October is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM); it’s a month-long, nationwide celebration centering the impact of the arts and the humanities in our lives and in our communities. It’s also a great time to celebrate and reflect on the artists who help to bring us close together through their arts, their teaching, and their learnings.

And that’s why we’re excited to introduce Teaching Artists Training Institute’s Cohort VI! 

Cohort VI is made up of musicians, educators, artists, community builders, and impact community members. For the next nine months, they’re diving into a transformative journey of professional growth together.

We’re welcoming 58 exceptional Teaching Artists to TATI’s sixth Lab Cohort. They represent the heartbeat of community music and El Sistema-inspired programs, and this year’s cohort brings together a stunning cross-section of the field:

• 33 organizations
• 21 states and provinces
• 13 different instruments and 21 unique teaching subjects
• 243+ combined years of teaching experience

From strings and brass to early childhood music, choir, percussion, and music production, this group brings an incredible breadth of perspectives into one national learning community.

To learn more and to meet Cohort VI’s members, check out our Cohort page.

A Dynamic Rhythm of Growth

Over the next nine months, these educators won’t just be talking about pedagogy—they will live it. Through TATI’s signature month-to-month framework, Cohort VI members will engage in a continuous cycle of learning, application, and reflection:

• Expert-Led Lab Lectures: Learning directly from nationally recognized faculty and field experts around core areas like Planning and Preparation, Instruction and Support, and Cultural Equity and Inclusion.
• Real-Time Classroom Application: Taking new strategies straight from the virtual workshop and testing them out live in their home programs, complete with peer and supervisor observations.
• Peer Discussion & Video Labs: Gathering in small groups led by TATI alumni to analyze monthly teaching videos, troubleshoot challenges, and share critical, constructive feedback.
• Regional & Retreat Immersion: Connecting face-to-face through regional practicums and immersive community-building.

Grounded in Shared Values

What makes this community truly special is a collective dedication to music not just as an art form, but as a powerful vehicle for social change, equity, and belonging. By learning alongside peers from far beyond their local organizations, these educators are challenging their thinking, refining their group-instruction craft, and building a network of support that will last long after the nine months are through.

We can’t wait to see what happens when all of that experience, curiosity, and passion converges.