PLANNING (DEC-JAN 2020)
I’ve been casually generating ideas about my CAS project for a few weeks, and already I’ve come to a few conclusions about its trajectory. I knew that the theme of my CAS project should center around something I’m passionate about, and music was the obvious choice. I’ve been training in classical piano for most of my life, so it’s easy to reflect on how music education has shaped my identity over the years. If I spend some time with this idea, reflecting on specific events and character traits that have been influenced by my study of music, I think that it might be easier to identify some concrete goals for the project.
So far, I have some initial guidelines the project should adhere to; determining these now will allow for a structured and consistent investigation later on. The project should be service based, focusing on helping others at its core, and the project should revolve around music, drawing from my perspective as a musician to inspire and inform others.
With these guidelines in mind, my next step should be to identify a target audience for the service project. Already, I’m fairly certain that my ideas would be most useful to young musicians, in elementary or middle school. I can use my perspective as the cool, older high-school student to help spark their interests in music.
The next few weeks should be spent using the connections I have to find an opportunity for the project. I could speak to the adult leaders in my Boy Scout troop, my long-time piano teacher and her colleagues, as well as my prior music teachers in school.
So far, I have some initial guidelines the project should adhere to; determining these now will allow for a structured and consistent investigation later on. The project should be service based, focusing on helping others at its core, and the project should revolve around music, drawing from my perspective as a musician to inspire and inform others.
With these guidelines in mind, my next step should be to identify a target audience for the service project. Already, I’m fairly certain that my ideas would be most useful to young musicians, in elementary or middle school. I can use my perspective as the cool, older high-school student to help spark their interests in music.
The next few weeks should be spent using the connections I have to find an opportunity for the project. I could speak to the adult leaders in my Boy Scout troop, my long-time piano teacher and her colleagues, as well as my prior music teachers in school.
INVESTIGATION (JAN-MARCH 2020)
Since January, I’ve been exploring various channels in search of an opportunity to implement my project idea. After a few instances of trial and error, I’m writing this after the confirmation of my project site and audience.
My first channel was through the Houston Independent School District, directly contacting the fire arts director for the entire district. Through email, I expressed my interests in a music education project for young students, potentially focusing on schools that lack established arts programs. After an initial spark of correspondence, we concluded that he was not in a position to sponsor a project of this scale.
Following this development, I reached out to an adult leader from my Boy Scouts troop who put me in contact with the music director at Bruce Elementary school. We decided to match the project to the needs and music program for the students and faculty at Bruce Elementary. I recently met with the music director and discussed the idea of music classes taught by myself and volunteers. We could raise money for instruments, then spend a few weeks teaching students the basics, possibly concluding with an end-of-year concert.
My next steps are to work out the logistics of this event, plan out the time frame leading up to the end of spring semester, and contact potential volunteers. I should also consider the extent of this time commitment alongside school and my other extracurriculars.
My first channel was through the Houston Independent School District, directly contacting the fire arts director for the entire district. Through email, I expressed my interests in a music education project for young students, potentially focusing on schools that lack established arts programs. After an initial spark of correspondence, we concluded that he was not in a position to sponsor a project of this scale.
Following this development, I reached out to an adult leader from my Boy Scouts troop who put me in contact with the music director at Bruce Elementary school. We decided to match the project to the needs and music program for the students and faculty at Bruce Elementary. I recently met with the music director and discussed the idea of music classes taught by myself and volunteers. We could raise money for instruments, then spend a few weeks teaching students the basics, possibly concluding with an end-of-year concert.
My next steps are to work out the logistics of this event, plan out the time frame leading up to the end of spring semester, and contact potential volunteers. I should also consider the extent of this time commitment alongside school and my other extracurriculars.