TEACHING ARTIST SESSION CATEGORIES
Jeremy Benoit, aka “JB Saax,” takes students through a journey of the professional recording artist/studio engineer. Students will be exposed to basic, intermediate, and advanced recording techniques and will even be granted the opportunity to record their own personal soundtrack. This course gives exposure to music industry standard operations and provides insight on how professional entertainers integrated these systems into their everyday lives.
The Mermaid Music Showcase is an interactive music and movement experience that introduces students to rhythm, singing, creative expression, listening skills, and musical storytelling through an imaginative under-the-sea adventure. Students actively participate by singing, echoing rhythms, moving with the music, and creating sound together using age-appropriate activities that encourage confidence, cooperation, creativity, and self-expression. Each presentation is designed for Pre-K through elementary students and aligns with arts education goals by strengthening musical awareness, focus, imagination, and group participation. No advance preparation is required, but teachers are encouraged to enjoy the experience alongside their students.
The Ocean Calm introduces students to the calming sounds of instruments from around the world, including crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, harp, gong, chimes, and other peaceful percussion. Students begin with a brief demonstration of each instrument, learning how sound and vibration can encourage relaxation, focused listening, and emotional regulation. They are then invited to sit comfortably or lie quietly while experiencing a guided sound bath designed to promote calm, imagination, and mindful awareness. No prior experience or preparation is required, and teachers are welcome to relax and enjoy the experience alongside their students while providing normal classroom supervision. Students need to wear comfortable clothing and have enough space to sit or lie down comfortably.
You can hear it at festivals, at barbecues, and on the radio. Maybe your family knows how to dance to it, and it is firmly woven into the soundscape of Louisiana. But where did it come from? This interactive history lesson will answer that and also address how important it is to keep our tradition and culture alive.
Can you do the Zydeco? In this session, everyone can! Students will get the chance to learn core Zydeco instruments: the accordion, washboard, drums, and the triangle. They will also be learning songs that are sung in both French and English. Then it’s time to grab a partner to “LaLa” (which means “to dance” in Zydeco-speak) and bring culture alive in the classroom.
Get ready for the courir! In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to learn fun facts about Mardi Gras while learning how to paint a chicken running in a Courir de Mardi Gras/Mardi Gras chicken run. They will learn how to mix paint, how to create a background, midground and foreground, and practice alternative painting techniques. There will not be any beads involved, but this Mardi Gras moment will still feature joy, color, and something getting caught!
Art + appreciation = honor. Students will pay homage to Veterans by creating a landscape featuring the American flag. During this session, students will learn techniques used in landscape painting while gaining a deeper understanding of Veterans’ service to our country. The paintings can be displayed during your school’s Veteran’s Day celebration!
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a….PLATE? Whooping Cranes are incredible Louisiana birds that need to be protected! Students will learn about these amazing endangered birds, and make their own whooping cranes from paper plates. Let’s make conservation fun and creative!
They say he “painted with scissors!” French artist Henri Matisse created playful compositions known for his use of color and unique style, that he often achieved without paint. In this session, students will learn about Matisse, and discuss how the man who once painted humans and still lifes created an equally important body of work in the medium of cut paper collage late in life. This is not just a history lesson; students will also create their own cut paper collage inspired by this artist’s work.
They say magazines are dead, but zines are alive, thriving, and letting artists share their messages! Zines are cool, creative handmade publications that express ideas, emotions, and images in a short, accessible form. Students will learn about the history of zines and make their own mini-zine. Students can pick their own zine topics, or a class can work with their current curriculum. Chat with the artist about options after booking!