G.R.O.W.: Professional Development Workshop at the Cecil County Arts Integration Institute

The Great Recycled Orchestra Workshop, G.R.O.W. for short, performs music on instruments made of trash while promoting a greater appreciation for our environment, science, math and community in public schools throughout the state of MD.

After our first full semester of performances, we are starting to engage teachers through professional development workshops. We recently had the chance to work with teachers from Cecil County during their summer Arts Integration Institute, an annual program developed by Dr. Nelson Fritts and his arts integration team.

We opened the workshop with a performance, followed by break-out sessions with each of the three teaching artists comprising our ensemble: Kwame Opare, Kevin Martin and, yours truly, Max Bent.

Each artist worked with the whole group in order to teach fundamental techniques of South African boot dancing, steel drums, and beatboxing, all of which are featured in a G.R.O.W. performance.

The workshop culminated in a joint performance by the teachers directed by the G.R.O.W. teaching artists.

Tune in here for more G.R.O.W. updates!