After celebrating the amazing work of Penny Furgerson and her dance company I went back into the archives this week to bring forward what we were up to during those days…
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Hope to see you all at the Okoboji Writers’ & Songwriters’ Retreat V
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Beginning in 1979, Whether working with Middle school students in Great Falls, MT or with Professor Lance Boyd and his Jazz improvisation students in Missoula at the University of Montana, those years were some of the most rewarding classroom experiences I’ve ever had. Bringing the history and heritage of Jazz music to young students across the West was an opportunity to introduce a new facet to their educational process.
Mighty cold in Great Falls in January but the first graders at CM Russell School warmed it up pretty good.
Posted below are some of the “reviews” we received from students Gr. 6-8 during our time (1979-1985) as Jazz-Artists-In-Residence supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arts Councils of Montana and Iowa.
Public Education in Iowa needs your support. You can join the good fight by Joining Iowa CCI.
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From 1979 to 2025 it’s time again to voice your support for the arts and for Public Education here in Iowa.
Where we once had a flourishing, expanding arts/education scene, it’s now time to ask: Are there Teaching Artists in your midst? Dancers, Writers, Poets, Playwrights, the Jazz Musicians, the Griots, the ones who keep the lights of conscience on during difficult times.
(To our public school educators: You bring joy, awe and respect into the classroom with you every day. You just might be that North Star inspiration for a student (although you may not know it for several decades until a former student reaches out with a heartfelt thanks.)
Civic decision makers: you owe it to your youth (and to yourselves) to build these types of experiences into their curriculum.
Have a great year teachers, students, families, staff, cooks, drivers, Physical plant, Principals, Coaches, Counselors and all those who work the “Mind fields” of public education.
Be consistently gentle with each other. Be consistently fierce in defense of public education !
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Public Education in Iowa needs your support. You can join the good fight by Joining Iowa CCI. Public School Strong is still gathering signatures in support of a Statewide grassroots effort to roll back Iowa’s ruinous school voucher program . Please contact Tim Glaza (timg@iowacci.org) he’ll help you to roll up your sleeves and get involved.
Enjoy the latest composition from My Integrated Life.
This post is dedicated to all the educators, mentors, public school supporters and families who have rely on strong public education opportunities. From Kindergarten through graduate school keep striving, keep reaching and keep the faith.
Good work, brother. It’s rare to get appreciation of this nature!