Download Akins Fine Arts Department

Akins Fine Arts Department
Renée Zellwegger might not have won an Academy
Award without the theater courses she took at Katy
High School.
And it’s possible that Norah Jones may have won
multiple Grammy Awards even if she hadn’t attended
choir classes at Grapevine Junior High School.
But in each of these cases, and in countless others, a
quality fine arts education in Texas public schools is at
the foundation of their success.
Fine Arts is defined in the Encarta Dictionary as
being, “any art form, for example, painting,
sculpture, architecture, drawing, or engraving, that
is considered to have purely aesthetic value”
"For our society to move forward,
for our culture to survive, fine
arts education must remain
strong. We already know that kids
who study music do better in
physics and math. Teaching the
fine arts is a rounding of the
whole development of the
student."
--- Representative Rob Eissler, House
Public Education Committee Chair
Intentions for today’s
presentation:
Who are “WE”?
Why do our students give 100% to the Fine Arts and
only 85% (or less in your class?)
How can the Fine Arts help YOU?
How can YOU help the Fine Arts?
Akins Fine Arts Department
• Who Are We?
• What courses to we offer?
• What are those courses?
Art Department
• Vivian Holland-Medina • Art 1
• Eric Cannon
• Drawing 2,3, & 4
• Verna Gumbs
• Printmaking 2,3, & 4
• Painting 2,3, & 4
• Sculpture 2
• Metals 2
• 2D & 3D Design (AP
Studio Art)
Band Department
• Tate Fincher
• Paul Crockett
• John McClain
• Marching Band
• Instrumental Ensemble
• Band 1,2,3,4 aka known
•
•
•
as Wind Ensemble;
Symphonic Band; Concert
Band
Color Guard
Jazz Band
Beginning Band
Choral Department
• David Polley
• Ladies Choir
• Men’s Choir
• Choir 1,2,3,4
Dance Department
Ally Gates
Morgan Eddy
• Diamond Dazzlers
• Sapphires
• Dance 1 (PE
•
•
Substitute)
PE (Aerobics)
Dance 2,3,4
Classical Guitar Program
• Cathy Bennett
• Guitar 1
• Guitar 2,3,4 (stacked
class)
• Austin Classical Guitar Society
Austin Classical Guitar Society
Music Theory/Piano
• David Polley – Piano
•
1,2, and AP Music
Theory
Cathy Bennett- Piano
1
• What is this class?
• We teach students
•
basic compositional
skills. (notes,
rhythms, chords;
chord analysis)
Classroom Piano
Orchestra Department
• Cathy Bennett
• Orchestra 1,2,3,4
•
•
aka: Advanced
Orchestra =
“Symphony”
Intermediate
Orchestra =
“Philharmonic”
Beginning Orchestra
Theatre Department
Maureen Siegel
Erica Vallejo
Jesus Valles (Speech &
Debate)
• Theatre 1,2,3,4
• Technical Theatre
•
1,2,3,4
Theatre Production
1,2,3,4
What do the Arts do to “pull” in the
Whole Child?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw4vqll9cAM
What are some Strategies we use to make 100% of our students
accountable?
• 1. They CHOOSE to be in our classes so, it’s not that much of a
problem for us.
• 2. We teach them “leadership” skills; analysis skills; non verbal
communication skills etc. And frankly, if they don’t give their best,
peer pressure sets in!!
• 3. They must remain academically eligible in order to perform on a
UIL or Competitive forum.
• We teach to their “soul”.
We have a whole generation of teachers and parents
who have not had the advantage of arts in their own
education.
Today, a new picture is emerging. Comprehensive,
innovative arts initiatives are taking root in a growing
number of school districts.
Many of these models are based on new findings in
brain research and cognitive development, and they
embrace a variety of approaches….
Using the arts as a learning tool (for example, musical
notes to teach fractions); incorporating arts into other
core classes (writing and performing a play about, say,
slavery); creating a school environment rich in arts and
culture (Mozart in the hallways every day hmmmm…)
http://oreil.ly/em1IS6
Why do the Arts “pull” at the
heart strings?
…….let’s see……………..
Do you see her spinning
clockwise or counterclockwise?
your
Do you see her spinning
clockwise or counterclockwise?
Counterclockwise
You typically use
the left side of
your brain more
Do you see her spinning
clockwise or counterclockwise?
Counterclockwise
You typically use
the left side of
side of
your brain more
Clockwise
You typically use
the right
your brain more
Are you more of a right brained
thinker or a left brained thinker?
