Stories to Songs: Wisdom for a New Generation (5th-12th grade)
The stories of our Community Elders are being lost for our students. This residency invites an “Elder” from your school community to share their story with your students. Students take notes from the interview and turn them into a written biography. Once the stories are told and written down, the students learn to write songs based on the lives of the Elder. At the close of the residency, the Elder is invited to the school where the students honor them with the retelling of the short biography and the singing of their song. Each interviewee takes five 45-minute sessions (1 session to interview, 3 sessions to write the song, 1 session to practice, 1 session for the performance.) The songs are recorded and written out in sheet music form.
Program Details
Program Category
History / Social Studies | Language Arts | Music | Program | SECD | SECD | Virtual Programs
Appropriate for ages: Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Available Monday-Friday
Residency
Artist
Aaron Fowler
Aaron Fowler draws from 12 years as a public school teacher working at both the elementary and middle school level and more than two decades as a songwriter and educational consultant. Aaron is one of sixteen Nationally Credentialed Teaching Artists with Young Audiences.
Aaron also performs for Arts Partners in the duo “Adventures in Story and Song” and is a Kansas Wolf Trap and Baby Artsplay artist.
Thank you very much for working with our students this year. As a talented and very approachable adult, you made a positive and lasting impression. You adapted lessons quickly to match learning and emotional abilities. Lessons were fun and full of lighthearted, no pressure, laughter and direction. The kids have left this year with a sense of “I CAN.”
D. Miner, Sowers Alternative High School, Wichita
We are repeat customers and hope to always be. Songs are catchy and entertaining. I connect with the artist and want to hang out on the porch and jam all summer long. The program provides a mix of entertainment and learning. The hope is that more information is retained because it is presented in such a terrific way. Again the artist is amazing at spontaneously changing during the performance and interacting closely with a small group audience.
S. Bates, Anderson Elementary, Wichita
Aaron was excellent in connecting with students and staff. He has an incredible way of reaching out to audiences, feeding them pertinent information.
G. Cravens, Chisholm Life Skills Center
Aaron’s professionalism brought out the best in the students. His experience helped the students gain confidence from the residency.
R. Valdez, 11th grade, Heights High School, Wichita
He was great! He had the 2nd graders mesmerized. Everyone was singing along.
N. Squire, Art Instructor, Beech Elementary, Wichita
He totally captivated the kids of all ages within seconds of beginning. He encouraged participation from all students. Awesome JOB!
T. Belcher, Linwood Elementary, Wichita
Arts Partners | 903 S Edgemoor, Suite 907 Wichita, KS 67218
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This Organization received funding for general operational support from the City of Wichita
Board of directors
Jan-Maeve Saggerson
Tim Rogers
Lai-L Daugherty
Teresa Seymour
Adam Payton
Lavonta Williams
Chris Wendt