Time management and arts study

Sorry, I haven’t written on my blog for a month. Time management, possibly? Time is finite and there never seems to be enough time to do everything we want to. Today we have so many choices to fill our time, more so than a hundred years ago, even 20 years ago.

And this has a serious impact on the arts. I see it in our students who drop out around this time, when we begin a new semester. It isn’t always because a decision has been made that their music, dance or theatre study isn’t appropriate for them. However, often it’s a matter of time. There just isn’t time to come to class each Saturday, or practice every day, or attend weekly rehearsals.

As arts educators and administrators, we have to realize this and be proactive about this. Do we keep tight and high standards and only allow students who can spend the time that we know is needed for study in the arts in our program?

Or do we find ways to compromise and work with busy people so that arts education continues, albeit in a different, modified form?

I think like in all areas, there will be those who will make a commitment to the arts and find the time that it takes to become fully engaged in the arts. We have many students who are here daily or all day on Saturday totally engrossed in their studies.

But our challenge is with those with limited time availability. So many youngsters today have a wide interest in several areas and are talented in several different activities. This is the time for students to explore their interests and find out what is really meaningful for them. Our job is to adapt our programs to meet these deserving students. After all, isn’t it our job as teachers and administrators to make the arts accessible to all?

That’s all I have time for at the moment!
Amy

An Ideal World

I just got back from New Orleans — what a great city! (note to parents: when your child graduates and becomes a responsible citizen, make sure they choose an exciting place to find a job — like New Orleans!). New Orleans is a great city for many reasons. It reflects the best and worse traits of humanity. The vices, the incredible food, the shabbiness, the amazing music… Yes the amazing music. Sitting in the Candlelight Lounge (which you would never visit as a tourist – helps to have a resident steer you to the authentic places) a mere two days before Christmas, we were seated at a teeny table drinking cheap beer and gin and listening to about the best music you’ll ever hear. Black, white, young, old, rich, poor, were stuffed in this hole in the wall and having the best time. Talk about equality!

The Tremes Brass Band played. And boy did they play. The tone, control, style, technique, expression was right on target. Did all of these musicians graduate from a presitigious music school? Doubtful. But music IS life in New Orleans. The people grow up with it, hear it wherever they happen to be, there is always music whichever way you turn. And if you’re not playing, you’re dancing and singing. You can’t not be part of the music, because music is part of life in New Orleans.

Now why can’t those of us who are experts figure this out? This is what we should embrace and work for in our lives – music everywhere!

How important are the arts?

It was recently announced that a local arts patron and benefactor gave $85 million dollars to the Cincinnati Symphony, Opera and the Ballet. The purpose of this extraordinary gift was to enable and ensure that musician salaries would be funded and keep the arts alive via live music in the community. This is a wonderful gift to our community and such a needed boost during these challenging times, especially for struggling arts organizations.

I read a letter to the editor in yesterday’s Cincinnati Enquirer criticizing the gift. The writer suggested that the money could be better used to help house and clothe homeless and out of work people. Indeed, assisting individuals with basic needs is fundamental and absolutely critical in a civilized culture. But so are the arts. Even though just a minority of individuals routinely attend live concerts, theater or visit art museums, the arts are pervasive throughout every day life.

Take your cereal box, which is found in pretty much every person’s kitchen. The design on the cereal box required some kind of artistic thought, not unlike the process used by artists of all kinds. Listen to the commercials on television. They require the same melodic elements that a composer employs – pitch, rhythm, harmony and form. When a culture does not support the arts at the highest level, that of the professional artist, then everyone suffers. The absence of art – in every form – at the highest level will ultimately trickle down to popular culture and everyday life. And our lives will turn to a monochrome black and white existence, without the rainbow of sounds and images that warm and delight our minds and souls.

So yes, please give generously at this time of year, and whenever you can, to those in need who don’t have the good luck that we do. But also remember the arts which needs each and every one of us too!

May you have peace and joy at this special time of year.

Amy