•
Left Hemisphere
uses logic
•
detail oriented
•
facts rule
•
present and past
•
math and science
•
can comprehend
•
order/pattern perception
•
reality based
•
•
Right Hemisphere
•
uses feeling
•
"big picture" oriented
•
imagination rules
•
present and future
•
philosophy & religion
•
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
•
believes and appreciates
forms strategies
•
spatial perception
practical
•
risk taking
Left Brain
• The left hemisphere
recognizes elements that
occur one after the other
– controlling sequences of
behavior
• Numbers, order, routine
• Factual thinkers
• Historically serve as
accountants, lawyers,
doctors, engineers, etc…
Right Brain
• Doesn’t march single
file formation A-B-C-D
• Special talent is the
ability to interpret
things simultaneously
• Big picture thinking
• Historically serve as
artists, counselors,
designers, etc…
The concept of the WHOLE
mind
• “Two half-brains designed to work together as a smooth,
single, integrated whole in one entire complete brain. The
left hemisphere knows how to handle logic and the right
hemisphere knows about the world. Put the two together
and one gets a powerful thinking machine.”
chairs!
We must develop our students
use of their right brain abilities
because we are moving from
the information age to the
conceptual age.
Ex:
ASIA (many of jobs that we use to do – manufacturing etc are being
done by chinese, indians from India)
AUTOMATION
(factories are now being run by robot
assisted construction; assembly line etc..)
Increase the RIGHT BRAIN’S function
by developing the Six Senses
• Design
• Story
• Symphony
• Empathy
• Play
• Meaning
“These six senses
increasingly will guide our
lives and shape our
world.”
“Those who master them first
will have a huge
advantage.”
“Together these six senses
can help develop the
whole new mind this new
era demands.”
Design
• “It’s no longer sufficient
to create a product, a
service, an experience,
or a lifestyle that’s
merely functional.
Today’s it’s
economically crucial
and personally
rewarding to create
something that is also
beautiful, whimsical, or
emotionally engaging.”
Design is
utility enhanced by significance
Utility vs. significance
Car Makers have changed their
tune…
BMW now says…
“We don’t make
automobiles, we make
moving works of art
that express the
driver’s love of
quality.”
Ford now says…
“In the past, it was all
about a big V-8. Now
it’s about harmony and
balance.”
Story
Stories are easier to remember – because in
many ways, stories are how we
remember.
Stories sharpen our understanding of one
thing by showing it in the context of
something else.
We are our stories
We share our own
history through:
•
•
•
•
•
Scrapbooking
Genealogy
Movies
Family videos
Word of mouth
Symphony
Symphony is…
…the ability to put together the pieces.
…the capacity to synthesize rather than analyze.
…to see relationships between seemingly unrelated
fields.
…to detect broad patterns rather than to deliver
specific answers.
…to invent something new by combining elements
nobody else thought to pair.
Silly combination inventions…
Think BIG PICTURE!
• More and more in business, specialization and
compartmentalization is out…and being able to
see the big picture is in.
Empathy
This is the ability to imagine yourself in someone
else’s position and to intuit what that person is
feeling.
It is the ability to stand in others’ shoes, to see
with their eyes, and to feel with their hearts.
Make no mistake…
Empathy is not
sympathy.
That’s feeling bad for
someone.
Empathy is feeling
with someone
else, sensing what
it would be like to
be that person.
Play
• Play and humor can be a
cohesive force in an
organization!
• Playing games enhances the
right brain ability to solve
problems by recognizing
patterns and can be a vehicle
for self-expression and selfexploration.
Laughter!
• Laughter can decrease
•
•
•
•
stress hormones and
boost immune systems!
Positively benefits
mental function.
Conditions abdominals!
Helps move oxygen to
body tissues.
Changes perspective.
Meaning
Viktor Frankl
Jewish Psychiatrist who wrote the book entitled “Man’s Search for Meaning”
years after the loss of his wife, brother, mother, and father in the
Holocaust
“Man’s main concern is not to gain pleasure or to
avoid pain but rather to see a meaning in his
life.”
According to Daniel Pink…
Our fundamental drive,
the motivational engine that powers
human existence,
is the pursuit of meaning.
This is what the Akins Fine
Arts Department does so well.
We teach to our students “Right
Side” of the brain. We allow the
student to express, to explore…to
think of the “BIG PICTURE”
But, we need YOUR help with
something…..
Fine Arts Musical
This is where we shine!! This is the project that
EVERY department in the Fine Arts collaborates
on.
*It takes a lot of time.
*A lot of participation.
*Expectations of Actors, Singers, Musicians,
Musical Director, Musical Conductor, Pianist etc.
It costs A LOT of money!!
Why present a Fine Arts
Musical?
The Fine Arts Musical incorporates all aspects of
the arts including music, drama, visual arts, and
dance.
In addition to the pure enjoyment of being a part
of a stage production, our students benefit from
the experience of working cooperatively with
their peers and building self-esteem as they gain
important theatrical skills and musical aptitude.
Fine Arts Musical
(Think of how great it would be if YOU were
a part of it!!)
How can we make it better? We need your help!
a. Musical – Campus Support (what does that look like
specifically?)
b. Increased attendance at the musical.
**How can we fill our theater to capacity for all 4 performances of the
musical?
How can the other teachers help us with this??
c. Curricular Connections.
Critical Analysis of the musical (English Classes)
Tie in Historical Context (Social Studies) etc.
A Former Student’s
Perspective…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nClfi
nVmcOc