Quality music programs are essential
Education Week, November 25, 2013 in an article called Music Training Sharpens Brain Pathway Studies Say, writer Sarah D. Sparks provides an overview of the new research suggesting that the “complexity involved in practicing and performing music may help students’ cognitive development.” Now that is information that I am sure Maine music teaches are aware of and observe it day – to – day teaching students music.
Read the entire article by clicking here.
Educators taking a stand
We know that creativity is essential in the 21st century and especially the workspace. I am beginning to believe if only people were more creative that we wouldn’t have the numerous problems that exist.
This article Educators combat “creativity crisis” in art instruction written by Ilana Kowarski certainly supports this notion. Published in (DA) District Administration, it is a terrific article that I recommend everyone read, take notes on, and incorporate into your “elevator speech”. That would be what you want to make sure you include when you are having a conversation with someone that you are trying to educate about how essential the arts are to a basic education for every student.
Please click here for the article.
Save the Date – July 29, 30, 31, 2014
A blog called MUSEUM
A colleague sent a link to a blog post this morning called Art Brings People Together: Measuring the Power of Social Bridging. It is from a blog called MUSEUM and is located at http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2013/10/art-brings-people-together-measuring.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+museumtwo+%28Museum+2.0%29. I know you might be thinking what a LONGGGGGGG link. Thank goodness for ‘links’, huh?
Anyway, I found the post (and blog) interesting, providing ‘food for thought’ about the power of the Arts. The post starts out with info on research conducted by Stanford professors and provide links to their study called Enacting Cultural Interests
How Intergroup Contact Reduces Prejudice by Sparking Interest in an Out-Group’s Culture. Of course, when I read blogs, reports, and/or research I immediately jump to the questions: What can I learn from this information? and, How do I apply this to the work we are doing in Maine Arts education?
I think about our diverse population in Maine and the learning environments that exist in each school and community partially because of the make-up of our student population. I suggest that you read the post and see what you think about the information and how it applies to your classroom learning environment.
Research linking arts and STEM
Artsy Kids More Likely to be the Next Edison published in Laboratory Equipment by Michigan State University, October 24, 2013. Research at Michigan State University links “childhood participation in arts and crafts activities to patents generated and businesses launched as adults”. You might be thinking as I did, that the research referred to pre-school or elementary age children. In fact, the researchers defined childhood as up to 14 years old. The students included in the study were honors graduates who had majored in science, technology, engineering, or math. You can read the entire article by clicking here.
Phenomenon
There are studies linking music to academic achievement but in this New York Times article written by Joanne Lipman called Is Music the Key to Success? published October 12, 2013, she makes the case for the correlation between serious music training and and success in other fields. We talk about how the arts prepare students with 21st century skills; collaboration, problem solving, the ability to listen and focus. Lipman claims that it is a way of thinking and these similarities are found in people like Alan Greespan who trainined as a professional clarinet and saxophone player and billionaire Bruce Kovner and Condoleezza Rice who served as the Secretary of State.
The article includes statements supporting the power of music training by multiple successful individuals. A quote by NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd (French horn) who attended college on music scholarships:
Mr. Todd says there is a connection between years of practice and competition and what he calls the “drive for perfection.” The veteran advertising executive Steve Hayden credits his background as a cellist for his most famous work, the Apple “1984” commercial depicting rebellion against a dictator. “I was thinking of Stravinsky when I came up with that idea,” he says. He adds that his cello performance background helps him work collaboratively: “Ensemble playing trains you, quite literally, to play well with others, to know when to solo and when to follow.”
To read the entire article please click here http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/opinion/sunday/is-music-the-key-to-success.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&.
Research
Researchers set out to learn if visiting a museum impacted students learning. The research revealed that museum visits are worthwhile.
“Those outcomes include improvements in students’ knowledge of and ability to think critically about art, a stronger display of “historical empathy,” greater tolerance for differing views, and interest in repeating the experience of attending such a cultural institution, according to the study by researchers at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.”
You can read the blog post that includes a link to the findings, at the Curriculum Matters blog, post written by Erik Robelen on September 16, 2013 and can be found at http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2013/09/field_trip_to_art_museum_offer.html?cmp=ENL-CM-NEWS2.
Maine Arts Educators will get first-hand info on the National Core Arts Standards
We fortunate that Lynn Tuttle from the Department of Education in Arizona is traveling to Maine for the statewide biennial arts education conference! Lynn’s session is titled Maine and the National Core Arts Standards.
The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards is a group committed to the development of the next generation of arts education standards. Maine educators have reviewed drafts of the PreK-8 standards and have provided feedback to the writing teams. Presently the draft of the high school standards are being reviewed by the public. You have until October 21 to do so. The draft is located at http://nccas.wikispaces.com/.
