In this article, Dave Stuart Jr. recounts his recent observation of a choir teacher, notes a number of effective practices, and encourages educators to recognize the universality of these teaching principles across disciplines. It's a very short and inspiring read for teachers of all subjects!
Click the picture on the left to take this neat little quiz, and then click here to read more about your results.
This article is a little lengthy; however, its insights are powerful and could be beneficial for students and teachers, alike. The author argues that recognizing and valuing one's creativity, regardless of perceived genius, is crucial for personal development and contribution to various fields... and also explores our opportunities for creativity in our everyday lives. Share this with students to give them a boost!
This funny little video clip provides some opportunity for great discussions about tone, body language, volume, pacing, etc. Here's another fun example from the Onion.
Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was an influential American sculptor whose innovative use of abstract shapes and the integration of motion into his art marked him as a pioneering figure in modern sculpture. This cool website provides some great resources for sharing his work (and the work of other great artists) with students in some unique and fun ways!
"Noj Barker is a British abstract painter obsessed with a universe that he creates made up of tiny, individually painted dots. Each dot is unique, making up a mesmerising surface that he often combines in photography with other dot universes, to amplify the effect and delve the viewer further into his imaginary world." - Anthony Peto.
Click the picture to the left to go to Barker's website. Click here to go to his Instagram page.
So this is super-cool: Street artist Pat Perry collaborated with fifth-grade classes in Slemani, Iraq, and Biddeford, Maine, through the Opening Lines Mural Project. The project, organized by aptART and The Good Works Foundation, aimed to foster global connections by having children exchange ideas and contribute to large-scale murals in their respective locations, promoting messages of hope and friendship. The children's involvement in the creative process highlighted the importance of communication and unity, leading to the creation of meaningful murals in both Iraq and the United States, with plans to continue similar exchanges involving children from different regions.
For more than a decade, Jan Vormann has used LEGOs to craft “dispatchwork” for centuries-old structures, public spaces across the globe, and other eroded areas. Within these pieces, which take hours and hours to create, he hides passageways and windows that ignite the imagination. Click the picture to the left to go to Jan's website; click here for some cool examples of his "dispatchwork."
Juxtapoz is a contemporary art and culture website that features a diverse range of artistic expressions, from street art and graffiti to pop surrealism and underground culture. It serves as a platform for showcasing emerging and established artists, providing a vibrant and eclectic perspective on the art world.
The Art of Noises is a futuristic manifesto written by Luigi Russalo in 1913. In it, Russolo argues that the human ear has become accustomed to the speed, energy, and noise of the urban industrial soundscape and that this new sonic palette requires a new approach to musical instrumentation and composition. He proposes a number of conclusions about how electronics and other technology will allow futurist musicians to "substitute for the limited variety of timbres that the orchestra possesses today the infinite variety of timbres in noises, reproduced with appropriate mechanisms." Click the picture to read about the manifesto on Wikipedia. Click here to read it in its entirety.
This cool article explores how high school and college marching bands have shaped the music of hip-hop and pop stars such as Beyoncé, OutKast, Lizzo, and Normani. The writer delves into the powerful influence of marching bands on contemporary music, bridging cultural traditions and uniting communities through celebration. Click the picture to learn how these bands connect with artists, infuse diverse musical styles, and why they're a vital force in modern music culture.
Musician Chase Holfelder is renowned for his unique talent of transforming popular songs from a major key to a minor key, offering listeners a fresh perspective on familiar tunes. Students can learn from his innovative approach, gaining insights into the power of musical arrangement, emotional storytelling, and the creative impact of altering fundamental elements of songs.
4 Artistic Instagram Accounts to Follow:
Elevate your classroom to a new rhythm of excitement with teachrock.org. Unleash the power of dynamic lesson plans, captivating multimedia, and interactive tools, as you embark on a journey to ignite students' passion for music and its profound cultural tapestry. From rock 'n' roll revolutions to soulful symphonies of history, teachrock.org transforms learning into an exhilarating symphony of knowledge, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a harmonious understanding of our world.
There are a lot of great beatboxers out there, but Verbal Ase is truly one of the mind-blowing and unique. It's especially interesting to see how he transcribes his compositions. Next time you're transitioning between activities, give your students a brain break that's sure to make them smile and show them this video.
Drama Menu's unique approach categorizes drama activities as "starters," "main courses," and "desserts," making it easy for drama teachers to create engaging drama lessons. The website offers a menu of activities suitable for high school students to explore different aspects of theater and performance.
Sometimes it seems that the more subjective/creative the assignment, the more difficult it can be to assess student learning and assign a score/grade, even with a solid rubric. This resource offers some great ways to bring a new twist to assessing student art projects.
To get the full impact of this little improv experiment conducted by Bobby McFerrin, you'd likely have to watch the full video of this unique discussion panel from The World Science Festival (2009): Notes and Neurons - In Search of a Common Chorus,
Tyler Turnbull is an artist who modifies "thriftstore" artwork to include characters/scenes from pop culture. Students may be intrigued by the marriage of the classic and the contemporary that his work offers. Click on the image to go to his website, or click here to go to his Instragram page, which offers a more in-depth view of his creative process.
This site is labeled 2021, but it's recent update in 2023 will hopefully ensure that all of these contests are still current and available for students. Encourage students to show off their skills on a larger level with these opportunities to participate in some artistic competition!
Specifically focused on high school drama, Theatrefolk offers a diverse selection of original plays and scripts written by experienced playwrights. Drama educators can find age-appropriate materials that cater to their students' interests and skill levels, while the website also provides a range of teaching resources and lesson plans. It's important to realize, however, before diving in that this is a website dedicated to allowing teachers to purchase resources- not obtain them for free...
If you've never visited the website theartteacher.net, that needs to change immediately. This site is an easy-to-navigate resource filled with artist profiles, lesson plan ideas, learning projects, and more. Their eye-opening look at London-based artist Tom Mead is a great place to start your exploration.
Three guitarists with unconventional styles... How can their innovation be used to inspire students?
StageMilk is a unique resource for drama teachers who may be seeking a variety of monologues, scene resources, and acting tips to help their high school students develop their acting skills and gain confidence on stage. Click on the "Monologues" tab on the right for instance access to some really cool pieces, but be warned! There is some abrasive language in a few of them.
Drama Notebook is a comprehensive website that offers a vast collection of drama activities, lesson plans, and resources tailored to drama teachers' needs. It includes unique warm-up exercises, improvisation games, and scripts covering various themes and genres, making it a go-to source for engaging drama lessons. The site is geared towards paid subscriptions, but if you click on the "Free" tab, you'll find lots of resources available. Also, while the site is perhaps focused on younger students, many of these activities would work well with students of any age.
Discover the wonderfully weird and laughably bizarre at the Museum of Bad Art- where bad becomes brilliant! From awkward portraits to questionable interpretations, embark on an entertaining journey that proves even the strangest of art can find a place in your heart.