Roots of American Music
3109 Mayfield Rd, #205, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 321-9350
Contact Info:
Jack Mizenko, Education Coordinator
Phone: (216) 321-9350 Fax: (216) 321-9353 (call first)
Roots of American Music (ROAM) was established in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit music education organization to serve residents and academic communities of Northeast Ohio. ROAM artist-educators provide an arts-integrated learning experience for core academic subjects to help students achieve academic goals. Traditional American music such as blues, country, bluegrass, folk, jazz and gospel is infused in the teaching approach. ROAM students receive a textbook-free, lively and engaging music education that draws on American music heritage, enhancing the classroom curriculum while adhering to State of Ohio benchmarks in math, literacy, social studies, and the arts. Through ROAM, students are provided the opportunity to sing and play music, create musical instruments, and write their own songs, creating memorable learning experiences that are engaging and enlightening and enhance their academic achievement. ROAM delivers in-class residency and assembly programs to a diverse student population, professional development for teachers, and public programming to preserve and present American roots music throughout Northeast Ohio.
The chart below identifies the art forms and content areas this arts organization's programming can integrate.
| ELA | Math | Science | Social Studies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dance | ||||
| Visual Art | ||||
| Theater | ||||
| Music | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Program Ideas:
Pre-K Programs | ELA | Music | Grade: PreK
Students create new songs from old, make music, build instruments from found objects, develop listening skills, pattern recognition, vocabulary, and phonemic awareness drawing from ELA standards. The program allows for students to become part of a traditional jug band based on the popular book, Snake Alley Band, where animal sounds are taught and each sound (snake, frog, cricket) represents a new instrument. Final performances for the school population, including families, are part of this engaging early literacy and musical performance experience.
Residencies | ELA | Music | Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
By engaging students with various rhythms and songs from around the world, this program strengthens their grade-level literacy skills to meet standards and benchmarks. Students read, listen to, and retell folktales. Students respond to writing prompts and create their own songs. Students follow, learn, and perform African rhythms on a journey through Cuba, Brazil, the United States, and many other countries. Students also record the songs they have written with professional musicians, and each student will receive a CD copy of the songwriting products.
Residencies | ELA | Music | Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
American music has a rich history of songs that tell stories, both fictional and non-fictional. And children's literature is full of stories that can be enriched, enlivened, and retold through songs. Throughout this program, literacy is infused into music, and music into literacy. Students examine the stories in songs from a literary standpoint and create their own story songs. Students also practice literacy skills by writing songs to retell stories in books they are reading in class. Students record the songs they have written with professional musicians, and each student will receive a CD copy of the songwriting products.
Residencies | Math | Music | Grades: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Through infusion of music into math, students develop a deeper understanding of grade-level math standards and benchmarks by applying them to real-life money management. They create plans to earn income and budget for savings and expenses. Students learn about checking accounts and about financial traps involved in credit cards, "payday" loans, and rent-to-own programs. Students write and perform songs about these topics by drawing on many musical forms, including blues, country, rhythm and blues, folk, rock, and rap. Students also record the songs they have written with professional musicians, and each student will receive a CD copy of the songs.
Residencies | Science | Music | Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Celebrating the West Side Market as it nears its 100th birthday, this program is cross-curricular and multi-disciplinary. In science/health, students develop an understanding of what locally grown produce/food means to the earth - it is environmentally sustainable (reduced food transportation and preservation costs) and healthier (less salt, preservatives, processing). In social studies, students learn how the West Side Market reflects Cleveland's diverse cultures, ethnicity, and neighborhoods. Students experience the West Side Market with a field trip. Students apply literacy skills to write song lyrics about what they learn. Students record the songs and receive a CD with their songwriting products.
Residencies | Social Studies | Music | Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
With a musical foundation drawing on unique American musical genres like folk, blues, jazz, rock, and rap, this program focuses students on things that "Only Happened in Ohio" ("OHIO"). Students are engaged by live music to read stories, use maps, develop timelines, and write songs to examine Ohio geography and history from the days of Native Americans to their own personal family histories. Students record the songs they have written with professional musicians, and each student receives a CD copy of the songwriting products.
Performances | Social Studies | Music | Grades: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Students and the school community, including families, become immersed in music and a narrated performance that tell the story of America from Slavery to the Civil Rights Movement. This program brings to life a turbulent time in U.S. history. It blends politics, culture, and race relations in a lively program popular during Black History Month, but pertinent at any time of the school year.
Performances | Social Studies | Music | Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Students and the school community, including families, celebrate the 207-year history of the State of Ohio. The assembly program includes songs and stories of Moses Cleveland, the Wright Brothers, the Underground Railroad, canals and rivers, the settlements of the Shakers, Thomas Edison, and more. Traditional acoustic music and folk dances give students a glimpse of what life was like in a time before electricity and modern technology.
Professional Development | ELA | Music | Grade: Teacher
Teachers and administrators learn how to integrate the arts into any curriculum including language arts, math, social studies, and science. Teachers write and perform a song to reinforce concepts on the topic of their choice so that lessons hit home. Teachers learn how to write similar songs with their students. Best of all, musical experience is not necessary! Songwriting as a teaching tool can be adapted for younger or older students, or for special needs populations.
Professional Development | ELA | Music | Grade: Teacher
Teachers and administrators experience the Basics or Advanced course in SMART Board training, learning everything from "How Do I Turn This Thing On?" to specific applications of the technology that incorporate internet resources and graphic tools into academic subjects such as literacy, math, science, and social studies into the classroom. SMART Board technology helps teachers reach students who succeed with differentiated learning styles.