Educational Outreach Programs & Residencies
“Daniel’s school time performance was fantastic! He had a group of about 350 pre-K through 3rd grade students laughing, singing, and dancing. The kids were focused for the full 45-minute performance. Because his show interspersed storytelling, music, and comedy, classroom teachers had ample opportunity and material to link components of the show to lessons in their classrooms.”
Shakespeare in Jazz - Student Performances
This highly interactive performance can be adapted for grades K-12 and offers several curriculum tie-ins in English, History, Creative Writing and Drama.
Workshops are available for both teachers and students.
Jazz & Poetry Residency
Award-winning composer, performer, and educator Daniel Kelly brings a dynamic, curriculum-aligned arts residency that blends music, poetry, and student creativity into one powerful learning experience. Students will engage with a wide range of poetry—from Shakespeare to contemporary voices—exploring themes, language, and rhythm. They’ll write their own original poems and set them to music, collaboratively composing jazz-inspired songs with Daniel. Guided by Daniel’s signature blend of musical mastery and engaging instruction, the residency fosters confidence, creative expression, and teamwork.
Ideal for schools, cultural institutions, and education partners, this residency culminates in a celebratory performance showcasing student-created poems and songs. It’s a vibrant, standards-supportive experience that deepens appreciation for both literature and music while actively engaging students in the creative process.
Program Benefits:
- Aligns with ELA and music learning standards
- Promotes student voice, collaboration, and confidence
- Adaptable for a range of school settings and schedules
- Culminates in a high-energy, community-engaging performance
For arts organizations seeking impactful, interdisciplinary programming that connects with students on multiple levels, Daniel Kelly’s Jazz & Poetry residency delivers measurable outcomes and unforgettable experiences.
“The feedback from teachers was that students were mesmerized and would be talking about the show for weeks to come! Daniel was so personable and a joy to work with!”
— Molly Campbell, Arts Education Coordinator, Alhambra Theatre, Hopkinsville, KY
People’s Pulse: A Music and Storytelling Project
Bring award-winning composer, pianist and community engagement artist Daniel Kelly to your venue for an unforgettable residency that blends oral history, music, and student creativity. Based on his acclaimed Rakonto series - now titled People’s Pulse: A Music and Storytelling Project - these workshops empower young people to become storytellers, musicians, and documentarians of their communities. Students learn the fundamentals of interviewing, active listening, and ethical storytelling, then transform authentic voices into original spoken-word and musical performances. With Kelly’s masterful guidance, your venue becomes a space where everyday voices are elevated and celebrated, leaving audiences inspired and deeply connected. Ideal for school and community partnerships, as well as family engagement initiatives. Daniel offers these residences for various age groups, tailored to the specific needs of the venue or community. He brings not just musical artistry, but a community‑centered methodology and over 20 years of experience in working with schools and students.
One-day, three-day, five-day or multi-week residencies for grades 6–8, 9-12, college & communities.
"A triumph! The effects of Daniel Kelly's residency & culminating concert are still being felt throughout the community."
— Pam Weisberg, Director of Programming, Catskill Mountain Foundation-Doctorow Center for the Arts
“I think that everybody left the performance having the sense that they were much bigger than just themselves - that they were part of a community. It gave them the sense that they were neighbors.”
— Ellen Kodadek, Executive Director, Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts
Student Songwriting Residency
For ALL Students (not only musicians). Grades 4-12
This participatory residency offers students an in-depth, interactive experience of how music can convey emotions, tell stories, be a teaching tool to remember information, make deeper impressions of subject material by engaging students’ emotions and creative thought, all while offering an opportunity for personal expression, emotional literacy and curriculum integration.
Songs topics can be tied into topics the students are currently learning in class as well as curriculum subjects such as of writing, history, science and social studies. In this residency, students integrate these topics into lyrics, then hear their lyrics transformed into songs performed by professional musicians – right before their eyes in the classroom!
The students are deeply involved with the creation of music right in their classroom - adding input about how they imagine their song should sound: telling the band what they feel should be the mood, tempo and style of the piece.
In addition to hearing the ensemble's vocalist sing their words, they will have the opportunity to recite their lyrics & poetry with the ensemble in the classroom and at a culminating performance.
“For students to have the opportunity to develop lyrics that then are taken by adult professional musicians and transformed into something larger and greater - it’s really the incredible part of the extraordinariness of this project.”
BLIND VISIONARIES WORKSHOPS
How to conduct an interview: Daniel shows participants how to prepare for and record an audio interview using the StoryCorps app on their smartphone. He will discuss interview technique and how to listen with empathy.
Create a “light painting” photo: Participants will work with members of the Seeing with Photography Collective to conceive, stage and create their own light painting photograph.
Creating and scoring music to photo montages: Daniel will demonstrate how he created the photo montages and explore the chemistry between image and music. Music students will have an opportunity to improvise music to images onscreen.
Improvising with the Elements of Music: Daniel will explore improvisation with student musicians as they use pieces they are familiar with as a jumping off point to create their own spontaneous compositions.
Conversation with blind photographer: Participants will have an informal discussion with member(s) of the Seeing with Photography Collective about their experiences with blindness and what making photos means to them.
