Art & Music Grants

Recent grants in Art & Music include –

Brecht Artist-in Residence (Fall 2024)

Artist Julia Kamanda will serve as an artist-in-residence at Brecht Elementary during the 2024-2025 school year. Through the exploration of music literacy, storytelling, rhythm, and melody, students will be exposed to diverse music and cultural components from various countries and regions including Sierra Leone, Peru, Mexico, Hawaii, and India.

Fall Play Preview (Fall 2024)

Through this grant, all 3^rd and 4^th grade students will have the opportunity to attend an abbreviated version of the MTHS fall play Peter and the Starcatcher. This chance to view live theater will help to introduce elementary school students to the elements of live theater including acting, singing, dancing, set design, costumes, lighting, and sound, and will include a question-and-answer session with the high school students after the show.

After School Drama Club (Fall 2023)

This after school drama club will offer students in Kindergarten, first and second grades at Brecht the opportunity to learn about the basic aspects of theatre from performing to making their own props and costumes. The club will incorporate family-friendly shows for students to learn songs and movements. Students will be invited to attend a local theatre performance and then put on their own production to showcase their talents for their school and families. A new screen backdrop for the stage will be used in the showcase as well as other school assemblies and presentations.

Honesty in Songwriting: A Bluegrass Experience (Fall 2023)

During the 2024-2025 school year, Colebrook Road, a nationally recognized, locally based bluegrass band, will be the artist-in-residence for the Middle School’s general music department. Colebrook Road will lead a bluegrass-inspired songwriting workshop day once each marking period. Seventh and eighth grade students will explore the history of bluegrass, experiment playing traditional bluegrass instruments, use GarageBand technology to accompany one of Colebrook Road’s hit songs, work in groups to write lyrics inspired by some of the band’s songs, experience a live bluegrass performance, and participate in a question-and-answer session with the band.

Note that many grants have outcomes in multiple impact areas.