Evelyn Park is a musician and highly skilled music teaching artist in the Lawndale Elementary School District. She brings a unique experience and perspective to every class. We had an opportunity to sit down with her and talk about her own artistic practice and why encouraging kids to connect to music is so important.
I hope they will feel confident enough to sing along to the songs they love and to learn a new instrument when given the opportunity. I hope they will venture outside of their comfort zone to experience, connect to, and share different kinds of music.
Tell us about your personal work and how it affects your teaching.
These days, with two young kids at home, my “Personal Work” entails sitting around the piano and belting out songs of all different kinds: pop ballads, hymns, lullabies, folk songs, etc. Connecting with my children at home through music reminds me that little ones are able to connect to just about anything, regardless of genre or style of music. It reminds me that I can push the students in Lawndale when it comes to exploring and connecting to different types of songs that they have never heard before.
What are some consistent sources of inspiration for you/your artwork?
Weekend workshops, small venue music shows, and musical theater inspire me in different ways.
If your students have one main takeaway from your class, what would you like it to be?
My desire as a teaching artist is to encourage the students’ natural desire to create and express themselves through the arts. I hope they will feel confident enough to sing along to the songs they love and to learn a new instrument when given the opportunity. I hope they will venture outside of their comfort zone to experience, connect to, and share different kinds of music.
Tell us about a memorable class/student/lesson.
There are so many. The most recent one took place a month ago during a first-grade lesson. This particular class is full of energy. Alex*, in particular, has a lot of trouble containing their energy in the classroom setting. During a lesson on beat & drum playing, Alex played a very sophisticated rhythm as they passed by one of the drums. It was enough to make me stop the lesson. Instead of getting upset with them for playing out of turn, I told Alex to sit at a drum and play freely. I soon discovered that Alex’s drumming skill is beyond any child I have ever worked with in grades K-5. I made sure to let Alex know of this immense talent. Alex’s toothless smile was the brightest I have seen in a long time. Alex now looks forward to playing the drum in music class and feels like a vital and wanted member in the music classroom.
I soon discovered that Alex’s drumming skill is beyond any child I have ever worked with in grades K-5. I made sure to let Alex know of this immense talent. Alex’s toothless smile was the brightest I have seen in a long time.
What famous person, either dead or alive, would you choose to take out for coffee?
Stevie Wonder: I’d love to hear his stories, ask him a million questions, and see his perspective on the changing music industry.
Thank you, Evelyn! Teaching artists like Evelyn are a vital part of what makes P.S. ARTS programs succeed. By making a gift this year, you are helping us provide a salary, benefits, supplies, professional development, and a robust network of support for Evelyn and more than 50 other teaching artists. Support our teaching artists here.
*This student’s name has been changed to protect their privacy.
