Songwriting for Style

The students at the New York Institute for Special Education and the Lavelle School for the Blind have been hard at work songwriting! These students have learned how to write songs, produce simple productions using GarageBand, and alter the sounds they've produced in just a few short weeks. Miss Shawna has set up some guidelines to songwriting, using the ideas of rhyming, brainstorming words, and creating stories to assist the students.

The theme of personal style and dressing for success is stressed, and major areas of popularity in this topic included hats, shoes, and what is that 'special something' that makes the student who they are. Personal revelation and exploration is really coming about in these students! Us folks at Art Beyond Sight are so excited to see what awesome talents these students have, as they are constantly evolving and even sometimes teaching us new things!

Young Designers

New York Institute students tried their hands at clothes designing. Drawing from class conversations about personal style and dress codes, they created their own outfit using fabrics, magazines, glitters and other materials. Chek out Esmeralda's hip dress!

Dress for Success II at the Lavelle School for the Blind

Originality
Originality
That’s what I’ve got
Originality, that’s what’s hot!
Everyday we wear
something different,
Why you ask? Because
it’s true.
Some of us like to look
comfortable,
Some of us like to look
brand new.
My friend Shelly she
likes to match
Her mood to what she’s
wearing that day.
My friend Solange she
always has
Earrings to match her
colorful glasses.
My friend Ashley she
likes to wear sweats,
She’s always so well
coordinated.

Last week, Ms. Shawna recorded all the songs, and they will be soon compiled into a CD.
Following the recording, students started discussing dress codes and the dos and don’ts of mixing and matching various items to form an outfit. For instance, you should avoid wearing slacks and a shirt with two different prints/patterns; instead, select one in a solid color to be paired with a patterned piece, or another non-patterned item. Students put together some outfits using the principles discussed in class (see pictures).

Thanksgiving at PS 201

Students from Ms. Hertler’s gathered around a table to savor a pumpkin pie and give their thanks.
They first set the table: tablecloth, plates and silverware (fork to the left, knife and spoon to the right) and, of course, napkins. To top it off, they added a bouquet, also called a “centerpiece,” the kind of decorative table accent that students had talked about in a previous class. While Ms. Marie was preparing the pie, the group shared their Thanksgiving Day traditions with Mr. Pete, talking about people with whom they celebrate the holiday, what they eat and things they do to mark the day.

Back to the New York Institute for Special Education, with Style!

Students at the NYISE talked about fashion choices and their personal style. Sixth graders Giovanni, Esmeralda, Lunique, JP, Katora, and Paula said it in a song:

I look cool
I look hot
I look cute today
I look punk rock
I look comfortable
I look fresh today
I am awesome in my own way x2
Everyday x2

I like wearing my gold earrings
I like wearing my flavored lip gloss
I like my watches in different colors
I like being a fashionista
My hair clips stand out from the crowd
I like wearing darker colors

I like looking fresh all the time

I look cool
I look hot
I look cute today

I look punk rock
I look comfortable
I look fresh today
I am awesome in my own way x2
Everyday x2


Other classes are working on their songs. More to come…

School is back in session

Art Beyond Sight is back at P.S 201 in Queens with its Dress for Success and Come to the Table programs. Shalim, Maisha, Dean, and others in Ms. Agait’s class worked on zipping. Mr. Pete (ABS’s Peter Galub) wrote a new song to help them.

A zipper is like a train (a zipper is like a train)
And a train needs a track (a train needs a track)
Put one hand on the train, the other on the track
Join that train, to its track.
Ride it uptown
And don't look back

Pete Galub says: “Most New Yorkers ride the trains everyday, and so the metaphor of trains and tracks was one I thought the kids at PS 201 could related to- hence, "A Zipper is Like a Train" The musical structure follows a country/blues form in the style of someone like Johnny Cash. I tried to make it playful, catchy, and somewhat educational. The kids liked singing it and it the subject of trains and going places kept them engaged in the activity.”


Ms. Hertler’s class discussed table etiquette and practiced their dining skills. Elizabeth and Mr. Pete went to the restaurant “Chez Marie” where Rida, their waitress, taught them about correct place setting and proper table manners. Need help remembering the order of the utensils? Here’s a trick: Just follow the alphabet as you place utensils from left to right, i.e., place them in alphabetical order. F for Fork comes first, followed by K for the knife, and S for the spoon. Students also practiced using their forks and knives to cut food, starting with bananas.

Tea Tasting At the Andrew Heiskell Library

McNulty’s Tea Tasting program drew a crowd at the Andrew Heiskell Library this past Tuesday, October 11. David Wong and Christopher Lee offered a sensory rich and informative experience that was enjoyed by all. They introduced us to seven teas, ranging from green and white tea to oolong and black. As each tea was introduced, participants were given an opportunity to smell and touch the tea leaves, after which each person was given a sample of the freshly brewed tea. The lighter teas were first introduced, just as light wines are introduced first at a wine tasting. David did not miss the comparison and explained that the oolong is to tea what a rose is to wine; the white and green teas, he said, are comparable to white wines and black teas to red wines. Chris and David shared their passion for tea, as well as a wealth of information about it. Some of the participants were knowledgeable about tea, too, and enjoyed talking about tea ceremonies in China and Japan.

Chris and David undeniably carry the spirit of their store nestled at 109 Christopher Street where the rich aromas of tea and coffee from around the world, sacks of coffee and chest of teas, and old scales transport you to another time and place.

Check out SENSational, a tea created by McNulty’s for Art Beyond Sight. Part of the proceeds will come directly to us. SENSational will be on McNulty’s shelves early November.