At Mindful Yoga With Liz, we bring the benefits of yoga and mindfulness directly into schools, helping children of all ages build focus, confidence, and emotional resilience. Through playful movement, breathwork, and guided relaxation, students learn tools to manage stress, regulate their emotions, and cultivate kindness toward themselves and others. Our programs are age-appropriate and engaging, combining storytelling, games, and interactive activities to make learning fun while supporting social-emotional growth. Teachers also benefit by learning strategies to manage classroom energy, foster a calm environment, and support students’ well-being—helping the whole school community thrive.

After retiring from teaching at the elementary level for 25 years, I decided I still wanted to teach. So, my love for nature and children led me in the direction of writing fictional animal based stories based on facts. I offer school wide readings, as well as class presentations. Depending on the program requested, I also offer activities (crafts and games) as well as some science based videos to aid in the presentation. Book signings are always provided for books purchased before or during the special book talk day. Books are: The Flamingo With Two Left Feet Amari’s BIG Surprise…It’s NOT Monkey Bread! We Can...and We Do!

The Music Hall is committed to supporting arts education in our schools and throughout our community. By offering free and discounted performances for students, outreach opportunities with artists and masterclasses, we help to leverage our creative assets to make a difference in the lives of children and adults of all ages. Unison: Student & Families Membership Program The Music Hall is committed to welcoming all people into our performance space to enjoy the arts. The Unison Student & Families Program is designed to bring all members of the community together to enjoy the varied musical performances we present throughout the season by providing free seats to qualifying students and families. Learn more about the Unison Program here. School and District Partnerships The Music Hall works with teaching artists throughout the community to bring hundreds of arts enrichment, interactive programming into schools each year. The Music Hall is committed to integrating the arts into academic curricula, and works to design workshops that best serve our partnering educators in the classroom. Arts-Integrated Learning Approach The Music Hall values student engagement in a creative process that connects the arts to their academic studies. We provide a wide variety of arts programming to create inclusive and responsive learning opportunities in schools and at our venue. Artist Masterclasses and Workshops We strive to provide as many opportunities as possible for students of all ages to work with local and world-renowned artists. Students cultivate their skills and build valuable artistic experiences through the varied workshops and classes we offer each year. Connecting the Arts to the Classroom The Arts Matter! Live performances and interactive learning experiences give students the opportunity to be inspired, to create, and reflect. These fundamental experiences enrich students' academic studies; to equip students with the foundations for achievement both inside and outside the classroom by developing their creative capacity, thinking skills, and knowledge essential for lifelong success. Our Educational Performance Series, workshops, and matinee shows connect with classroom Academic Standards to allow educators the opportunity for scaffolding the student learning process. Teaching Artist Workshops: The Music Hall values the support of students and educators in our community by providing performing arts learning opportunities. Our exclusive Teaching Artist programs feature local artists and various arts organizations who, in collaboration with the Music Hall, work to provide artistic enrichment to teach and inspire a lifelong appreciation for the arts. By providing varied educational programming to the Capital Region, we strive to inspire meaningful learning, interactive exploration of the arts, and memorable experiences for students of all ages. Educational Performances & Activities at the Hall The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is committed to supporting arts education in our schools and throughout our community. By offering free and discounted performances for students, outreach opportunities with artists and masterclasses, we help to leverage our creative assets to make a difference in the lives of children and adults of all ages. 2024-2025 Student Activities & Performances Thursday, March 27, 2025 11AM Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Niña in el Mundo Composer: Joe Illick, Librettist: Mark Campbell Program Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025 Program Time: Doors Open: 10:30a, Performance: 11:00a-12:00p 45 minute program with 5-10 minute Q&A at the end Short Summary: Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Niña in el Mundo is an interactive children’s opera composed by Joe Illick with libretto written by Mark Campbell. The story is about Mariana, a young girl living in Mexico City in the late 1940s. Mariana’s family encourages her to have her portrait painted by the renowned artist, Frida Kahlo. Mariana is initially frightened, but is emboldened and charmed by Kahlo, the animals in her household including a monkey, a parrot and a dog, and a visit by the exuberant artist Diego Rivera. As Mariana sits for her portrait, she learns all about Frida’s life, and begins to understand the meaning of bravery. The opera is appropriate for ages 5-11. $5 Tickets. Student Pricing to Mainstage Performances Interested in bringing your class to a mainstage performance at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall! Many of our shows throughout the season have exclusive student pricing: Date & Time Performance Tickets Tuesday, February 4 Troy Chromatic Concerts presents Steven Isserlis, Cello Recital *pre-concert activity: Prelude Conversations $15 Student Tickets Sunday, March 9 APM: Considering Matthew Shepard $15 Student Tickets Friday, March 22 Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA $15 Student Tickets Thursday, March 27 [STUDENT MATINEE] Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Nina in el mundo $5 Tickets Wednesday, March 26 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy $15 Student Tickets Friday, March 28 Gaelic Storm $20 Student Tickets Ordering Tickets: Call or email Jessica Bowen, Director of Education & Outreach with your request. (518) 479-9623 or jessica@troymusichall.org Payment Payment is accepted by check, major credit card or BOCES purchase order and is due no later than 14 days in advance of each show. Reservations not paid by the 14-day deadline will be canceled. Changes and cancellations No refunds or exchanges will be made after the 14-day deadline. We cannot guarantee seating for additional students if the show is sold out, but will accommodate as best we can to ensure all students have a seat at the show! Please be sure to reserve seating for all teachers and chaperones in addition to students. If your school district is closed or dismisses early due to weather, a credit will be issued to your account for the cost of your tickets. Communication regarding cancellation must be received by our box office prior to the performance. ADA Accommodations Please advise the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall of accessible seating needs when the order is place so we can make arrangements prior to your arrival. Interested in learning more about educational opportunities for your students? Please Contact Jessica Bowen, Director of Education & Outreach at jessica@troymusichall.org or call (518) 629 - 4016. ETUDE Student Volunteer Program REGISTRATION FOR 2024-2025 is NOW OPEN! Click the link below to register. Etude participants develop the skills needed for today’s workforce while engaging in a fun, fast-paced work environment. Participating students will work amongst event staff team at performances throughout our season. Students involved in this year’s Etude Volunteer Program will have opportunities to participate in many more of the departments on site including: Box Office and Ticketing House Management and Merchandise Stage Crew and Backstage Sound and Lighting Front of House and Seating The Etude Program is a great way to explore different career paths in the arts. Join us! All registered students must attend an ORIENTATION before their first volunteer session. This is included in the arrival times for your first show, which you'll find on the sign up form below. Eligible students in Grades 9 - 12 and/or undergraduate students will: Fulfill community service credits; Enhance their resume with valuable experience; Pursue the development of personal and professional skills; Explore varying career paths in the arts.

