JAVS Summer 2025

as narrative. These experiences deepen both musical understanding and creative confidence. And just as importantly, they make the learning process more joyful and resonant. Arts integration doesn’t replace traditional instruction—it enhances it. When used intentionally, it allows students to inhabit their musicianship fully, not just with their hands and ears, but with their entire being. intimidating. The pressure to play perfectly, consistently hit the technical and musical bullseye, and “perform well” can leave many students—especially beginners— feeling hesitant or self-critical. For students who have not identified themselves as “musicians,” or who have experienced musical environments that felt exclusive or evaluative, that pressure can become a barrier. Arts integration shifts that focus from perfection to exploration. It offers students alternative avenues for engagement—ones that prioritize self-expression and process over performance. When a student sketches their feelings while listening to a viola solo, or collaborates with a dancer to explore phrasing through motion, they’re engaging with music in a way that’s inherently expressive and personal. The goal is not to get it “right,” but to communicate something meaningful. This kind of open-ended creative work allows students to reclaim ownership of their learning experience. It reduces performance anxiety and builds confidence by showing students that their ideas matter—even when they don’t perfectly align with a metronome or a rubric. That’s the power of making space for multiple modes of engagement. Students feel empowered to take risks, to express themselves more freely, and ultimately to perform with more depth and authenticity. Leadership and Ensemble Trust in Collaborative Creation In community music settings, ensembles are often made up of students with varying levels of experience, confidence, and backgrounds. Interdisciplinary projects offer a unique and equitable entry point for all students to participate meaningfully in the creative process. By removing the pressure to be the most technically Building Confidence Through Multimodal Expression Let’s be honest: learning an instrument can be

proficient player, these projects celebrate the diverse contributions of every ensemble member.

Collaborative art-making nurtures essential ensemble skills: active listening, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. Whether a student is composing an atmospheric soundscape to accompany a peer’s spoken word piece or designing projections for a group performance, their role is vital to the final product. These settings demand real-time decision-making, creative compromise, and trust. Imagine a group of students developing a performance that blends live viola improvisation with personal storytelling and projected visual media. The students negotiate their ideas, delegate tasks, and rehearse with an eye toward narrative flow and cohesion. Through this process, traditional roles dissolve and leadership becomes fluid. A quiet student might become the visionary behind the visual elements; another may emerge as the coordinator, keeping everyone organized and focused. Moments like these underscore the power of interdisciplinary projects to unlock leadership potential and foster a sense of ensemble ownership. When students feel seen and valued for their unique strengths, they step up—not just as players, but as co-creator Finding and Owning Your Voice Ask any musician what they’re striving for, and eventually you will hear the phrase “finding my voice.” But what does that really mean, especially for younger players? Arts integration can be a powerful way to explore this idea. Students might write a story or journal entry about a personal experience and then compose or improvise a viola soundtrack to accompany it. They might create a soundscape of their neighborhood and use it as the basis for a group improvisation. These projects give students a chance to express who they are and what matters to them—in their own way. For many, this can be transformational. It sends a clear message: your experience is valid, your creativity matters, and your story deserves to be heard.

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Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 41, Summer 2025 Online Issue