Over June, Rogue World Music & Talent Maker City teamed up to offer a STEAM version of the RWM Songbirds world music education program for 40 Eagle Point Elementary 4th and 5th graders.

This was part of a larger summer camp offering by TMC in the Eagle Point school district over the summer, but RWM was the only teacher of a camp dedicated to making music. Just like in RWM’s long-standing Songbirds program in the Phoenix-Talent School District elementary schools, this camp helped children cultivate their innate musicality as a means to play, connect, and develop a host of soft skills like listening, cooperation, and sharing. The Songbirds instructor, Mr. Travis (Travis Puntarelli), teaches through a series of songs from cultures around the world using call-and-response, mimicry, games, movement, & storytelling to help students become confident users of their voice and body to create music.

“What I noticed was just how focused and engaged the students were. There was a lot of room for reflection and group activity together. Other camps were more oriented on personal, individual projects" - Lisa Shinohara, Talent Maker City Programs Coordinator.

Unlike Songbirds, this camp ran for half a day, for multiple days in a row, as opposed to a 30-minute block once a week, making it possible to explore the science behind music pitch/tone and to build instruments.

"The students really loved being able to take home their own musical instrument - what a gift.” - Lisa Shinohara, Talent Maker City Programs Coordinator.

This was RWM’s first teaching collaboration with Talent Maker City, but it will not be the last.

“It makes so much sense to partner with Talent Maker City on a community offering like this. They are supporting current makers of all sorts in our Rogue Valley community, as are we! There’s just so much alignment. Making music, making community, gathering to create - that’s what RWM is all about and we are excited to delve deeper into what that looks like in the future.” - Ana Byers, Rogue World Music Executive Director.

If you would like to support RWM’s work, collaboration, & partnerships in the Rogue Valley community, donate today. Rogue World Music is a 501(C)(3) Oregon-based arts nonprofit. All donations are tax-deductible for any U.S. tax payer AND qualify Oregon residents & corporations for the Oregon Cultural Tax Credit. Donate today.

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