2024 WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS

with JULIE YU

Choral directors are some of the hardest-working folks in show business. When given the opportunity to observe rehearsals, many times, the directors are doing most of the work, with students giving the minimum. Directors are exhausted, and students are not tapped into their full potential. Through thoughtful planning and efficient guidance, rehearsals can shift to where the students are doing all the work, with directors enjoying the fruits of their labor.

All skill levels welcome.

More information coming soon!

with PADDY BOWMAN

From rockabilly to hip-hop, Kiowa flute to gospel, memes to manners, Oklahoma folk arts and artists can enliven and deepen student engagement and sense of identity. This workshop calls on the traditions of home, school, and community to build portfolios of lesson plans, activities, artwork, and resources easily integrated into classroom practice. Using ethnographic tools of interviewing, writing, sketching, photography, and analyzing artifacts, we explore personal traditions, school culture, primary sources, and sense of place as well as concerns such as representation, appropriation, and cultural stewardship. Study of traditional arts and their creators strengthens students’ understanding of culture and community and their ability to think critically, gather and analyze evidence, and express ideas and interpretations through personal creativity. Expect hands-on, collaborative learning and fresh perspectives about the dynamic nature of folk arts and folklife and why they matter in preparing young people to face the future in our complex world.

Best suited for teachers in Grades 4-12.

with KOFI GBOLONYO

Through hands-on experiential activities, participants will discuss issues relating to arts and cultural education, indigenous elements and structures of music education, cultural context of the materials and how to use them in culturally responsive teaching. This workshop will first focus on children’s games with movement and songs. This will including clapping games, cup or stone passing games and songs, birthday name games and songs, and other multi-linguistic movement games and songs. Session will involve hand-on interaction, demonstration, participatory, vocal, instrumental and movement process. The second part will focus on xylophone, drumming and dancing of West African traditional children’s repertoire. This session will explore Orff Afrique approach to teaching xylophone and dance-drumming. Using indigenous West African music teaching techniques blended with Orff-Schulwerk, the session will involve hands-on xylophone playing, drumming and dancing/movement, instrumental arranging, dance choreography and exploration of Orff Afrique teaching process and techniques. There will also be discussion about traditional and contemporary performance practices.

All skill levels welcome.