Community Arts Partner

Teaching Approach

Teaching Philosophy + Approach

Without helping our students genuinely trust that we care about their present well-being and their pending future, we cannot expect them to trust our curriculum. Without helping our students to lose their fear of making mistakes or asking for support, we are not empowering them to learn. By learning what truly drives our students to push forward in the larger context of their unique academic, creative, social, professional and emotional goals, we can become more effective educators for them. Through pushing ourselves as educators to become better at our craft, to engage in learning opportunities, to show our students that we are driven by passion and willing to take risks in our own growth, we will lead by example and inspire our students on a deeper level. By being diplomatically honest about our own short-comings and imperfections in the process of our teaching, we will gain more trust from our students, and they will begin to embrace their own imperfections as well. By clearly establishing a standard of genuine respect for adults and students from day one, and never letting that standard drop, our students will be able to learn in a more productive, positive and healthy environment.

Curriculum Integration Possibilities

For integrated residencies, I love merging my work with the following subjects: dance poetry creative writing math history social studies language arts humanities journalism foreign language multi-media arts career planning social justice anti-racism anti-oppression cultural studies health technology business physical education drama / theater music

Special Skills and Areas of Expertise

With an expanding repertoire of original works, multi-media and cultural anthropology productions, workshops, award-winning residencies and curriculum commissioned for various arts and education entities; myself and the Big World Breaks family remain committed to learning from and empowering youth, families and community members who are most negatively impacted by institutional racism, economic oppression, bigotry, xenophobia and nationalism.

Testimonials from Schools

“In Meany’s BWB Drumline, I've made friends with people I had never talked to before. I have become more open to improvising than I used to, and it has really helped me with my people skills. Being in it has helped me to voice my opinion and to be heard, and it is a great family to be a part of.” - RaNiyah (member of Meany’s BWB Drumline) “Meany Middle School reopened in the Fall of 2017. The first partnership that was built was with Aaron Walker-Loud and Big World Breaks. It has been an amazing musical journey in these two short years! The first year we won the BDX Drumline competition at Garfield High School. The second year, the drumline performed for the Seattle School Board meeting and was received so favorably that they were requested to perform at the School Board’s annual retreat at the beginning of our 3^rd year. Meany students are naturally musically talented but, under the guidance of Mr. Walker-Loud’s musical genius those abilities are unbelievable.” - Chanda E. Oatis (Principal: Meany Middle School) "I have been working with Aaron Walker-Loud and Big World Breaks on community music projects for over 10 years. Each time I have the pleasure to be associated with BWB I walk away a better educator and musician. Always looking forward to getting a call from AWL." - Tony Sodano (Assistant Director: Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline / Director: Garfield High School Bands and Drumline 2007-2018 / Seattle-based musician) “Aaron Walker-Loud and Big World Breaks have provided high quality and authentic music enrichment to my extended learning programs for over 4 years. Aaron is highly engaging, holds high expectations for scholars, and is incredibly responsive to our programmatic goals and the needs of our community. As a master teaching artist, Aaron and his BWB collaborators have established themselves as a trusted favorite within our school community; throughout the larger Central District and beyond.” - Jaycee Coleman (Bailey Gatzert Site Manager: SU: Center for Community Engagement) “In all matters relating to Aaron Walker-Loud (director of Big World Breaks), the person, his endeavors, his commitment to mentoring, and most of all, his vision, places value on his leadership. His contributions have earned my respect and that of the youth education community… The positive impact Aaron has had on the youth he comes in contact with is felt throughout the community. I wholeheartedly endorse Aaron Walker-Loud. He is a proven administrator and has earned confidence and respect from the community at large.” - Dr. Julian A. Priester “Working with BWB Drumline has always been a positive and uplifting experience. This is a safe space for our youth to learn and create. We enjoy being a part of the BWB family!” - Shawna Dennard (Seattle-based musician / mother of BWB Drumline member) “The work done by Mr. Walker-Loud (director of Big World Breaks) is in perfect alignment with our mission. He builds community through the arts, uses music to elevate and amplify the voices of marginalized people, and he honors the history and legacy of those that came before while helping his students create the future they want to live in. I have seen the way Mr. Walker-Loud fosters leadership in his students while holding them accountable to each other and to themselves. Working across generations with BWB’s programming takes that accountability to the next level, not pointing to problems within this group or that, but bringing all folks together to problem solve, to collaborate, and to create together. That’s just the way we need to address many of the issues that face us.” - Aaron Counts (Co-Director / Lead Engagement Artist: Creative Justice) “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Aaron (director of Big World Breaks) since 2012... He is without question one of the strongest teachers/teaching artists I’ve met because he makes such great relationships with kids, his content knowledge is second to none, and he is passionate about teaching all students in a very diverse environment of learners while meeting a variety of student needs. His work includes leveraging the arts and arts education while addressing institutional racism in our communities. He gives students a voice to share their experiences while being part of a team that helps them celebrate new common experiences as well. Aaron has a very professional, yet conversational style and really gets to know his students. He leads great discussions and has students excited to talk about music and history. He’s familiar and effective working with a diverse group of learners in a low-income neighborhood. He also brings a professional background of being a producer and musician into our classroom, which leads to a much deeper understanding of our local history and music told through the lens of somebody who has studied it and been a part of it as opposed to somebody who just read about it in a text.” - Mike Kreiger (Educator: Aki Kurose Middle School / Madison Middle School) “Being a part of Big World Breaks in my teenage years laid the foundation for exploration through sound as well as enrichment through different cultures. Taking lessons personally with Mr. Walker-Loud, as well as playing as a drummer with the BWB Drumline enhanced my overall skills as a musician and performer. I’m thankful for the service they provide to the community, along with the talent and high levels of musicality.”  - Upendo Moore (Member of BWB Drumline, Seattle-based musician) “It has been great to meet and know BWB Drumline director Aaron Walker Loud. Also I enjoy his continued support of working with all of the extremely gifted students who have the opportunity to work with Big World Breaks; who are truly dedicated and supportive. It has been an honor to witness Aaron who also has been a great mentor to our grandson Jordan, and a positive influence, especially in his formative years. BWB is doing great work in our community and the drumline program at Meany Middle School to keep music alive for our enjoyment. Please support Big World Breaks as they show great talent in the great Pacific Northwest.” - Carla Anderson (Seattle-based musician / grandmother of BWB Drumline member)