Carlos V. Thomas is a performer with STOMP, a music educator with the New York City Department of Education, and a new teaching artist with NDI. In this blog post, he talks about his experience at the 2019 Level 1 Teaching Artist Training and how the NDI Method has enhanced his teaching.
What were your biggest takeaways from the Level 1 Teaching Artist Training Intensive?
My biggest take away was meeting a new family of teachers, artists, dancers & musicians, and learning with other trainees from around the world. Through this training, not only did we learn NDI teaching styles but, through our professional interactions, we learned and shared our own teaching styles with one another.
Above all, being able to work directly with children was at the heart of the entire two-week training. Their presence and involvement at the training was a game changer. Their participation in the program helped the trainers not only talk about the NDI pedagogy but show what it looked like while working directly with students. In turn, as trainees, we were given hands-on opportunities to practice these new skills with children present and got immediate feedback from our trainers.
How are you using the NDI Method as a dance teacher and as a music teacher?
As a dance teacher, I am using more than just one of the NDI teaching techniques. Most professionals who come to the training have tools of their own, but NDI upgrades our tool belt! One technique that has helped me gain my students’ focus before class “officially” begins is the pedagogy of “entering the room” – establishing a creative-focus outside the classroom before my students enter.
As a music teacher, I have changed the title of my class. It’s not MUSIC CLASS it’s a PERFORMING ARTS CLASS. We dance. We sing. We play instruments. We CREATE.
How has the NDI Method changed your view on education?
When I was growing up, school was all about the 3 Rs: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (ironically only one skill starts with the letter R). The arts, in particular music and dance, were seen as extra-curricular activities. NDI shows you how important it is for children to learn to sing, dance, and create. It’s more than just teaching dance or music — it is giving students food that will nourish their young souls; food that feeds our souls as educators.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about enrolling in one of our trainings?
Why wouldn’t you? Who doesn’t want to sharpen their skills? No matter how sharp those skills are NDI will help you enhance your teaching and will give you more tools to use in the classroom. Educators will not regret taking NDI’s Teaching Artist Trainings. This program not only benefits dance teachers, but any adult who works with children; even parents would benefit from this training.
Click here to see Carlos’ feature in the NDI Collaborative video.
