R.H.Y.T.H.M. Project

Reaching Hearts of Youth Through Homegrown Music

Vision

Celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity without othering
Build community
Explore rhythms in language and in music
Engage children and adults together in artistic expression

Doers

This project, spearheaded by Janet Cowal and Kim Heron, Atkinson music teacher, was a collaboration between Portland State University faculty, Applied Linguistics students, Atkinson Elementary School students and bilingual educational assistants Cecily, Choo Fen, Eva, Ms. Pham, Rose, Yvonne. Special thanks to Brad (piano) and John (sax) on the jazz version of Happy Family, and to Lexi, who made this project possible with outstanding grit and creative recording, editing, mixing, and production expertise.

Process

Atkinson Elementary School students performed original and traditional songs in Chinese, Vietnamese and Spanish, which was made into a CD.

Students and faculty of PSU’s Department of Applied Linguistics provided the musical arrangements and accompaniment, did the recording and editing, and designed the CD packaging.