3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Karen Schooley from New School of Performing Arts

Karen Schooley, founder of the New School of Performing Arts, tells the Patch about how she became involved in teaching and the school's upcoming performances.

Patch: What is your name, title and name of your school?

Karen: New School of Performing Arts. I chose this name because what I am offering really is something new. There are many dance schools and there are some theater schools, but the theater and music integration is something unique to my school. I tried out some different names, but I liked the simplicity of "New".

Patch: What types of classes or programs does the school offer?

Karen: My school really focuses on teaching the idea of ensemble: working together, supporting each other, gaining a consciousness of who you are and how you contribute to the whole--there is a community within each class. The programs offered include: theater, musical theater (these classes are longer and focus very much on singing in addition to acting), chorus (where we sing pop songs from the radio focusing on understanding song text and singing from the heart), and percussion ensemble (where we learn and create music on percussion instruments that will be performed with a theatrical presentation think of Blue Man Group, or Stomp, we are working towards these sorts of productions.) Plus, other musical groups for the younger kids that include a combination of all these skills: there is First Steps in Music for PreK/Kindergarten, and a class called "Singing Monsters" for 1st and 2nd grade.

Patch: What is your school best known for?

Karen: Since I am just starting out, that is difficult to say, but I can tell what I want my school to be known for: top teachers, fun, engaging lessons where students really develop skills, insight and understanding, and high quality performances. When I say quality performances, I mean the focus is on what the kids are able to do, their skills and craft that they are developing. I am not interested in creating spectacles of expensive costumes, sets and lighting--my focus and direction is on developing students' skills first and foremost. I would also like to be known for family events that help give opportunities for families to come together and interact in genuine, fun ways like family karaoke, family dances, family talent shows, etc.

Patch: How did you get into teaching or arts education?

Karen: This is difficult to say because I have been involved in both for as long as I can remember! I used to gather all the younger kids in the neighborhood and teach them anything new and interesting that I had recently learned, and I used to put on music, dance and theater productions all the time! I was active in music especially all through high school and college, teaching music and performing in orchestras and smaller ensembles like folk string bands. After having taught music in the public schools here in New York, I moved to Europe--11 years in Vienna, Austria and 3 years in Berlin, Germany. In those places I headed the music department at international schools there. I held very many theater and musical theater productions that ranged from elementary school through high school.

In Vienna, I was in a wonderful orchestra that was the amateur counterpart to the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra and was privileged to perform in the same, top concert house as the Vienna Philharmonic. And during my time in Berlin, I was honored to play in an orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, one of the world's best, most recognized conductor. Back home here, in Massapequa, I am a member of the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra.

Patch: What is your favorite event at the school?

Karen: I love the performances! We have one coming up on April 2nd at the Bar Harbor Library. Performances help to motivate and give direction to the classes. It is the big goal what we are all working towards, and it gives us the energy and excitement we need to work all the extra hours to ensure that performance will be great. It's really the point of a Performing Arts school!!

Patch: What was the best advice a teacher ever gave to you and do you remember the grade/subject he or she taught?

Karen: I don't know if I can think of advice in terms of words expressed, but I definitely had advice in terms of a way of doing things... a way of being and interacting. My viola teacher/ orchestra teacher had a tremendous influence on me, and to this day I hold him close to my heart and I model his way of being, which is: being passionate about what you are doing, being caring, kind and thoughtful about how you approach others, being respectful of everyone, and valuing everyone for their unique abilities and ways of seeing the world. This teacher not only touched my life and influenced me, but inspired many students. He was my teacher from 4th grade through to 12th grade. His name is Mr. Kunins, and I am certain he also influenced many people reading this article, as he was a wonderful teacher in the Massapequa Schools for many years.

Patch: What's the school's teaching philosophy?

Karen: The philosophy of the school is based on the idea that everyone is musical and everyone has the ability to express themselves through performance. The way we interact with the world is a sort of performance and feeling confident in yourself and your ability to express yourself is essential to a happy, successful life. New School of Performing Arts seeks to nurture and develop this ability. We give foremost attention to nurturing each student's self-confidence and belief in himself or herself, and give them experiences that develop concrete skills in a step-by-step manner. Students are important in making the decisions about how each performance will develop. After all, each performance is created to give the students a chance to express what is within them.

My pedagogy, which is my way of helping students attain skills and grow, is rooted in many different approaches including: Orff (focuses on improvisation in music and dance, and building basic understanding of structure of music on instruments, voice and movement), Dalcroze (focuses on beat, phrase and the natural connection between music and our bodies--movement is a key element in instruction), Alexander Technique (first developed for actors, but now widely used in music as well as other areas, this approach develops a conscious awareness of how we hold and move our bodies so that we can do this is a healthy way, for example, healthy posture, healthy use of voice, etc), Kodaly (an approach to teaching singing in a step by step manner from early childhood onward through to advanced students).

Patch: What makes the New School of Performing Arts standout?

Karen: What makes the New School of Performing Arts standout is the unique offering of the classes, the expertise of the instructors, the regular performances that help give direction and motivation to the classes and the respect with which each student and family held and valued.

Patch: How can readers contact the school or learn more?

Karen: Please check out the school's website at NewSchoolofPerformingArts.com or on Facebook at New School of Performing Arts. You can also contact us by email at NewSchoolofPerformingArts@gmail.com or call us at (516) 252-7674.