School Residencies usually involve multiple “hands on” classes with the same group of students usually with 3 to 5 or more sessions with the artist. They also may include performances and/or workshops for different groups. They can be designed to integrate specific core curriculum and are molded to the needs of the presenter.
For example, a full week residency in a school might open with a performance of Dancing Drums for the whole school to introduce the residency and reach all students in the school, sharing excitement of universal rhythm, world culture and language through music, stories and dance. The rest of the week would engage the same group of students with a “hands on” class experience and conclude with a “sharing” in the classroom on the final day.
“Roots and Rhythm” Residency
Drums, Percussion, Culture, Stories, Rhythms
Students will be introduced to the wide world of percussion instruments, exploring rhythm, pattern, tone, pitch, color, and dynamics, as well as cultural history, construction and materials involved in making them. They will participate in making music together as a drum ensemble, exploring important skills of listening, following directions, and doing your part to contribute to the whole. The Roots and Rhythm residency has a cultural arts focus, exploring diversity, creativity and global connections to build Twenty First century Skills for the future. It can also be combined with other specific curriculum connections.
“Roots, Rhythm and the Science of Sound” Residency
Drums, Percussion, Culture, Stories, Rhythms plus SOUND;
Addresses STEM Curriculum
This residency includes the Roots and Rhythm content and adds a sound component. It celebrates the gift of listening and the science of sound, integrating culture, character and second grade curriculum with drums of Africa, and Latin America and wild and crazy percussion creations from around the world, including Beverly’s own back yard. Ancient drums dance with wacky home made instruments in this “Vibration Celebration.” With hands on instruments, students will make observations and explore how sound is produced to explore wavelength, frequency, volume, pitch and other scientific sound phenomenon. Beverly will demonstrate instrument-making and instructions are provided for students to make their own. Student instrument creations will be incorporated into the residency.
Students will know how sounds are made by using a variety of instruments and sound makers and that sound is produced by vibrating objects. They will analyze the pitch produced by changing the size and shape of a variety of instruments.
“Wrap it in Rhythm” Residency
Exploring Language and Culture with Drums and Percussion
In the Wrap it in Rhythm music residency, Beverly Botsford guides students in creating a multi-layered rhythm orchestra, to explore cultural diversity, build character and enhance language arts curriculum. Weaving words and rhythms, students will learn essential music skills playing percussion from around the globe, with a focus on drums from Africa and Latin America. Spiced with song, stories, movement and spoken word, the classes develop skills of teamwork, listening and self-expression.
Using classroom text from poems, stories, and other content, students will use music to explore the use of rhythm, repetition, accent, and inflection, enhancing language fluency. They will compose rhythms that will become part of a group piece, shared on the last day of the residency.
Students will know basic percussion skills required to play in a rhythm ensemble and will make connections to rhythm, repetition and pattern in language arts and across the curriculum;
Curriculum Connections: Music, Language Arts and Social Studies
Tech and Space Requests for all Residencies
- A secure space in which instruments can be set up and left overnight and to which students can come to work with the artist
- Two medium sized tables and 12 folding chairs
- Access to CD player.
Singing and drumming will occur during the residency so the space should be isolated from other classrooms, if possible.