treasurer, Council for Arts in Humanities in Rock County; Brett Lehman: Worthington International Festival, Worthington City Band, Worthington Concert Association; Reggie Gorter: vocalist, theatre, voice, dance teacher; Dana Conroy: producer, filmmaker; Claire Swanson: visual arts, arts teacher, Meander Art Crawl Committee.
Mary Kay Frisvold: Music; Tamara Isfeld: Visual Art, Education; Candace Joens: Music, Theatre; Cindy Demers: Visual, Education; Brett Lehman: SMAC Board; Joyce Meyer: SMAC Board; David KelseyBassett: SMAC Board.
ACHF Arts Education
A residency from The CSB will enhance my program's goals. Specifically, it will accelerate the maturation of young people by providing an in-depth experience performing and studying brass chamber music as well as bringing a high-quality brass performance to Adrian. The goals of this residency are to: 1. Provide youth with the skills and tools to take music outside of the classroom and past the printed page. 2. Instill in young people an abiding love of music that results in lifelong engagement on many levels; playing, attending concerts, supporting the arts and teaching. 3. Increase each student's understanding and skill in music, and provide an opportunity to perform in public next to professional musicians. 4. Provide a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of instrumental technique for brass instruments. 5. Provide a chance for community members to experience live professional brass music. There are several benchmarks that myself and The CSB will monitor to know our project has successfully met the above goals, and to evaluate the success of the residency. They include: 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 CSB at their evening performance. The primary form of evaluation is from the students themselves both in the classroom sessions and afterwards. The CSB utilizes a feedback survey for me and other staff and volunteers to measure the overall reaction to the program, best and worst portions, and to solicit ideas for improvement. Additionally, we will ask the audience to do a brief survey at the evening performance for evaluative purposes. The CSB and I will also get verbal feedback from students in the classroom and from audience members at the concert. In addition to the surveys, the CSB also stays in the concert hall after the evening performance and makes a point to invite conversation from audience members. This informal audience feedback is an immediate and important reflection of their effectiveness on stage. In the context of a residency, it is also an opportunity to hear from parents and receive their perspective on the CSB's impact on their child from the residency.
I evaluated this project based on my students’ reactions and take-aways from the day. It was clear to me when Copper Street Brass was working with my students that this was an excellent opportunity for them. Most of my students don't have the opportunity to watch a professional group perform so this was an eye-opening experience for them. It also helped the non-music students in the elementary and middle school to gain a better appreciation of music, both traditional and modern. Talking to my students makes it clear to see that this project made a big impact on them, their learning, and their appreciation for music and music performance.