THE BIG SECRET: The Arts Help Kids Learn

It’s no big SECRET that our schools are removing any and all arts programs from our children’s curriculum.

My question is: WHY?

Why is one of the most important aspects of learning being removed when it has been proven over and over that every form of art assists in the learning and development of our brains?

One of the more recent studies include the 2004 DANA Foundation study conducted at UC Santa Barbara. Cognitive Scientists from 7 Universities came together to study why arts training has been associated with higher academic performance. Their findings are astounding, but not surprising at all to me. I am including just a few of their results here.

The entire report can be found here: http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~lds/pdfs/DanaSpelke.pdf

Here are just a few of their findings:

*Specific links exist between high levels of music training and the ability to manipulate information in both working and long-term memory In children, there appear to be specific links between the practice of music and skills in geometrical representation

*Training in acting appears to lead to memory improvement through the learning of general skills for manipulating semantic information.

*Learning to dance by effective observation is closely related to learning by physical practice, both in the level of achievement and also the neural substrates that support the organization of complex actions.

Keep in mind this is only 1 study and there have been many done over the years. The overall conclusion ALWAYS being that all art forms are extremely helpful in improving almost all learning skills. Please, don’t take my word, do your own research. You will be astounded at what you find.

So, why, if the arts are so helpful in development and learning, are they being consistently removed from the education of our children? I wish I could get a school administrator to answer this question. It always seems to be about acquiring more MONEY for the schools based upon better test scores of the students. Well, my argument would be if they want more MONEY by having the students grades improve, they should be ADDING the ARTS, not taking them away.

If we cannot convince the schools to bring the arts back then I believe it is crucial to supplement our children’s learning with outside programs ~ acting, dance, music, singing, or visual art, whatever the child has an interest in even if it is small. The reason being that any type of art training is going to be beneficial to them.

At Rising Star we pride ourselves on offering the best training in musical theatre production in the San Fernando Valley for kids ages 5 - 14.

Our groups are for 5-7 year olds, Little Stars

Or, 8 - 14 year olds, RISING STAR

This Fall our Little Stars will present AN ANNIE REVUE and our Rising Stars will present INTO THE WOODS. If you have a child who would enjoy being a part of either of our groups please email, call, or go to our website for more information.

risingstarcmtt@sbcglobal.net

(818) 749-8051

http://www.risingstarmusicaltheatre.org