Performing Artists
making music education holistic
Join the Forefront of Musical Education
Our new Performing Artists program is a holistic, creative, cross-genre education for your young and aspiring musician. The power of music, performance, creativity, personal growth, and belonging are harnessed together to make an incredible difference in your child's life.
All the qualities of musical performing arts development are integrated in this unique program.
In this integrated musical arts program, your child builds their skills sequentially from pre-k through 12th grade, with each year laying a solid foundation for the next. Your child gets the tools to develop into a musician who fully expresses themselves creatively, all while thriving in a community of like-minded players.
It takes SO much more than private music lessons for your child to get ALL the benefits of studying music. This innovative program gives your child:
acceptance, genuine care, and community - a place to feel at home and belong;
two connecting points weekly: a private lesson and their group performance class (1:5 teacher ratio);
a space to develop critical social/emotional skills among their peers and encouragement to find the confidence to know and love themselves;
mastery of the creative process and a nurturing of their individual artistry;
the courage to be vulnerable and the ability to express themselves authentically on their instrument;
a solid intellectual and emotional “tool kit” for approaching performances; including preparation, delivery, and evaluation;
motivation to continue studying when things get tough by their connection to the group and our practice challenge;
the ability to play the most impactful songs of the last 100 years in multiple genres while understanding the cultural and social context in which they were created;
empowerment to become the person and leader they’re meant to be as they progress with their cohort through the years.
The Arts and Our Humanity Are Our Future
Throughout all of history, the creation and performance of music has been a hallmark of what it means to be alive: pure joy, expressing challenging feelings, finding our voices, sharing our stories, and moving the world forward for the better. Music IS the soundtrack of our lives. Your student will learn to play some of the most impactful songs spanning multiple genres from the 19th century through today in this unique program. They will also study the cultural context of the songs and the artists who created them. In this way, students can fully appreciate where the music came from and the process of the artist’s self-expression. They can then model that creative process for themselves in their own lives, with today’s cultural context, to make meaningful art.
The creative process is inherently valuable to a person, and that growth permeates any direction they choose to take in life. We are creators in our own lives, both when we are intentional about that and when we’re unaware. The qualities that an artist must develop are the same qualities that allow us to have a fulfilling life, build long-lasting collaborative relationships, and contribute back to society:
Artists believe in their passions.
Artists are vulnerable.
Artists are authentic and truthful.
Artists challenge themselves.
Artists are humble and courageous.
Artists are mindful of others.
Artists are resilient.
Artists are visionary leaders.
Artists are always growing.
Artists are open-minded and flexible.
Artists are curious.
Artists are persistent.
The world will continue to catapult forward with changes we can barely imagine over the coming decades. Artists, and the creative mindset, are essential for the journey. Welcome!
Ashley Daneman
Kalamazoo Music School, Co-Founder + Artistic Director