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Jason Santo
Jason Santo is the General Music and Chorus Director at the Henry Barnard Elementary School on the campus of Rhode Island College. He is a RIC Music Education alumni from the class of 2002, who holds an Associates from CCRI, Bachelors from RIC, and a Masters in Music Composition from VT College of Fine Arts. His other work experiences include Elementary General Music in the Bristol Warren Regional School district (11 years) and private guitar, bass, ukulele and ensemble instruction at Roberts Music (20 years). He is also a performing musician whose CD releases include "Espiria" (2002 Classical Guitar), "Crimson Sky" (2009 Progressive Metal), and "Fusion" (projected 2020 Jazz Fusion). His current research focus includes Jazz / Classical composition and Music Education in Early Childhood. His classroom is a high energy environment with a focus on all aspects of music and movement. Children learn folk songs and dancing from different cultures, as well as learn to play instruments such as drums, guitar, ukulele, xylophone, and recorder. Each year he strives to collaborate with many of the classroom and specialist teachers at Henry Barnard to work on student projects. Some of his collaborative work in the past has included electric guitar building, recycled material instrument building, 3D instrument printing, cross cultural folk dances and movement, music and artwork from Africa and Spain, poetry, composition, and more. He believes in children having a whole body and mind musical experience where their knowledge is expanded and enhanced through diverse music lessons. His classes perform multiple times a year in school and in the community.