[MUSI] 290, Music Mentorship, Spring 2020
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Christine Howlett
STUDENT FACILITATOR: Aidan Anderson ’20
THEMATIC CLUSTER: Education/Literacy, Public Art
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This community-engaged learning-intensive was developed by Aidan Anderson ’20 as part of his senior thesis in Education. He recruited approximately 6-8 students who were scheduled to teach music in the Poughkeepsie Middle School for 10 weeks. The students started teaching in-person until the COVID-19 closures forced them to move online. The students met weekly to discuss teaching plans and observed music teachers in the classroom. The students also got to hear from music educators Matthew Zydel and Melinda Aaron, who came to speak with the students.
DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE:
The student approached the OCEL in Fall 2019 and spent the semester laying the groundwork for the intensive in the spring. In conjunction with the instructor of the intensive and his thesis advisor, he developed a curriculum, began to recruit students for the class, and solidified partnerships with the Poughkeepsie Public School District.
OCEL’S ROLE: Worked with the student to facilitate connections as needed and process any paperwork.
PARTNER: Poughkeepsie Middle School
FORMAT:
Semester-long intensive. Students met with the instructor weekly. The instructor invited experienced teachers from the school district to provide training on mentorship. Until COVID-19 brought things to a standstill, students were able to participate in music classes in the school and observe the teachers.
NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 4
CREDIT VALUE: 0.5
FUNDS REQUESTED FOR:
- Purchase of books
- Honoraria for guest speakers
- Matthew Zydel, conductor of the Cappella Festiva Treble Choir and Elementary Band Teacher in the Spackenkill district
- Melinda Aaron, a retired music teacher from the Poughkeepsie Middle School, current choir director at the Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie