Thank you The Arts Center of the Capital Region

This blog spot is all about the grant project we get to do thanks to the Arts Center of the Capital Region! Please scroll down and start at the first post at the bottom to learn about what we are doing!

The Arts Center of the Capital Region made this program possible through the Statewide Community Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

6.12.23 This week Gem added Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to her sessions. Stomping, clapping, shouting letters and other sounds were heard!

We won’t have pictures of everyone every week, but Room 11 thoughtfully sent a few pictures. It is a thrill to see everyone engaged and having a blast.

6.6.23 The Rapport-building stage of the project has begun! Gem visited all 11 classrooms on Monday, and started the process of pairing herself with singing and moving and, well, fun. Her uncanny ability to engage children easily was witnessed, and she was extremely well-received by them in every room.

While this session built in the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” future sessions will bring in other songs that are similarly structured’ songs whose verses build upon each other and repeat. This is what the end project will do, repeat and build upon its verses. Throughout the summer children will learn skills such as these, as well as responding to musical instructions, participating in turns, and having fun with a new person.

Here are some pictures from Monday!

Scroll down to keep reading the history of this project:

 ANNOUNCEMENT of new ARTS CENTER grant! 4.18.23 

We are thrilled to announce that we have won an Arts in Education grant and are commissioning Gem, a talented local musician, to work on a long-term project with a local school. The project, titled A Sound Build, will provide children in classrooms the opportunity to participate in sessions with Gem and learn about how different sounds can come together to create an uplifting and encouraging story. This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Arts Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the Arts Center of the Capital Region.

The Arts Center of the Capital Region made this program possible through the Statewide Community Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The project is centered around the idea of collaboration and teamwork. Gem will guide the children through the process of creating a musical story together, emphasizing the importance of each group’s contribution to the overall piece. By working together and building on each other’s ideas, the children will learn valuable lessons about communication, cooperation, and the power of collective effort.

Through the course of the project, the children will have the opportunity to experiment with different instruments and sounds, exploring the various ways in which they can come together to create a cohesive and inspiring sound experience. They will also have the chance to work with Gem, who will share her own experiences as a musician and offer insights into the creative process.

At the end of the project, a recording of their collaborative piece will be shared with their parents and families, showcasing the skills and knowledge they have gained throughout the project. This will be an exciting and empowering moment for the children, as they see the results of their hard work and dedication.

We believe that A Sound Build has the potential to be a transformative experience for the children involved. It will encourage creativity, teamwork, and communication, while also providing an opportunity for self-expression and exploration. We are grateful to have the support of the grant to make this project possible, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on the children and the wider community.

We want to thank Gem for her incredible talent and dedication to this project, and we look forward to the magic she will create with the children. We also want to thank the school’s leadership for their enthusiasm and commitment to providing their students with a well-rounded education that includes the arts.

We can’t wait to see how A Sound Build unfolds and the beautiful music that will be created as a result. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project!-