What we’re working on
Writing the Curriculum
Erin Keller has a Bachelor’s in Voice Performance from UMKC and a Master’s in Music Education with a Minor in Ethnomusicology. She is working on writing a curriculum centered on the Kodaly method that infuses popular and relatable songs as reference points to teach basics of vocal technique and musicianship. Students will learn solfege (do, re, mi…) and hand signs, rhythm reading and execution, part singing, breathing and posture, foreign language diction, authentic cultural performance, composition, and improvisation. And a lot more!
Besides the music curriculum, Golden Spirit also focuses on social emotional learning objectives. Created by former KCKS Public Schools social worker Katie Jones, our exercises center and focus kids’ energy and increase their physical and emotional awareness. Tools such as breathing exercises and journal writing help process their daily lives in a healthy ways. Another element of the curriculum includes improvisational exercises that encourage students to bond with each other, solve creative problems, and practice expressing themselves. These activities were written by Tyra Prosser, who taught improvisation to refugee children from the Middle East while living in Greece. Lastly, there is the poetry curriculum. also written by Erin Keller. Students will read and write in every rehearsal, eventually turning their own poems into songs, crafting them as a group and as individuals. Overall, the curriculum is about giving students myriad opportunities to express themselves and grow academically, musically, and behaviorally in the process.
Pilot Program
We are envisioning a Pilot Program at two schools to start off with. Directors, accompanists, and social workers will be compensated appropriately for their time, making sure that we are able to hire the most qualified people for their respective jobs and that they have the professional support they need to be successful with ample time structured in for the directors to work together to fine tune the curriculum and discuss classroom management challenges and successes. These two initial directors would be foundational to the organization, eventually serving as mentors to future directors. Rehearsals will be highly structured, and both choirs will do performances by themselves and together at their own schools and in the community.
kansas city, Missouri public schools
KCMO Schools is interested in piloting Golden Spirit. If you are interested in helping ensure our success, or if you have suggestions or connections you wish to share, feel free! Let us know! We want Golden Spirit to be driven by the community. We welcome your input!
Funding
To get this idea off the ground, we would like to start with a pilot program at just one or two schools. Then we will have established the program as effective and be able to seek bigger sources of funding and grant awards. Right now, it’s looking like a pilot program would cost an estimated $100,000 for one year. This includes costs of salaries for the directors, accompanists, and social workers; the sheet music and folders for the children; uniform t-shirts, healthy snacks; and much more. Once the program is established, it would take an estimated $415,000 to have choirs at 10 schools. The cost of each choir goes down the more choirs we have. You can help us bring this pilot to life with a donation of any amount!