Music & Arts Program 

by CSMA

Community School of Music & Arts 

at Stocklmeir Elementary 

Sponsored by the Stocklmeir PTA

The PTA is proud to continue its support of arts and music for the 2022-2023 school year. Through a collaborative effort among administration, teachers, parents and the community, the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) will once again provide music for K-3 and art for K-5 during the regular school day. (Music for 4th and 5th grade students is provided through the Cupertino Union School District.) Your PTA donations in combination with the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation (CEEF) directly fund these programs 100%.

K-3 Music Program

CSMA’s Music4Schools program gives students a musical foundation through learning musical techniques, as well as music appreciation. They also experience making music with others and performing live. As part of the 20-week music program, music teachers will create lesson plans based on CSMA’s curriculum, which consists of in-depth, skill-building, hands-on, sequential music lessons that meet the California State Content Standards for Music and are appropriate for each grade level.

Eight key concepts will be taught including singing, melody, rhythm, harmony, form, cultural context, creating and playing instruments. At the end of the year, parents, teachers and classmates will be treated to a musical performance.

To learn more about CSMA’s music program, visit their website

STEPHEN DIX, EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND

Stephen has been performing and recording music most of his life. Currently he plays in a local tribute band. He is a trained vocalist as well as a guitarist, bassist and keyboardist. He has been teaching after school programs and workshops, as well as performing assemblies and birthday parties for Mad Science over the last 10 years. In addition, he also work directing bands and teaching private guitar and bass lessons at The School Of Rock in Palo Alto.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

“For me it is important that the kids are having fun and are engaged. My teaching style will have the children excited about music as I bring a very good energy and enthusiasm to the lessons.”

K-5 Art Program

CSMA’s Art4Schools program consists of in-depth, skill-building and sequential art lessons that meet the California State Visual and Performing Arts Standards for Art.  Lessons are appropriate for each grade level and are taught by professional CSMA instructors who coordinate with each classroom’s curriculum. Lessons are often inspired by a master artist or a cultural/historical context that encourages students to explore topics from other perspectives.

At Stocklmeir Elementary each student will receive 12 art lessons over the year, focusing on drawing and painting, as well as an introduction to ceramics, sculpture and basic three-dimensional concepts. Students develop basic technical skills, as well as learn concepts such as line, shape, value, form and color.

At the end of the year, the students’ works will be displayed in an art show. View the art show at Stocklmeir.

To learn more about CSMA’s art programs, visit their website.  Teachers scheduled are Judy Schulze and Tiffany Lin.

JUDY SCHULZE, EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND

Judy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art with a minor in Spanish from UC Davis.

Working with CSMA’s Art4Schools program fulfills one of Judy’s childhood dreams of teaching fine art to children, fostering their creativity, and expanding their cultural awareness in the process. She enjoys introducing students to the paintings of her UC Davis professor Wayne Thiebaud, as well as ceramic funk art by Bob Arneson and David Gilhooly, who left quite a legacy in her UC Davis ceramics studios.

Judy joined CSMA’s visual arts faculty in 2009, teaching primarily with the Art4Schools program in the Mountain View-Whisman and Cupertino school districts.  In 2015, Judy helped pilot a new mentoring program at CSMA, developing and supporting our visual art faculty.  In addition to her work with CSMA, she teaches ceramics and runs a small art camp business for children in her neighborhood. 

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

“I like to tell my students that ‘mistakes are an artist’s best friend!’ When we make mistakes, we problem solve and bring new ideas to our artwork in the process.  I believe creativity is born from mistakes. 

“I want my classes to have enough structure to impart skills, enough inspiration to produce thoughtfulness, and enough freedom to encourage creativity from each student.”

TIFFANY LIN, EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND

Tiffany Lin is a visual artist, wordsmith, and dreamer born and raised in the Bay Area. She holds an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a BA in Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. This is Tiffany's second year teaching in the Art4Schools program with CSMA.

"Teaching is a community-based process.  The goal of a teacher is to foster an environment where students acquire new ways of listening, seeing, and knowing in a manner that inspires creativity."

Sculze, Judy