Fatima | Teaching Artist who provides songwriting workshops

Teaching Artist

I am a teaching artist based in Rochester NY, servicing Western NY school districts. I provide songwriting workshops where all students get a chance to record the song they wrote.

Workshop Length

Workshop length depends on the number of students and desired outcomes while sessions last between 45 minutes to a full day.

Class Size

In larger classes students work in groups whereas in smaller classes students write individual songs.

Emotional Development

Students are encouraged to write about deeper topics like loss of someone, family issues, social justice, etc.

Daytime Classes

Workshops can be incorporated into daytime classes through objectives that are reflected in song topics and lyrics.

After School Programs

Workshops can be part of after school activities that fit specific objectives of the school like working with students that need behavior adjustments.

Learning Production

Students are used as behind the scenes assistants giving them an opportunity to learn audio and video production.

Testimonials

"I have had the privilege of knowing Fatima for two years now. Fatima is professional and gives great care and detail to all that she does. She is extremely creative and able to effectively engage the interests of my third grade students. During her time in my class, she set up clear expectations for the students, had great classroom management, gave background music knowledge to activate schema, was able to peak student interest, answered questions thoroughly, and monitored and adjusted throughout her lessons. The students responded well to her caring manner, and truly looked forward to the days she visited our classroom. She interacts well with students, parents, teachers, and administration. Our final product of music videos are truly one of the most rewarding experiences for everyone involved."

Heather O'Reilly, TeacherDr. Walter Cooper Academy School 10, RCSD

"Fatima is a peaceful and caring woman who celebrates the worth and dignity of all children and encourages their expression in a relevant way. She connects with youth well not as a teacher/leader, but on a genuine human level. This resonates with youth and puts them at ease. What was a wonderful experience it was seeing the children at Cameron/Third Arts Enrichment in the Fall 2017 blossom individually and with their peers in setting their stories to music and watching their video on performance day. I wish more youth from all walks of life get to experience this gift of expression."

Melanie Jones, Director of Arts and EnrichmentThird Presbyterian Church Arts and Enrichment

"Thank you for working hard with our students to help them use language arts to express themselves and connect to others. There is something so ancient, powerful, and essentially human about music. Thank you for empowering our students to participate in that, finding their voices along the way. Great to work with you again!"

Donal Kitzel, TeacherCanandaigua Academic and Career Center

"I cannot thank you enough for beauty of who you are, heart and soul (and talent and technology, too) with our kids. I have seen some of them light up in ways that I have not seen all year. You always strike a chord with our students and this year was no exception."

John LaFave, Director of Student Support ServicesCanandaigua Academic and Career Center

Songwriting Workshop Structure

Creative Writing

Students write lyrics to the assigned topic or a topic of their choice. They write new lyrics to existing songs/melodies or they write new songs and melodies to beats.

Instruction

I teach key songwriting concepts and help with writing lyrics. For scripted video projects I assist with script writing, producing and directing the video.

Recording

All students record their songs individually or in groups. All recording and lighting equipment is provided by me. Final projects are emailed or uploaded to Youtube (with permission.)

Examples of Projects

Cameron Ministries Afters School/Third Presbyterian Church Arts and Enrichment

Students re-wrote lyrics to Charlie Puth’s One call away and assisted with recording video, displaying lyrics.

Northwest Junior High School - Social Justice Class

7th grade students re-wrote lyrics of A Boogie’s Jungle song and wrote about school and graduating. This project was a part of their Social Justice class. All the actors were program participants or other students we recruited to be our extras.

Dr. Walter Cooper Academy School #10 - 3rd grade class

Part of 3rd grade’s curriculum at Cooper Academy includes learning about immigration, Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty, to name a few. Students were asked to pick their favorite song and re-write lyrics on the topic they’ve been learning about, namely immigration. They re-wrote lyrics of MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This. Select students also helped with recording the video, displaying lyrics and helping behind the scenes.