Lynn Tuttle, one of the national leaders coordinating the revision of the National Standards in the Arts, will present the context and history behind the revision as well as describe the process of revising the standards. The goal of the presentation and discussion is to provide the Maine arts education community with an overview of the context and purpose of the standards as well as an opportunity to have questions answered about the current NCAS draft.
Lynn will also do a follow-up workshop for those who wish to continue the discussion from the opening session called More on the National Core Arts Standards. And the description: Want to know more about the National Core Arts Standards? Wondering how the proposed standards may influence and support high quality teaching and learning in the arts? If so, this follow-up session with the presenter Lynn Tuttle, Director of Arts Education, Arizona Department of Education, facilitated by Bronwyn Sale, Lecturer in Education at Bates College, will provide the opportunity for participants to ask questions in an interactive discussion format.
Along with the opening session there are over 30 workshops to select from to attend during the day.
You can register for the conference at https://tickets.collinscenterforthearts.org/. The $80 registration cost includes lunch. PLEASE NOTE: No purchase orders will be accepted.
You can learn about the workshops being offered at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/conference-education-workshops or Friday’s blog post.
If you have questions please email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
October 24, 2013, UMaine, Orono, Collins Center for the Performing Arts
After last weeks “dry-run” for the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative Teacher Leaders to present their workshops for each other and an invited group of “critical friends” at USM, I got to thinking about how fortunate we are in Maine. Not only are Arts educators willing to share their teaching practices but they are sharing formally at the statewide conference Arts Education: Leading the Way.
Teacher leaders and critical friends at USM for dry-run of workshops that will be included in the statewide Arts Education: Leading the Way conference being held October 24, 2013, UMaine
I am excited that the conference will be held on the UMaine campus, Orono, Collins Center for the Performing Arts. Our last conferences were very exciting. In 2007 it was held at the Samoset in Rockport, 2009 at Point Lookout in Northport, 2011 at USM, Portland campus, and this year we travel a little farther north to the University’s flagship campus. Each year the workshop offerings have become more varied and go deeper into teaching and learning. You can read the topics and short descriptions of the 35 workshops being offered by downloading the .pdf of the workshops at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/conference-education-workshops. You can even see photos of the workshop presenters.
In addition to the 35 workshops being offered during three sessions the Opening Session will include performances by the UMaine Symphonic band, a welcome from the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Jeff Hecker, and an informative presentation by Lynn Tuttle, the Director of Arts Education at the Arizona Department of Education. Lynn has been leading the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and will provide a history of the national standards development. Read more about Lynn and her presentation at this link https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/Conference-Keynotes#. As many of you know the draft of the PreK-grade 8 standards was released in June for feedback. The draft of the high school standards are scheduled for release in September so we are really fortunate to have Lynn join us to share information as well as answer questions. We are fortunate to have the University Singers perform during the afternoon closing session.
The conference registration is located at . Cost for the conference which includes lunch is $75.00 until September 15 when it goes up to $80.00. (Please note: school purchase orders will not be accepted this year). In addition conference attendees receive 6 contact hours at no extra cost.
On Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 the Maine International Conference on the Arts will take place in the same location. The conference will offer keynotes, showcasing artists and over 25 workshop sessions, including workshops at the new U Maine Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center. You can read about both conferences at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/MICA-LANDING.
To register for each conference please go to https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/Conference-Register#. There are scholarships available and you will find information and details on the registration page.
I suggest that you take a few minutes and check out the information from page to page on the Maine Arts Commission site where all the details are included. I hope to see you there!
Music and Art classrooms featured
You asked for it and now you’ve got it… during this past school year the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) created 4 videos in response to “What do visual and performing arts classrooms look like in a standards-based environment?” That question came up over and over during the first phase of MAAI so we decided to incorporate the search as part of phase 2. The MAAI has continuously listened to the needs of the field and this is one of those “asks” that we responded to.
Debi Lynne Baker taught visual art for many years and most recently K-12 in Greenville. She used technology in her teaching including movie making with her students. She was the perfect person to create the first 4 videos. With hours of footage taken at each school, Debi was able to edit and come up with 4 unique videos under 20 minutes that each tell a story. What you will learn is that there is NO ONE answer to the question and you will also find that the videos provide so much more than just answers to the question!
As we consider creating more videos as part of phase 3 we’d love to hear your feedback on the videos. Please post your comment on the blog or email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov. Thanks!
See for yourself the following MAAI videos at the Maine ARTSEducation YouTube channel located at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-lElK9bBU_o96Wrg-kNbeg
You will find other arts education videos on the Maine ARTSEducation channel created by MAAI participants.
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