Residencies & Workshops
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Kite making Paper making
These workshops, residencies and intensives are designed to empower you to explore, build skills and develop your talents in the crafts offered. You'll find many ways to integrate your new skills into the fabric of your life.
Residencies and Workshops
I have been a juried artist on the Vermont Council on the Arts roster since 1976. I have taught dulcimer building, kite making, bookbinding and paper making in many different schools and settings to all ages from kindergarten students to adults.These workshops/residencies offer you the opportunity to explore the physical world through making things. It is hard to over stress the importance of the development of manual skills in this day and age of computers and passive consumerism.
Students experience the sense of adventure that comes from making things. Making things leads students to a creative life where creating beauty also builds a good sense of self in relation to our physical world, a sense that carries over into all other activities. It also brings out personal gifts that might not be accessible in the two-dimensional world of writing and reading.
I have been a juried artist on the Vermont Council on the Arts roster since 1976. I have taught dulcimer building, kite making, bookbinding and paper making in many different schools and settings to all ages from kindergarten students to adults.These workshops/residencies offer you the opportunity to explore the physical world through making things. It is hard to over stress the importance of the development of manual skills in this day and age of computers and passive consumerism.
Students experience the sense of adventure that comes from making things. Making things leads students to a creative life where creating beauty also builds a good sense of self in relation to our physical world, a sense that carries over into all other activities. It also brings out personal gifts that might not be accessible in the two-dimensional world of writing and reading.
The journey of trying out and mastering new techniques and crafts includes the inevitable setbacks and so-called “failures”. The problems that come up are merely things that need to be overcome as part of the process, and persevering becomes an important habit.We now know from scientific brain research that developing manual skills and learning through movement are crucial for cognitive development.
*For more details on learning and learning styles
see books by Carla Hannaford, Ph.D.
The Dominance Factor
Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head
Playing in a Unified Field
I offer the following subjects as residencies:
Kite Making: Your class/group will be introduced to the basic attributes of kites; then we proceed to build them. When the kites are completed, we will discuss kite art and the elements of painting things that are meant to be seen from far away. The final step is kite flying. It is important to have enough time to fly, so all students can be successful at flying their kites.
The Paper Crafts/Paper making, marbling and bookbinding are all related crafts that can be done separately or together, depending on how you want to use them in relation to the curriculum in your classroom or program.
Paper making explores the making of sheets of paper using different materials. The paper can be used to write or print on, or it can be shaped into art objects.
Marbling explores the ancient technique of floating inks on water, controlling the design and transferring it onto paper.
Bookbinding is the art of creating blank books in which to write or draw. The books can also be used to bind the collective writings of one or more students. With the advent of computers it has become very practical to publish students’ writing in single copies or limited editions. The step of bringing written work into print, after the creative and editing processes makes students published authors.
Kite Making: Your class/group will be introduced to the basic attributes of kites; then we proceed to build them. When the kites are completed, we will discuss kite art and the elements of painting things that are meant to be seen from far away. The final step is kite flying. It is important to have enough time to fly, so all students can be successful at flying their kites.
The Paper Crafts/Paper making, marbling and bookbinding are all related crafts that can be done separately or together, depending on how you want to use them in relation to the curriculum in your classroom or program.
Paper making explores the making of sheets of paper using different materials. The paper can be used to write or print on, or it can be shaped into art objects.
Marbling explores the ancient technique of floating inks on water, controlling the design and transferring it onto paper.
Bookbinding is the art of creating blank books in which to write or draw. The books can also be used to bind the collective writings of one or more students. With the advent of computers it has become very practical to publish students’ writing in single copies or limited editions. The step of bringing written work into print, after the creative and editing processes makes students published authors.
Dulcimer Building
Depending on the age of the students, we make the instruments using either cardboard or wood. Dulcimers will be provided for students to use during the building while they wait for glue or finish to dry. Instruction will also be provided so they will have a few tunes to play by the time their instruments are completed.
Depending on the age of the students, we make the instruments using either cardboard or wood. Dulcimers will be provided for students to use during the building while they wait for glue or finish to dry. Instruction will also be provided so they will have a few tunes to play by the time their instruments are completed.
The Cardboard Dulcimer allows the most creative freedom because of the low cost of materials. The cardboard dulcimer lends itself to wild paint jobs, as you can see in the pictures. These dulcimers are appropriate for fourth through tenth grades.These dulcimers have been successfully used in school music programs. They were built for the school and then loaned out to students as part of the music program.
The Wooden Dulcimer requires, for the most part, only hand tool work, as basic parts are supplied. Students design the peg head, sound holes and shape of the sound box. The result is a unique instrument with good sound and action.* Building time for wooden dulcimers is forty to sixty hours. These dulcimers are appropriate for eleventh grade and up.
*Action refers to the ease with which the strings are pressed down on the frets with you fingers.
The Wooden Dulcimer requires, for the most part, only hand tool work, as basic parts are supplied. Students design the peg head, sound holes and shape of the sound box. The result is a unique instrument with good sound and action.* Building time for wooden dulcimers is forty to sixty hours. These dulcimers are appropriate for eleventh grade and up.
*Action refers to the ease with which the strings are pressed down on the frets with you fingers.
Dulcimer (or music) Workshop/Intensive for the Anxious and Intimidated. This intensive is for those, like myself, for whom making music does not come easily. But we love it and stubbornly persist in finding ways to be successful and to enjoy it.
There are several resources becoming available to us as our knowledge of psychological and neurological processes increases. We'll explore resources that are supportive of our learning styles and that assist us in integrating our brains and bodies to overcome some of the old road blocks and challenges we currently experience.
This intensive is designed to give you the tools to clear up the things that are holding you back, as well as a practice that will improve your playing and musical enjoyment.
If you would like me to e-mail you when the next intensive is scheduled Click on this link.
There are several resources becoming available to us as our knowledge of psychological and neurological processes increases. We'll explore resources that are supportive of our learning styles and that assist us in integrating our brains and bodies to overcome some of the old road blocks and challenges we currently experience.
This intensive is designed to give you the tools to clear up the things that are holding you back, as well as a practice that will improve your playing and musical enjoyment.
If you would like me to e-mail you when the next intensive is scheduled Click on this link.
I am listed on the Creative Ground website for teaching Artists in New England. I may be reached at 802-767-3790.
Jeremy Seeger
P.O.Box 193