GOOD WORKS
Teaching With Music

Kathy Wade, a professional jazz singer and arts administrator in Cincinnati, is helping young people master the three R's--reading, writing and rhythm.

She is cofounder and executive/artistic director of Learning Through Art (LTA), a nonprofit performing arts organization that presents educational programs and workshops to schools, businesses and community groups.  As part of LTA's in-school training program, Wade uses live musical performance and storytelling to teach students about music history, the role music plays in various cultures and how elements such as phonics, timing and rhythm relate to basic literacy and math skills.  In the process, students also learn about respect, self-reliance and setting goals.

The mission of LTA, however, is not only to educate young people but also to "prepare tomorrow's arts audiences today," says Wade.   In particular, she seeks to cultivate an audience of jazz, which she calls America's classical music.  In fact, LTA grew out of a program Wade created nearly 20 years ago called Black Anthology of Music (BAM).  The program explores the historical origins of jazz and its influence on current music styles.  Since Wade first presented IBM, more than 300,000 young people have made the musical journey from African rhythms to today's hip-hop beats.

LTA's programs also include Rhythms...Common Bonds, which illustrates how the arts are used universally to instill the message of respect; Books Alive!, a literacy program for children in preschool through third grade; and the annual summer concert series, The 'Hood Is Bigger Than You Think, which features international musicians and female jazz artists.

Funding from several major corporations and foundations helps cover the cost of program development, part-time administrative help and supplies.

For more information, call (800) 373-8114, ext. 1955.

--DERRYALE BARNES