Brian Gillie
42 Blackfoot Court
Guilford, Connecticut 06437
(203) 453-1207
bgillie48@yahoo.com
www.BrianGillie.com

Brian Gillie’s programs address State Learning, Education and Curriculum Standards.
1) Students actively participate in the processes that constitute observing, performing and creating in the art of song and dance.
2) Students will explore their creative potential and critical thinking skills as they relate to established music and dance forms and by comparing, contrasting, evaluating and critiquing the effectiveness of a variety of musical and choreographic styles through the decades: what works, what doesn’t, and why.
3) Students will experience the emotional impact of song and movement in a public forum, and an awareness of their physical abilities and limitations.
4) Students will learn about the historical origins of song and dance, their locales and the personalities associated with their popularity; and they will discover how historic song and dance styles represent the needs, concerns, cultural forces, mores and leisure pursuits of our ancestors and peers and how these forces overlap/evolve from one generation to another.
5) Students will learn about the health benefits of dance and music-making.
6) Students will learn how thought and emotion, expressed through poetry and movement, pave the interconnected highway of folk history.
7) Students will learn to acknowledge the multifaceted benefits of song and dance, such as patriotic inspiration, reflection of personal and societal concerns or for pure financial gain.
8) Students will learn how “old” songs and dances can be adapted to contemporary music stylings.
9) Students will experience the joy and accessibility of improvisation.
10) Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the materials and resources available for participation and research.
11) Students will learn about the role of technology in the evolution of song and dance styles.
12) Students will become aware of career choices and the business side of the arts including copyrighting, publishing and marketing.
13) These cultural arts programs empower students with the seeds of what is possible.

Curriculum Links:
Music, Dance, English, Language Arts, Theater, History, Social Science, Math, Physical Education, Health

Studies show (the Mozart Effect and learning curves based on the Multiple Intelligences) that early music and movement experiences improve overall academic performance and well-being. State Education and Curriculum Standards call for students to create, evaluate and perform art works that express concepts of song and dance. A study of and participation in the history of music, song and dance illuminates human experience and values, enhances analytical thinking skills and reveals fascinating facets of different cultures.