As a young person, I was captivated by the songwriting process. Musical jams with other kids were exuberant experiences. I wrote songs to help me absorb classroom learning and to express my feelings about the world around me. Creative time was focused and playful, challenging and collaborative. Today, we have a new understanding of brain function; we know that musical and creative processes ARE profound for learning, communication, and interpersonal connection. Sharing the foundations of musical collaboration with people of all ages and abilities - including self-professed non-musicians - continues to bring me profound satisfaction and joy.
About the Artist
Musician, Performing-Songwriter and Master Teaching Artist Sue Trainor has a gift for stirring up other folks' enthusiasm and creativity. Since the mid-1990s, she has offered arts-integrated educational programs in Maryland, nationally, and internationally. Currently, through the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Sue designs classroom residency lessons to meet the needs of individual teachers, and she offers in-service programs for schools, workshops and keynotes for education conferences, and training in art-integrated program planning for teaching artists.Sue Trainor website Sue Trainor's Home Page Sue Trainor website Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts Sue Trainor website Young Audiences of Maryland
Artist's Statement
Professional Development for Educators Through the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Sue has offered professional development for educators since 2003. Sue designs classroom residency lessons to meet the needs of individual teachers, and she offers in-service programs for schools as well as workshops and keynotes for education conferences. Sue's Wolf Trap work has taken her across the U.S. mainland as well as to Hawaii, Hong Kong and Singapore. Since 2002, Sue has rotated through the staffs of the Maryland Artist/Teacher Institute (MATI) and the various Maryland county ATI programs, most recently, PGATI (Prince George’s County) 2020. Sue was honored to serve as Arts Integration Specialist for a Harford County, MD Title 1 school from 2013-2015. As a performing artist, Sue recorded and toured solo and with the vocal trio Hot Soup until 2019. Professional Development for Teaching Artists From 2008-2018, Sue was the Master Teaching Artist for Music on the staff of Maryland's Teaching Artist Institute (TAI), which offers training for artists interested in becoming classroom teaching artists. Since 2005, Wolf Trap has invited Sue to train Teaching Artists to deliver professional development to early childhood educators. Sue also served as Master Teacher on the staff of Maryland's Very Special Arts retreats 2003-2006. Since retiring from TAI, Sue has continued to coach Teaching Artists on the roster of Young Audiences of Maryland and on her own. Awards Sue was Young Audiences of Maryland’s Artist of the Year in 2014. At that time, in addition to the Early Childhood work, Sue also was busy offering songwriting residencies in in Maryland schools through YAMD. Among her regular visits was the Baer School in Baltimore, which serves children with severe multiple disabilities. Award video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpiUPvgG7jE&t=1s "Beautiful Surprises" - Video about the Baer School work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upq6sp-HmDo&t=48s Sue’s children's recordings, “In Our Own Words” and "Under Tables, Out Back Doors," earned multiple local and national awards, and her recordings for adults with her trio HOT SOUP have been played on acoustic music radio shows across North America and abroad. Affiliations Sue is Co-Founder and President of Teaching Artists of the Mid-Atlantic (TAMA), an organization created in 2017 to support and empower Teaching Artists in the region. Arts Education in Maryland Schools Americans for the Arts NAEYCBooking
For pricing, programs and scheduling information, please contact:
• For programs in Montgomery County and Prince George's County:
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts:
Call: 1.800.404.8461 * 703.255.1933
Email: education@wolftrap.org
Website: Education.WolfTrap.org
• For programs in all other MD counties:
Young Audiences of Maryland
Call: 410.837.7577
Email: info@yamd.org
Website: yamd.org
Available to travel statewide (post-Covid)
Contact Sue for current references.
“It has been a great delight to be with my class in your 30-minute lessons this week. I appreciate the thought, planning, and creativity which clearly went into the development of each lesson.... * All were made to feel at ease *Great student & teacher involvement *Orderly *Professional *Joyful *Enthusiastic *Kind *Caring *Helpful *Good explanations of activity purpose *Giving * Thank you for all you have given my class. Thank you for the nifty slide whistle - I am using it. Thank you for giving me an educational "booster shot." Hopefully, you can return to St. John's Preschool in the future. ” - V.B., Wytheville, VA
“We want to thank you so much for a great, music-filled week! We along with our children have truly learned a lot from you. We are happy to have met you and because of your expertise our practice has been strengthened and expanded with new arts integration techniques! Thank you.” - Johnson School of Excellence Primary Team, Chicago
“The workshop evaluations were outstanding. With over 50 participants representing childcare providers, librarians, parents, and trainers, your ability to connect with such a diverse audience was really impressive… You managed to connect theory and practice in a way that all of the participants will be able to use in their individual settings.” Howard County Office of Children’s Services