Sponsored by the American Composers Forum (ACF) and Perpich Center for Arts Education along with AABACA, Music by Kids for Kids is a teaching tool for educators to teach composition to their students. During the 2009-2010 school year, we will be scheduling five professional development workshops around Minnesota to share this curriculum in person with teachers and students.

ACF strives to help teachers meet the create standard by sharing this curriculum with them in day-long workshops. Composer, educator, and author of the Music by Kids curriculum Janika Vandervelde will be facilitating these workshops. Our plan is for Janika to meet with educators and students. The workshop format starts the day with an introduction to the curriculum, then participants create and share their own compositions created in the workshop. Participating teachers will earn CEU credits for their participation (courtesy of the Perpich Center for Arts Education).

Workshops are open to teachers and their students (student participation is optional). We plan for these workshops to take place on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
ACF will supply Janika Vandervelde as teaching artist for the day, ten workstations (including laptops, mice, and music keyboards), as well as staff to assist with setup and technical support. Space is limited to the first ten participants who sign up.

We need your help:

• Scheduling workshop
• Encouraging teachers and students to participate
• Reserving space for workshops (open area with a projection screen for viewing compositions-tables would be great) and making this space available the evening before the workshop session for setup by our staff.

Funding for this project is generously provided by the Mardag Foundation; there is no charge for the workshop other than your time and assistance in scheduling and setup.

School districts interested in hosting workshop sessions for teachers.  Contact Carey Nadeau for more information or to participate: cnadeau@composersforum.org or 651-251-2814.

Saturdays are available throughout the 09-10 school year starting October 3; the following dates are unavailable: Jan. 30, Feb. 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3 and May 8.

Scheduled workshops:

December 12: Cloquet

April 10: Moorhead

April 17: Worthington

May 1: Albert Lea

ACF, Perpich, and AABACA provide:

• Workshop staff, hardware, and personnel the day of the workshop
• Lunch for participants
• Material about the program and registration
• CEU's for participating teachers

Interested sites are requested to provide:

• Space for workshop session
• Advice on community resources in preparing for the workshop sessions