Category: Community Outreach

Video of Teaching Scholars in Costa Rica

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date September 8, 2017

Our resident videographer extraordinaire Scott Nurmi from Mojo Factory Productions recently completed a well-crafted video showcasing the International Teaching Scholars visit to Costa Rica last May, where select Mason Music students and Academy colleagues worked with teachers and students from the local SiNEM music program.

WATCH THE VIDEO NOW!

Thanks to everyone for your incredible involvement in this program – and we look forward to next year’s visit!

SEE ORIGINAL BLOGPOST ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Community Outreach Music

Music Teaching Scholars Assist at Local Elementary School

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date August 22, 2017

The Teaching Scholars program is a a community outreach initiative of the Academy which places select Mason Music students in local schools to help with their band/ orchestra programs. We have placed Teaching Scholars at Woodburn Elementary in Falls Church, VA for several years. The Mason students from last year provided some insights into the program and their experience.

The program ran from early November 2016 until mid-May 2017, equaling about 20 weeks of action for the scholars. Five Mason students were involved, four (two strings and two band) at Woodburn Elementary and one at Potomac Middle School in Dumfries. Donated musical instruments from the Academy’s Instruments in the Attic program were also provided to help give children access to a meaningful music education.

“We are glad to have had the opportunity to teach in a public school prior to student teaching,” stated Teaching Scholars Madeline Espigh and Matt Pazanowski. “We truly enjoyed making music with the Woodburn band kids, and it was a pleasure to work with the Woodburn teachers and staff.”

“Students in the teaching scholars program get a glimpse of what teaching in a public school elementary classroom is like,” said Teresa Amoroso, band director at Woodburn Elementary. “Learning how to interact with 9 to 11 year old musicians is very different than conducting in a [university] lab band.”

“Through this program, I learned how to tailor my teaching to the needs of the students. It has given me new ideas and techniques for string teaching I can use in the future,” explained Teaching Scholar Sophie Hedeen. “I remember reminding one of my students to bend his pinky on his bow hand, and he asked me why. I took this opportunity to teach the class about balance points in the bow and why the bow hold is the way it is. I didn’t follow my lesson plan, but it was one of the most effective and useful things I taught them.”

Music students at in-school service program

Thanks to all of our Teaching Scholars for their hard work and dedication to music education. We look forward to welcoming our next round of Scholars for the 2017-18 Teaching Scholars program!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEACHING SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Art Community Outreach

Art Students Donate Artwork to Fairfax CASA

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date August 21, 2017

At the end of our Spring 2017 semester, students from our Visual Art classes volunteered to donate some of their created artwork to the local organization Fairfax CASA, which advocates for children who find themselves in the court system. The donated pieces of art have been framed and displayed in the Fairfax CASA office, where the children they assist can see them and be inspired.

Emily Rea, Supervisor for Fairfax CASA – which stands for Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates – said, “I just wanted to send along photos of the artwork which has finally all been framed! It looks beautiful in our office and we are very thankful. Thank you and the kids again!” She collaborated with staff member Candy Neukam from the Academy office to make the artwork donation possible. And our art students were more than happy to contribute!

Donated student artwork

Fairfax CASA Mission Statement
The mission of Fairfax CASA is to advocate for the best interests of each abused and neglected child referred by the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court through the promotion and support of quality volunteer representation.
We seek to ensure that each child’s needs are identified and addressed with the goal of living in a safe and permanent home. As permitted by our legislative charter, we also provide assistance to youths entering adulthood who have been referred to the CASA program by the Court, up to the age of 21.

Donated student artwork

The Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program was founded in 1989 by a group of community-minded Fairfax County citizens responding to a request for a CASA program from the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (Court). Since that time, Fairfax CASA has operated as a 501(c)(3) public charity accepting support from individuals, corporations, and public funds to ensure that children who are victims of abuse and neglect are placed in safe and permanent homes as quickly as possible. This purpose is accomplished by recruiting, training, and supervising community volunteers to serve as special advocates for children whose families have been cited for abuse and neglect by the Court. It is the driving goal of Fairfax CASA to ensure that the best interests of all children referred by a judge are represented before the Court. Since its founding, Fairfax CASA has recruited and trained nearly 1,800 CASA volunteers to provide this critical service to more than 6,700 children who have been referred by the Court.

Donated student artwork

We hope to be able to provide inspiration and hope again in the future through artwork created by our very own students!

Fairfax CASA Logo

LEARN MORE ABOUT FAIRFAX CASA

SEE OUR VISUAL ART CLASSES

Community Outreach Music

International Teaching Scholar Featured in Mason News

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date August 10, 2017

Mason Music graduate Krista Pack was recently featured in Mason’s newsletter “The George”, highlighting her work and experiences with the recent International Teaching Scholars’ trip to Costa Rica last May. The project is co-sponsored by Potomac Arts Academy’s Instruments in the Attic outreach program.

“It was a successful first year for the program and we’re still planning the program’s future,” Academy Director Libby Curtis said. “We all know there will be something next. But it may look a little different every year.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN MASON NEWS

Community Outreach

Volunteering Hits A High Note for Chloe Lewis

Post author By Matt Geske
Post date August 10, 2017

Tenth grader and piano student Chloe Lewis has been an official Volunteer with the Academy, lending a hand with several activities and events for Fall 2016, Spring 2017 and Summer 2017. After a full year of volunteering, Chloe shared some of her thoughts and experiences with us.

Academy: How/ when did you get involved with Mason’s Potomac Arts Academy?

CLewis: My family started taking lessons at Potomac Arts Academy in the spring of 2015. We had relocated back to Northern Virginia the year before and still had not found instrument teachers who were the right fit for us. My mom discovered PAA through their website, and then had musician friends highly recommend the instructors there. I started private piano lessons with Michelle Richardson along with my sister, and my brother started in the Violin Beginnings 1 class.

Academy: Why did you want to volunteer with the Academy?

CLewis: I wanted to volunteer in a place that had two things I love – kids and music.

Academy: What volunteer duties/ responsibilities with the Academy did you have during the last year?

CLewis: In the Fall, I helped at Acting for Young People‘s Winter Showcase. Over three days, I helped with many aspects of their program – such as supervising kids, assisting with costumes, selling tickets, and helping with set up.
In the Spring, I helped address postcards for a large promotional mailing, I assisted the instructor with a kids’ art class, and I helped with the Spotlight on the Arts Music Recital.
I have worked for three weeks this Summer assisting the Piano Adventures camps for young children. I assembled music folders for the students, played duets with the students, and worked one-on-one with them under the guidance of the instructor, Miss Michelle.

Volunteer Chloe Lewis helping a piano student

Academy: What was your favorite part about your volunteer experience at the Academy?

CLewis: My favorite part has been helping with the summer piano camps. I enjoy sharing my love for music and experiencing teaching piano firsthand. It has been fun getting to know the children and working with them.

Academy: How would you say that your volunteer work and experience at the Academy has helped you prepare for the future?

CLewis: I was really thankful to work with Michelle Richardson in the piano camps. She is an amazing role model, musician, and teacher. She has taught me a lot about making the lessons fun and accessible, while still keeping the students calm and focused. I hope to work with beginner students on my own later in high school.

Academy: What are your future plans?

CLewis: I have been studying piano for 11 years. I hope to study education in college, with a minor in music.

Thank you Chloe for all of your hard work and dedication this past year, and best of luck for the coming school year and beyond!

If you are a high school student who would like to find out more about volunteer opportunities at the Academy, please contact staffer Matt Geske at 703-993-9889 or email [email protected] .