Writing
The Creative Endgame: Centering the Creative Process with Authentic Assessment
by John Churchville for the Michigan Arts Education, Instruction, and Assessment Blog
"Fostering the growth of the creative process in children is like growing a garden in the most fertile soil. With exposure to the right elements, and plenty of time and space to grow, we, as educators, can curate a creative culture that benefits students well beyond the classroom."
Sharing Days: Assessing Creativity through Producing Original Music
by John Churchville for the Michigan Arts Education, Instruction, and Assessment Blog
"Assessing creative work should focus on encouraging and supporting your student’s growth and development as a young artist. It is important to distinguish between the reflective, constructive criticism of the actual work a student is creating from the effort, understanding, and focus students demonstrate while creating that work. In other words, our responsibility as teachers is..."
Creative Days: Teaching Creativity through Producing Original Music
by John Churchville for the Michigan Arts Education, Instruction, and Assessment Blog
"For the past 17 years, as a main component of our yearly music curriculum, I have been producing original music with K-12 students. By providing the tools, the time, and the guidance for students to create their own music, a creative classroom culture that has a life-long impact is cultivated daily. Even creating just one song as a class can foster..."
Student Ownership and Creating Space
by john churchville for the APME Blog
"Whether you are looking to use popular music as a way to simply enhance your current music program, or you are ready to go all in and create a new modern band ensemble, creating the space in your program requires an awareness of your community, access to the right tools, and a bit of fearlessness to try something new and different. It can start with short simple conversations in the music classroom. My favorite time to talk one-on-one is just as students are..."
Creative Liscense and the benefits of rule-breaking
by john churchville (Chapter one)
"Breaking from the rules of the traditional music education system takes creativity and collaboration...."
steal like an artist: analyzing your favorite music to create new, original music
by john churchville (chapter 13)
"I designed this activity for composers of all ages who are looking for a starting point toward creating original music..."
My Instrument Is Tabla, My Music Is My Own
by John Churchville for the Crazy Wisdom Journal Blog
"I grew up as a lover of music in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the ‘big city’ of Marquette. As isolated as it may seem, the live music scene was alive and well. Seven days a week you could watch live jazz, latin, rock, funk, polka, and more, happening in town, out in the woods, for private parties ... yes, it was all..."