Teaching Artists

What is Opening Minds through the Arts (OMA)?

 Opening Minds through the Arts (OMA) is a nationally recognized, research-based program that integrates the arts into reading, writing, math and science lessons in elementary and middle schools.

Opening Minds through the Arts (OMA) is a nationally recognized, research-based program that integrates the arts into reading, writing, math and science lessons in elementary and middle schools.

OMA has become a leader in a national movement to integrate arts education into the core curriculum, with more than 19,000 students, 700 teachers and 53 professional artists in 38 schools in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) participating.

OMA prepares our students for the future through the application and integration of 21st century skills developments, i.e. imagination, creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, collaboration, resilency, communication, etc.

What grade levels do Teaching Artists work with in OMA?

The OMA model, based on the neurological development of children, focuses on specific art forms each year elementary and middle school as follows:

The OMA model, based on the neurological development of children, focuses on specific art forms each year elementary and middle school as follows:

• Kindergarten - instrumental musicians
• First Grade - opera vocalists and accompanist
• Second Grade - one movement artist
• Sixth Grade - instrumental musicians
• Seventh Grade -  one movement artist/one theater artist
• Eighth Grade - one visual artist

What qualifications do I need to become an OMA Teaching Artist?

Instrumental artists:

• Bachelor's degree in Music Education or Music Performance
• Passion for working with kindergarten or middle school aged children or experience teaching music in a classroom setting

Opera artists:

• Bachelor's degree in Music
• Passion for working with first grade students or experience teaching music in a classroom setting