The Artaluma Riffs. Afterschool Show Choir

SPRING 2023. THE RIFFS Show Choir Program.

For youth Grades 4-8 (age 8+) with a love of singing, dancing and performing

Duration: 12 weeks

Class time: 1 x week on Wednesdays 3:30-5:30pm (2 hours) at Artaluma

Session Dates: March 1st – May 31st (No Class – Spring Break on Wednesday March 22 and 29)

This is a skills-based “Triple Performing Arts” class.  

We will work on increasing every student’s vocal and dance skills, and develop acting techniques for singers, regardless of “talent”.

~ learn 8 songs – with solos/small group opportunities

– learn vocal technique and harmonies/etc 

– learn expanded dance technique including Jazz style, hip hop etc…

– guest Teaching Artist Tara Caprice-Broadwater will teach a 1.5 hour hip hop technique workshop

The final session will culminate with an “open class” – highlighting exercises, songs and dances for families and friends on May 31st 5:30pm. 

Tuition: $280

Generous student scholarships are available. Nobody is turned away for lack of funds. Please ask. 

MORE ABOUT THE RIFFS

The mission of The Artaluma Riffs is to provide an exciting musical program that enriches the lives of young students through show choir performance​​. ​  The Riffs promote an atmosphere of acceptance, and joy where every student is welcome regardless of talent, experience, race, or language. We are committed to empowering students through our unique ensemble based performance curriculum to shape the next generation of artists and humans.

Rehearsals for The Riffs are “ensemble based” – and consist of fun, and supportive group theater games, movement, including singing and dance exercises which provide the foundation for each weekly rehearsal session learning repertoire which will culminate in a final performance. Students that want to work on having solo singing moments, in addition to performing in the group numbers, are encouraged to be courageous and to sign up for solo opportunities.

About The Riffs Staff:

Elizabeth McKoy (Director) has been teaching and directing/choreographing young people for over 25 years.  For the past 20 years she was the Founding Artistic Director of the Award Winning Berkeley Playhouse where she developed the Riff’s curriculum and helped Oakland and Berkeley students “find their voice” by singing and dancing in a show choir environment.  In 2017 the first Riffs program launched in an Oakland elementary school (EMERSON) and was an extraordinary success bringing together the community.

Qiana Hester (Teaching Assistant ) is an amazingly talented young jazz singer, and  Marin School of the Arts recent grad

Maggie Pagan (Bilingual) Retired professional ESL educator. Volunteer.

Carolyn Wilson – Program admin. Questions? email info@artaluma.com

Families’ schedule availability and commitment is critical to the success of Riff students.  Please look carefully at the calendar and make sure your child can attend the sessions and rehearsals.   Artaluma can offer financial assistance to all families that quality.

The Riff’s program will ideally grow and populate many of the Petaluma Public Elementary and Middle Schools.  We are looking for donations and volunteers as we build this amazing program.

COVID POLICY: We are following current Sonoma County Office of Education and SoCoEmergengy public health guidelines

https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/health-orders/

https://www.scoe.org/pub/htdocs/coronavirus-health.html