TEACHING ARTIST SESSION CATEGORIES
Science + art = sun magic! Students in this session will engage in a hands-on exploration of sun-reactive dye and natural elements. Students will create striking solar compositions using foliage, fabric, and light-sensitive dye. Then the sun does its work, and silhouettes of leaves and flowers are permanently imprinted on cloth offering a memorable mix of art and science that connects students to the natural world.
This multi-step activity introduces students to the basics of observational drawing and mixed media painting. Students will first sketch fresh flowers in pencil, then add crayon for a wax-resist effect, and finally bring their compositions to life using watercolor. This is art in layers, and creativity unfolds like a flower opening.
In this festive session, students will design and paint their own holiday greeting cards using watercolor techniques. Students will explore winter themes, color palettes, and personal expression while creating meaningful art to share with loved ones. This session is making the world a more beautiful and expressive place one card at a time!
Maybe Jean-Michel Basquiat never met a dinosaur, but he had a dinosaur-sized vision and new take on the world! This session invites students to explore emotion, symbolism, and color while learning about a groundbreaking artist who transformed the art world! Students will create expressive dinosaur artworks using oil pastels and watercolor.
Join Crawfish and friends for a toe-tappin’, hand-clappin’ Zydeco adventure straight from the heart of Louisiana! In this interactive session, kids sing, dance, and laugh their way through fun YouTube hits like “Zydeco 123,” “Crawfish Shuffle,” “Don’t Eat My Fruit Loops,” and more. Each song brings a mix of rhythm, storytelling, and movement, while teaching children about Louisiana culture, Creole roots, and the joy of Zydeco music.
Ready to make your own music? Music Production 101: Recording & Producing a Song is a fun, hands-on course where kids learn how to create songs from start to finish! Students will explore recording voices and instruments, making beats, adding cool sounds, and putting it all together to make a real song. At the end of the session, students will create a full composition using everyday school items—like pencils, desks, and chairs—and will turn your classroom into a musical playground!
Ready for a needle drop? This session takes a deep dive into the beginnings of DJing and its contribution to culture. Musicality and music theory are discussed from a DJ’s point of view. Various Turntablism techniques that include mixing, scratching, beat juggling, and body tricks will be demonstrated live for the audience! This unique program can be scaled up or down to fit the space provided, so please communicate with the artist about tailoring your presentation to your needs.
The drum has always been used to communicate, and everyone has a story to tell! In this session, students will learn first that the most important thing in communication is really learning how to LISTEN! Once students know the importance of how to play together and be silent when others are playing their part, they will learn the three basic rhythms on the djembe. There will be lots of teamwork, but in this class, participants will also look at how a solo performer can tell a story and make it come to life.
Playing for peace in the world, playing for a sick friend, or playing with the hope that everyone does well on testing…but what do these have to do with drums? Well, they are all intentions, and drum circles come together with intention. Students in this session will set their own intentions while they learn three simple hand movements on the djembe or other percussive instruments sitting together in a circle. They will learn how to play the rhythms they feel while thinking of others. At the same time, they will practice staying musically in time/in count with the rest of the group. Drumming circles build community and keep communities strong. If these are intentions for your classroom, consider this session!
Ours can be an anxious world, and taking tests has never been fun. Knowing calming techniques can make that all better! Support students through high-stakes seasons with movement-based tools to release tension and reset the nervous system. Activities in this creative movement session promote regulation, focus, and emotional awareness during testing time.