[Mpls] Arts & Music

Wed Sep 15 22:42:43 CDT 2004

And what area of research is that Michael? 

Obviously you have not researched the benefit of the arts in education. If you had you would have found out that over the past 6 years there has been extensive reseach in relation to arts and learning. And this is MY area of research since, as an arts administrator, I am constantly writing grant proposals to this end in relation to arts and learning.  

You're missing the point as to what the arts have to offer - you are assuming that there are specific parallel and direct correlations between arts and learning in relation to other subjects such as math. There are some direct correlations, but much more significant are the correlations that are indirect. And yes it is about brain development - ways of learning, creating cognition in young brains, social skills, small motor skills, higher critical thinking skills, etc. Students, (including poor and at risk students) have been shown to improve in other subjects when exposed to the arts.

There are many ways that the arts can make a difference. Our organization does artist residencies-in-the-schools. Last year we worked with Philips Community School which is predominantly Latino. The residency, for K and 1st grade, was learning basic math skills through movement. Other components for the older students were about family, community, connectedness, cooperative learning, and cultural awareness. The culmination was a school community Cinco de Mayo celebration. This school wide arts residency brought the largest parental turnout of the whole school year - a whopping 3/4 the school population had parents show up for the celebration - for this school that was amazing. The students danced, sang, and proudly showed pinatas and artwork they created for this occasion. The school saw this as huge, where parental involvement is also the key to educational success. 

Our organization also teaches art starting at age one - that's right 12 months old. I'll bet you anything, that if you actually tracked these students that keep on coming back - when they hit school they'll have higher academic ability than other students without arts exposure. 

This does not mean that one has to be an artist when they grow up. - this argument about the number of people in the arts, jobs, incomes ... blah, blah, blah have nothing to do with being exposed to and experiencing the arts. I am thrilled that the first thing a school would show is their arts program. This lets me know that these educators totally get the full breath of education and the fact that exposing children to the arts benefit them in ways that you could never imagine. 

Looks like you guys missed out growing up - I'm so sorry for you. It is so sad when people are not exposed to the arts at a young age - they miss out on so much of what life, and education, have to offer...

If you don't trust what I have to say check out some of the following links:

Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Social and Academic Development  James Catterall
The results of numerous studies on the arts in education further cement the importance of the arts.
http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/catterall.htm

Champion for Change Report:
http://aep-arts.org/PDF%20Files/ChampsReport.pdf 

Research on the Value of Arts in Education and Arts in Public Policy 
... The Value of Arts Education Programs. Arts Education Research References. ... Arts in Education Research Studies - Arts Education Partnership ...
http://www.artslynx.org/heal/rsrch.htm

Perpich Center for Arts Education  (in the Twin Cities)
Perpich Center for Arts Education. Arts High School • Professional Development • Research • Library. "innovative public education, centered in the arts". ...
http://www.mcae.k12.mn.us

NEA: Publications: Arts Learning 
... descriptions of our arts learning grants, partnerships, and programs; a thumbnail history of the Endowment's involvement in arts education research; a section ...
http://www.arts.gov:591/pub/artslearning.html

The 40 Developmental Assets    
... Search Institute's 40 developmental assets are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. ...
http://www.search-institute.org/assets

I could go on and there are tons more links but I figured this is a start. I suggest doing your homework before jumping to conclusions about topics that are foreign to you... 

Liz Greenbaum
Longfellow 

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: mpls-bounces at mnforum.org 
>> [mailto:mpls-bounces at mnforum.org] On Behalf Of Andy Driscoll
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 8:41 PM
>> To: Minneapolis Issues
>> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Arts & Music
>> 
>> 
>> This is one truly lost cause. The view is not worth confronting.
>> 
>> Andy Driscoll
>> St. Paul 
>> 
>> on 9/15/04 7:22 PM, Michael Atherton wrote:
>> 
>> > 
>> > David Brauer wrote:
>> > 
>> >> Because there's more to life than standardized tests - such as
>> >> music and art.
>> > 

>> > and WizardMarks wrote:
>> > 
>> >> The reason kids are given music and art opportunities in schools
>> >> ties directly with how the brain develops. Art develops 
>> hand/eye/mind
>> >> connections. Music is important to mathematical brain 
>> development. It
>> >> cannot be optional, no matter the circumstances of each 
>> particular child
>> >> vis-a-vis the language school is taught in. It's probably 
>> more important
>> >> to those for whom English is a second language.
>> > 
>> > Well great here we are in an area that I actually happen to know
>> > a little something about, it just happens to be my area of research.
>> > Music and art don't tie more directly to how the brain develops than
>> > any other type of specialized perceptual or motor activity (and I'll
>> > be able to refute any reference you come up with). Music 
>> has some very
>> > indirect effects on mathematical ability, but it is certainly not
>> > *important* mathematical brain development (whatever the heck
>> > mathematical brain development is). If you want children to perform
>> > well on musical activities teach them music.  If you want 
>> to perform well
>> > on mathematical activities teach them math.
>> > 
>> > My wife and I are continually astounded by the overemphasis on arts
>> > and music in Minneapolis.  It seems like living on the Prairie has
>> > instilled a cultural sense of insecurity in mid-westerners.  Go on
>> > a tour of a public school in Minneapolis the first thing they
>> > show you is their art, music, and theater classes.  Ask them where
>> > there math lab is and they'll stare at you blankly.  One of the
>> > most amusing features of this insecurity is that people somehow
>> > have developed the belief that creativity is somehow intrinsically
>> > related to the Arts, i.e. that if you teach children art you
>> > are teaching them to be creative. Pretty silly, no?
>> > 
>> > Michael Atherton
>> > Prospect Park
>> > 
>> > 
>> > REMINDERS:
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>> > mplslist at tcq.net before continuing it on the list.
>> > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
>> > 
>> > For state and national discussions see: 
>> http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
>> > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
>> > ________________________________
>> > 
>> > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion 
>> - Mn E-Democracy
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>> > 
>> 
>> REMINDERS:
>> 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list 
>> manager at mplslist at tcq.net before continuing it on the list. 
>> 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
>> 
>> For state and national discussions see: 
>> http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
>> For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
>> ________________________________
>> 
>> Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - 
>> Mn E-Democracy
>> Post messages to: mailto:mpls at mnforum.org
>> Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
>> 
>
>REMINDERS:
>1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at mplslist at tcq.net before continuing it on the list. 
>2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
>
>For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
>For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
>________________________________
>
>Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
>Post messages to: mailto:mpls at mnforum.org
>Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
>

-- 
Elizabeth Greenbaum
Director
ArtiCulture
www.articulture.org
612.729.5151 

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