Arts Education for Distance, Hybrid, In-Person

We all know that there are countless benefits to arts education. Schools with music programs have markedly higher graduation and attendance rates compared to schools without music education.* Music is more than just an elective; it's science, language, history, and art. Even though it is clear how valuable music is as part of a well-rounded education experience, many children remain unable to participate in their school's music programs due to limited access to musical instruments. That’s where we come in!

LBC's Music for Schools instrument lending library doesn't solve it all, but it certainly makes a difference by addressing the need for access. Since 2003, Music for Schools has provided thousands of instruments to students who needed them through the lending library program. Students who couldn't have participated in their school’s band or orchestra program had the opportunity to do so because of Music for Schools.

Working directly with schools and teachers, instruments are loaned for the entire school year completely free of charge. With over 1,000 instruments in the library including typical band instruments such as flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and trombones, and orchestral instruments such as violins, violas, and cellos, we have something to offer for every music student. The library also has a large collection of guitars, ukuleles, and two sets of Orff instruments for classroom use.

For more information the instrument lending library, email Tracy Sawyer.

* Source: Music Makes the Grade, The National Association for Music Education

If you ask José Soto, Music Specialist and director of the Center's year-round mariachi program, the best thing that happened this week, he will immediately tell you the best thing that happened was three kids returning to the program after a break. It's no surprise to learn that maintaining a level of engagement, spontaneity, and fun on a virtual platform can be a bit of a challenge.

Out of the 75 students who were involved at the beginning of the pandemic, only six stopped participating during the fall of 2020.

Fast forward to last week and not one, not two, but THREE of those students returned to classes. Like so many students, by fall 2020 they had become overwhelmed, tired, or disinterested in connecting on Zoom. "We never let kids slip away from the program. We are always contacting them, inviting them to classes, reaching out to parents and friends, whatever it takes to stay connected," José explained. "If we can get through this year with all of the Ensemble intact, that would be phenomenal."

When a student returns, the mood of everyone in the Ensemble lifts. "After all this time, the Ensemble has become like a family. When someone isn't there, it affects everyone, and I'm so happy these kids are joining classes again."

To all of you out there who have worked so hard to stay connected to students and keep them engaged, we celebrate with you. And, to students who happen to read this, you should know that connecting with you is the best thing that happened to your teachers this week.

Shining a Light on History through Shadow Puppetry

Instructor: Bridget Palmer
Grades 1-8
Subjects: Drama,
ELA, Social Emotional Learning

Help your students develop a love for history as they explore the emotions sparked and actions taken by individuals in a historical period of your choice. With its play of darkness, color, and light, shadow puppetry provides a stimulating medium for the students’ self-expression, imagination, empathy, and creativity. In this residency, students choose a historical event to dramatize and collaborate in small groups through critical thinking, improvisation, and art making to create puppets, scenery, and a script which to present. Led by Santa Rosa Children’s Theater Director, Bridget Palmer, this multi-sensory residency will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.

Bringing Books to Life I:
Direct Adaptation

Tuesday, April 13
4:00-6:00pm
Instructor: Hannah Keefer
Grades 6-12
Subjects: ELA, Drama

Adapting literature for the stage is a simple and powerful way to engage middle and high schoolers with the text. This workshop introduces techniques to help your students script and stage whatever you’re reading together in your classroom, whether in-person or virtually! While the text utilized is geared towards middle and high school students, this strategy is also effective with texts for younger readers.

Bringing Books to Life II: Thematic Adaptation

Tuesday, April 27
4:00-6:00pm
Instructor: Hannah Keefer
Grades 6-12
Subjects: ELA, Drama

Sometimes a direct adaptation is not the most appropriate choice for a book, especially when approaching memoirs, poems, and other nonfiction. Thematic adaptation uses the book as a jumping-off point to create a brand-new theatrical piece exploring the same themes. This workshop will focus on techniques that work best for this adaptation method. This strategy explored is also suited for texts for younger readers.