Artist in Residence programs are designed to provide students with extensive contact with professional teaching artists. Residencies are especially tailored to meet the need of your program. Programs can be designed for one day exposure or can be extended up to a full year for a more detailed experience. Our standard residency program included one planning session, one staff development workshop and ten classroom visits by the artist(s). Residencies include: music, creative writing, visual arts, dance and theatre.

History of the Drum (K-12)

A residency designed to teach children The History of the Drum through performance, storytelling, interactive participation and craft making while combining literacy and creative writing components. The students will learn about various percussion instruments and rhythmic patterns from around the world and how they are used in the music of various continents such as, Africa, South America, The Caribbean and North America. This workshop is taught by a Master Percussionist with over 20 years of professional experience.

Studio in the Classroom(Grades 5-12)

A two artist residency which recreates a recording studio in the classroom using our computer system and professional recording equipment, while teaching the students MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) through windows based music software. At the conclusion of the residency, the students will create a fully recorded demo CD.

Songwriting(Grades 4-12)

A professional musician teaches students the techniques of songwriting. Students build and strengthen literacy skills as they write original lyrics or modify familiar songs. The program may culminate in a performance.

Chorus(Grades 4-12)

Lead by professional musicians, the students develop their young voices through various singing techniques such as breathing, pronunciation, and vocal exercises. Participants will learn the important elements of pitch, phrasing, and harmony while linking song material to the curriculum.

Playwriting(Grades 4-12)

A professional actor helps children learn writing techniques by developing plays based on a collective theme. Acting games are used to create an atmosphere of learning and improvisation.

Creative Writing / Poetry(Grades 4-12)

A professional playwright or poet inspires children and gives them techniques and tools to create their own poems and stories. Perfect for language arts programs.

Multicultural Storytelling(Grades K-12)

A classroom residency for children exploring other cultures through storytelling set to music and dance. Craft making workshops are included in this residency using recycled materials, to recreate characters and props featured in each story.

Arts For Kids provides many exciting visual art mediums. These mediums include puppets, clay, collages, body tracing, murals, bookmaking and painting. Call for details...

African Dance(Grades K-12)

Celebrate cultures of Africa with this lively residency. A professional dancer takes the children on a cultural journey using traditional instruments, songs and movements from various countries of Africa. The workshops will conclude with a final performance featuring all of the dances that were taught.

Inspirational Dance(Grades K-12)

A professional dancer teaches the fundamentals of modern and jazz dance techniques. Children will learn the eight elements of dance, explore movement on three different levels and engage the use of energy in movement. Using inspirational and contemporary gospel music, children will execute the dance techniques and culminate the workshop in a final performance.

Early Childhood Movement & Music(Ages 3-5)

Trained artists use movement and music to provide foundations for future learning by using the arts to teach basic academic and life skills. Artists use various pedagogies such as, Orff, Dalcroze and Kodaly techniques.