Picasso Project

Thanks, Vicki Ellis, for this beautiful report from the field, of teaching artist Gretchen Elise and classroom teacher Brett Olson's collaboration at Thomas Holme Elementary. Cheers to these young songwriter/musicians!

Just left the inclusive 1st grade class at Holme Elementary that I’ve mentioned before. I’d missed the last two Picasso sessions. It’s always been good and interesting to observe.
Today was different though. Something happened or has happened. There was a cohesion, a beauty of the whole, they seemed an organism moving together as a crowd sometimes does that’s in a flow, a spirit. They were themselves and yet one in a way.
They spent 90 minutes with a musician, Gretchen, artist and their teacher, Brett and classroom assistant, singing, describing what they were singing, drawing their favorite part of their song, learned what “editing” is. They saw their words in their song. They sang the whole bluesy song medley all the way through today including a rap portion by their 1st grade teacher. It was complex and beautiful. Joy was palpable.
I asked the teacher to put words on what I was feeling and observing. He said “they are engaged with the learning, the arts help, music helps a lot.”
I added and “they’re helping each other very sweetly and spontaneously.” He said, “yes.”
The last thing they did was listen to a layered soundscape Gretchen played for them. A train station with chimes twinkling, children laughing and a man announcing the trains. They were rapt.
I’m watching this class at recess now from my car. The movement and joy continue, on the sun drenched, concrete playground, cooled by the breeze; the wind. The wind they’ve read about, sang about, described, drew, wrote about, learned.
I can hear the usual recess glee and I imagine some are still singing their song.