Deric Dickens MA ’22

Brooklyn Improvised Art School LLC is an arts organization that specializes in creative music and arts through education and performance for communities that are in need. These schools and communities have typically been neglected by arts organizations and have slowly become arts deserts, such as the Crown Heights and Brownsville areas of Brooklyn. The school offers in-person instrumental lessons, ensemble lessons, and provides performance opportunities for the students.

Brooklyn Improvised Art School works with schools to provide high quality arts education to grades K-12. Less than 50% of NYC DOE schools have certified in school or after school arts educators. By bringing creative arts education to underserved neighborhoods and schools, the school plans to become a creative instigator in the community. The arts programs consist of band, music classes, private lessons, or special programs curated with teachers, administrators, or PTA groups. They range from 2- to 30-week programs, in-school, after-school, or a combination of the two.

The old way of education where the novice student learns from the professional teacher is a thing of the past. Brooklyn Improvised Art School emphasizes inspiring the student and collaborating as a group to help students freely think and come up with creative problem solving ways to approach music and group dynamics. This type of education can help level the playing field among young students, particularly those with learning difficulties.

The curriculum uses creativity and imagination to increase the development of essential skills, as well as enhance flexibility, adaptability, productivity, responsibility and innovation. Brooklyn Improvised Art School uses world music as a way to teach cultural awareness,  which helps to create a vibrant musical culture in communities around the borough.