Annapolis Artist Inspires Montessori Students

Students at Montessori International Children's House enjoyed the talents of Rob Levit, an Annapolis-based artist and musician who served as the school's artist in residence during the month of October.

Levit, a guitarist and leader of the Rob Levit Trio, is also a painter and writer who is "active in infusing creativity and leadership into schools, communities and the workplace," according to a release from the school. The artist in resident program promotes the students' use of imagination in keeping with the curriculum at Montessori International that integrates learning from all the senses.

According to the school, students learned the following under Levit's leadership:

• Students in primary classes (ages 4 1/2 to 6 years) explored the interplay between music and motion using call–and-response singing, scat singing (vocal jazz improvisation), moving like a butterfly and creating musical patterns from colored blocks.
• Lower elementary students (grades one to three) used Phillip Glass’ "Metamorphosis of a Butterfly" as the inspiration for song, dance development, creating mobiles and writing haikus. 
• The interplay of Brahms’ "Variations on a Theme" by Hayden and the artworks of Kandinsky was the basis for upper elementary students (grades four to six) to design original movement pieces constructed on patterns that reflected the tone and tenor of the music.