We are a professional baseball team located in the Capital District of New York, more specifically, Troy. Each year we offer multiple Education Day games which are special matinee games aimed to incorporate learning with the game of baseball. We create a unique curriculum that covers things from spending money at the concession stand, geography and location of our opponents, baseball terminology and more. For these games we reach out to all of our local schools and invite them to attend this game which is typically $12 per person and includes admission as well as a lunch. We kick off the game with an Anti-Bullying peace pledge, and the concourse features tables from our sponsors with STEM centric activities. Many schools attend each of these games and look for assistance to ensure they can be a part of it.

Kelly de la Rocha is a poet, journalist and founder of poem RENOVATION, a fun, web-based word challenge that promotes literacy, creativity and social-emotional learning. The software was a prize-winner at the 2024 Yale Innovation Summit. Every day, poem RENOVATION presents users with a scrambled snippet of literature. They select words that resonate with them, then move them around on a digital canvas. The rules? There are none. The objective? To create. During her lively, interactive workshops, Kelly details how poem RENOVATION came to be and how it works. Students have an opportunity to create a poem, phrase and/or word art on the site, share their creations, and receive positive feedback. Along the way, constructs including perspective, voice and figurative language are discussed. Poem RENOVATION has been used by hundreds of students from New York to California and has become a favorite, ongoing activity in a number of classrooms. Workshops: *Are appropriate for middle and high school classes *Can be personalized to include literature of the teacher’s choice *Are offered in-person or via video call WHAT EDUCATORS ARE SAYING: “The level of confidence that I saw grow in my students was amazing, from not being willing to share to being willing to share, from sitting quietly and not saying much, to offering a compliment or asking a question to better understand one of their peers.” ~Teacher Valerie Wadsworth, O’Rourke Middle School, Burnt Hills, NY They’re loving it! ~Teacher Renee Duran, Stone Valley Middle School, Alamo, CA It empowered them and it brought them to a place where they wanted to share what they made and they love that their creation was never wrong. I think that was what really made the students feel so special and so willing.” ~Teacher Dena Marie de la Rocha, Gowana Middle School, Clifton Park, NY “I immediately understood the impact it could have on public school children’s literacy and social-emotional development. ~Lauren B. Carpenter, Ed.M, Director of Education Programs, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT

Stitch Buffalo is excited to share our love of textile arts and provide instruction to learners of all ages and skill levels. When you book a class, a Stitch Buffalo instructor will come to your location and provide comprehensive instruction to your group. All supplies for the project are included. Participants will learn fundamental techniques while developing design and collaborative skills in a relaxed environment that encourages exploration and personal expression. Our rextile art projects/skills reflect traditional techniques used in many cultures from around the world. These include: 1. Hand Embroidery 2. Block Printing 3. Pom-Pom Making 4. Jump Rope Making 5. Stencil and Appliqué 6. Macrame 7. Weaving For each of the seven core disciplines, we offer three related projects that correspond to different ages and ability levels: beginner (elementary school); intermediate (middle school); and advanced (high school through adult). We also provide information on the cultural context of each project, including how people from various cultures are practicing these traditional techniques today—right here in New York.

We offer hands-on learning experiences for all levels and ages in the creation of woven three dimensional baskets, lanterns, living structures and sculpture.

For schools, community organizations, and other large groups, Stone Quarry offers artist-led experiences of the grounds that include making activities for students and adults. Stone Quarry’s teaching artists design experiences that are responsive and specific to your group’s interests. For an artist-led experience, we suggest a $15 per person donation or a pay-what-you-can sliding scale.

Reaction Dance Company NYC (RXN) was founded in 2014 by Artistic Director Juliette Nieves-Becker. Our mission is to challenge the boundaries between dance styles and change audiences’ perception of cultural dances. We bring educational dance assemblies that fuse Bollywood, Latin, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Jazz dance styles to schools across the United States, introducing thousands of students to the joy of celebrating diversity through dance. In addition, we maintain an active performance schedule, with our most notable performances have been for the Parrish Art Museum in South Hampton, RAW Artists Brooklyn 2018, Reaction Presents: The United Boroughs of NYC, Dance USA Dance 2017 on Zee TV, Kpop Cover Dance Festival 2017 (4th place US Finalists), and the music video "La Conoci Bailando" by Ozzie Valencia.

Ira Marcks is an award-winning graphic novelist and educator whose books have been recommended by the New York Times and American Library Association. Ira's in-person and virtual visits include two programs that can be schedule as a single classroom event or combined to create a full day author visit. Program 1: Making Comics. (Performance) An introduction to Ira’s creative process through the unique elements of comic storytelling: frame, character, setting, and speech bubble. This program is intended for a large group. Program 2: Drawing Faces. (Classroom Presentation) A hands-on lesson in designing believable and expressive comic characters. Students will learn Ira's step by step process for creating a cartoon face, followed by an insightful look at the role of facial expressions in comic storytelling. Only a pencil, paper, and Sharpie Marker are required to participate. This program is intended for classroom interaction. Testimonials: “Ira is that rare breed of artist who seamlessly blends his creative side and a seemingly effortless ability to teach. He brings a welcoming and open approach to arts education.” — Carolyn Fagan, Library Program Director, Troy, New York “Ira was one of the most dynamic presenters we have ever had. The students were fully engaged and the teachers were too. We hope he will come back. ” — Martha Sweeney, Head of The Odyssey School, Baltimore, Maryland

Award-winning author of The Memory of Things will share why she wrote a young adult novel set in NYC during 9/11, the research she did to create authentic characters and story, and how reading and writing historical fiction builds empathy, often far better than non-fiction. Can be paired with writing workshops and other interactive presentations. Author can do similar presentations on any of her seven award-winning novels, both middle grade and young adult.

-Math enrichment games, programs, professional development for grades K-5. -Virtual Math conferences and workshops. -Tang Math site subscriptions and Tangy Tuesdays and Wordy Wednesdays worksheet subscriptions for teachers -Tang Math Site subscription for teaching resources