About

Arts Without Boundaries (AWB) is a non-profit group that is dedicated to introducing students to the arts, be they visual or performing arts. The organization works with music teachers and provides guest artist programs and mentoring programs. See below for a complete description of Arts Without Boundaries.

AWB facilitates workshops, residencies, community concerts and lessons by performing and visual artists.  Artists enlisted by the foundation are professionals committed to arts education.  The foundation acts as a clearing center with concert presenters and community groups wishing to have nationally and internationally known artists work in their schools.  Artist activities emphasize creativity and regionalism, community building, audience building (including concert decorum, how to listen, what to listen for), sound sculpture, and composition for young people.

AWB has initiated an ambitious plan to enhance artistic opportunities for Billings, Montana area students within the classroom and beyond. This initiative includes a guest artist program, after school individual and group instruction and  provides  students the opportunity to play quality music instruments.

All students with an interest in the arts are supported and  encouraged to participate. A core principal of AWB is that access to the arts  should be available to all students with an interest, not just those who can afford to participate. By providing instruction and instruments for financially challenged students, those students will remain competitive with other students and will be more likely to stay involved with a music program.

AWB in cooperation with Billings area music teachers has initiated the following programs:

Guest Artist Program:

AWB has begun a series of guest artist programs that creates opportunities for students to experience concerts and  classroom instruction by nationally recognized artists. The AWB Billings outreach program  facilitates and funds a guest artist program to bring nationally and internationally recognized artists to Billings. While quality concerts come to Billings, many families cannot afford to purchase tickets for the family to attend.  AWB concerts are funded by AWB and  complimentary to the community enabling families to share the musical experience together. There will also be performances by local students at these concerts.  In addition, guest artists will work with the students in the schools during their stay.

Mentoring  Program:

AWB, in partnership with the school music program, has begun a program in which high school music students will be matched with lower grade students offering instruction and encouragement. This program will provide quality, low cost instruction – the high school students will receive scholarships for their participation. This program will also provide a learning experience for the students instructors and a role model for the younger students. Additional instruction and oversight is provided by experienced teachers. The administration of this activity will be coordinated by the school system and funded by AWB.

After School Master Class Program:

The goal of the after school program is to augment existing school programs and to enhance the experience of students. Billings currently has many talented music teachers giving one-on-one private lessons in their specialty area. This program  is intended to place a much larger percentage of music  students in front of these teachers. In these master classes professional instructors of an instrument teach a group of students playing  similar instruments.  Students are able to discuss and play techniques specific to that instrument. Also during  these sessions,  students are divided into small mixed ensembles ranging from 5 to 15 members. The same group of professional  instructors will be working with the ensembles.  The ensembles will concentrate on tone, blend, balance, intonation, phrasing and many other concepts that are stressed in their school band or orchestra classes.  Working in a much smaller setting affords the opportunity to delve into more detail than is possible in a classroom.  Instruction is supported by AWB providing access for all music students.

Loaned instrument program:

AWB supports the importance of quality instruments for students. High quality  instruments are easier to play, sound better, and last for decades. AWB will fund the placement of quality instruments in the schools’ loaned instrument program.

Community Support  is Critical

Classroom instruction, while vital, is not sufficient by itself  – individual and small group instruction is necessary. AWB in partnership with  teachers and students will facilitate after school instruction. Access to and instruction by nationally recognized artists is a proven inspiration for students. Many families simply cannot afford private instruction for all of their children or attend concerts as a family.  By creating  access to quality  instruction and quality instruments for all students, all  students will have the opportunity to remain competitive and will be more likely to stay involved with a music program.

We need community  support – we need your support. Please get involved and make a difference.  Arts Without Boundaries Foundation is a non profit  organization.  For more information, please contact Darell Tunnicliff, Executive Director.