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Participant Details
- Community Arts Partner Name
- Totem Star
- Partner Type
- 1
- Profile Photo
- Individual Bio or
Organizational Statement
- Totem Star empowers youth with life skills through music production and performance to increase leadership, civic engagement, and community building. Using the model of a record label, youth compose and record music, plan and produce public events, and contribute to their communities as working artists.
Our three core programs include The Studio (after school recording studio sessions), The Stage (quarterly open mics and youth arts showcases), and The Story (monthly panel discussions with guest artists).
Totem Star collaborates with high school teachers to create a customized music curriculum to fit the individual needs of students while addressing core arts standards. Some students may be interested in learning music theory and producing beats, while others may be interested in songwriting and recording vocals.
Through flexibility in arts and music learning and a commitment to 21st century learning skills, Totem Star strives to engage youth in meaningful projects with a transformative impact on their lives.
Grade Levels Preferred
- Grade Levels Preferred
- 9th - 12th
Artistic Disciplines
- Discipline
- 1, 3
- Type
- Music production (Beatmaking, instrumental recording, vocal recording)
Singing/Songwriting (Composition, arrangement, performance)
Live performance (Planning, promotion, production)
Music business (Publishing, distribution, marketing)
Music theory (Pitch, harmony, rhythm, melody, texture, form, style)
Band (Hip Hop/Pop/R&B/Rock/Soul/Experimental)
Musical instruments (Drums, bass, guitar, keyboards/synthesizers, percussion)
Experience
- Previous School Partnerships
- WA State TAT Lab Graduate
- Other Trainings or Certifications
- Sample Lesson Description: Student / Classroom Residencies
- Sample Workshop Description: Teacher Professional Development
Areas of Experience and Expertise
- Approved Professional Development Provider
- 1
- Approved Classroom Residency Provider
- Yes
Lesson Plan
- Integrated Art
- Cultural Art
Teaching Approach
- Teaching Philosophy + Approach
- Youth will have the opportunity to learn how to play musical instruments, produce their own beats, write their own songs, and apply principles of the recording process to address core arts standards. Youth may also gain experience in planning, promoting, and producing quarterly open mic performances, as well as learning about the music industry through business-related activities. Life skills that youth put into practice through experiential learning encourage communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, as well as information, media, and technology skills.
- Curriculum Integration Possibilities
- Reading
Writing
Mathematics
History
- Special Skills and Areas of Expertise
- Since 2010, Totem Star teaching artists have served over 800 youth ages 12-21 throughout Seattle. Current demographics of youth served are 59.1% African American, 17.6% Asian/Pacific Islander, 10.7% Caucasian, 13.0% Latino, and 3.0% Native American, the majority of whom come from low-income families with little or no access to quality arts learning programs.
Totem Star has worked with ELL and Special Education students, as well as leading professional development workshops with Seattle Public Schools teachers.
Co-Founders Daniel Pak (Kore Ionz) and Thaddeus Turner (Thaddillac) are professional musicians with extensive experience in the music industry. Pak serves on the advisory board for The Creative Advantage and as Advisor to the Board of Governors for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Grammys.
- Testimonials from Schools
- David Bestock | Youngstown Cultural Arts Center | david@youngstownarts.org
Traci Thirdgill | Southwest Interagency Academy | ttthirdgill@seattleschools.org
Tina LaPadula | Arts Corps | tina.lapadula@artscorps.org
Fees
- Fees
- $50/hr per teaching artist plus planning and prep
Images
- Image
- Image Description
- The Magarssas live at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
- Image
- Image Description
- Let Your Light Shine official music video shoot
- Image
- Image Description
- Summer school beat making program
- Image
- Image Description
- After school beat making program
- Image
- Image Description
- After school open studio recording program