Behind the Scenes with Ms. Alesha
It’s time to take another look behind the scenes! Alesha Brown (Ms. Alesha) teaches Family Involvement classes through our Out of School Activities Program, including Baby Artsplay! for ages 0-3 and Detroit Wolf Trap for ages 4-6. She also leads workshops for caregivers through the Brightmoor Quality Initiative.
What does your at-home setup look like to teach your Living Arts Classes?
For my setup, I use a large ring light I bought off of Amazon, my Mac Air laptop OR iPhone with zoom app, my gathering drum, my voice, and my body. I am always prepared to use any and every item that exists in my home that makes music for sound exploration or ensembles some type of character or prop that can have personality. With my virtual setup, I teach Baby Arts Play and Family Involvement Classes live through zoom. I also record on-demand content for Brightmoor Quality Initiative provider’s self-care, child-centered experiences, and family engagement experiences.
My first steps are always to ensure:
The iPhone or laptop is charged because it's my camera for the class or recorded experience.
I am crispy clear in the angle (which has a lot to do with lighting)
The lighting is not too bright or too dark (having an adjustable ring light with a nice spectrum of lighting shades and strengths is helpful here)
I am using as much natural light as possible through windows by opening curtains or blinds.
I have all props and/or instruments I could potentially use nearby OR I am prepared to sing/chant a transition very loudly so that they still have an experience while I go grab whatever I need to grab.
My lesson plan is very loose and flexible/adaptable enough to make a change based on their engagement or lack thereof
How has your setup evolved since you first began teaching virtually?
When I first started, it was just a small ring light, a small tabletop tripod, and my android phone. I ended up getting an iPhone as a work phone for my entrepreneurship needs, and the camera is better. It also syncs up nicely with my mac laptop for easy transfer of files. I also bought the larger ring light that has the holsters for a phone and a larger tablet.
What are your hopes for the next 12 months with Living Arts?
My hope is to get three different setups as I have different environments for different parts of my career. It is somewhat frustrating having to do all of those things in the same space and create variety instead of just going to different rooms that are always set up for the different programs and clientele.
I also hope to create a transition into holding space for our Living Arts Families with a focus on community care through the arts. We are all transitioning into a new normal and as Living Arts empowers our youth, we also want to empower our families.
