Artist-in-Residence Helps E-STEM Students Find Their Voice

Writing and performing an original song is a challenge that not many people undertake. But the students in Jen Cuff’s advanced choir class at E-STEM Middle School have done just that, thanks to a residency program with renowned hip-hop artist, director and producer Chadwick "Niles" Phillips.

Each of the last three school years, the 10-week residency program has brought modern music education into the classroom, a space typically reserved for traditional choir, band and orchestra instruction. “A lot of what I try to do is bring in what's relevant to kids and what is sparking their interest,” Jen said. “Having [Chadwick] be the leader got some incredible results from students. He could reach them in a different way and pull things from them to make incredible songs.” 

Jen’s students learned the components of a song, chose a genre and type beat, wrote lyrics, and practiced performing in front of each other, either individually or in small groups. At the end of the 10 weeks, they all had the opportunity to perform their original songs in a schoolwide concert in E-STEM’s auditorium. 

Untamed Voices, a trio made up of eighth graders Cora, Smiley and Christian, took it one step further and performed three original songs at the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s Midwinter Convention in February.

“Cora is the quintessential example of a student evolving from the first class to performing in front of hundreds of people,” Chadwick said. “It was amazing to see the manifestation. It just shows how far these creations can go, now she’s performing at the Convention Center and it started in Ms. Cuff’s class.”

Both Chadwick and Jen believe in the power of music education to open doors for young people, both in and beyond the arts. Jen sees her classroom as a place of belonging, as well as a training ground for problem solving, small group work, presentation and public speaking skills, and other valuable building blocks that can be applied to other parts of life.

For Chadwick, music has the power to “bring people together and reflect the potential of human beings when we experience it together.” “When a child learns those components and elements, it makes that child knowledgeable and intelligent enough about all human beings to the point that we’re all one, we’re all the same.

Chadwick “Niles” Phillips is the founder of The Avant Garde music and entertainment company that produces concerts featuring Twin Cities artists within urban genres. He has worked for BET, CBS and NYC Fashion Week, and was featured as an artist on the major label Koch Records. Chadwick is also the founder of the “Hip-Hop, History and the Arts” youth artist development program and an artist in residence for Walker West Academy. Follow him on Instagram at @theavantg.