It’s been a busy day!
First, I actually left my house at 8:30 in the morning to meet with the new principal of the Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) middle school in St. Louis’ Magnet school system. For about 12 years I worked there part time teaching Harp. I had 10 students per class, with 3 classes (6th, 7th, & 8th grade). During the time I was there I had some really awesome kids, some of whom still keep in touch with me from time to time, & some who continued their studies with me at the VPA high school, & are currently studying Harp in college (Ball State, Webster University, Lincoln U). Sadly, the program began to fall apart, as we got a new principal who had no interest in the arts & set out to remove the “smart through the arts” emphasis. I quit, as it was a miserable environment. So now there is a new principal, who attended the VPA program years ago, & his big goal is to get the school back on track. He would like to start my Harp program up again, among other things. We had a nice visit.
Then I played at the nursing home, then at another event. I knew I’d be out & about for awhile, so I brewed up a strong batch of Tardis & then iced it down. I carried it around with me all afternoon in my venti sized double walled starbucks cup with a straw. It stayed nice & cold, & it is delicious as an ice tea, SO good. Leif agrees, he had some too.
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Sounds like exciting stuff in the works! Music is essential!
School without the arts should be a crime! I try to work in art and music as much as I can with my first graders, but there is no formal curriculum. Sad!
St. Louis’ VPA program was really awesome at it’s highest point, with 2 elementary schools, a middle school, & a high school that all included a wide array of arts. At the elementary everyone learned to play an instrument, & got a chance to try out various other arts. At the middle school they could choose 2 arts: music (vocal, string, band, harp, piano), dance, theater, audio visual, 2 different art approaches (one more focused on sculptural mediums like clay, the other more focused on drawing, painting). We had the top jazz band, flags & stuff like that in the district. The high school included all that, plus a fashion design program & who knows what else. All the music teachers were top notch musicians, performing locally on the jazz scene, or as soloists, or as part of some ensemble or other. I won’t go into the many reasons the programs have gone downhill, but it is a shadow of itself & a shame.
Sounds like exciting stuff in the works! Music is essential!
School without the arts should be a crime! I try to work in art and music as much as I can with my first graders, but there is no formal curriculum. Sad!
St. Louis’ VPA program was really awesome at it’s highest point, with 2 elementary schools, a middle school, & a high school that all included a wide array of arts. At the elementary everyone learned to play an instrument, & got a chance to try out various other arts. At the middle school they could choose 2 arts: music (vocal, string, band, harp, piano), dance, theater, audio visual, 2 different art approaches (one more focused on sculptural mediums like clay, the other more focused on drawing, painting). We had the top jazz band, flags & stuff like that in the district. The high school included all that, plus a fashion design program & who knows what else. All the music teachers were top notch musicians, performing locally on the jazz scene, or as soloists, or as part of some ensemble or other. I won’t go into the many reasons the programs have gone downhill, but it is a shadow of itself & a shame.