“Why are the arts important?” 

I recently fielded this question from some eighth-grade video production students. It is a question that we see echoed throughout media today.  

My answer was personal: The oftentimes chaotic experience of our lives necessitate that we create some kind of story as a framework for understanding and celebrating that experience. That story can be shared in words or through dance or song. It can be told in 2D, 3D, digital, or any other medium one can imagine. And, in the creation and sharing of those stories comes beauty, sense-making, community-building, the broadening of perspectives outside of oneself—all essential components of true learning.  

At Cary Academy, arts comprise an important part of our curriculum. One need look no further than our campus map: our Founders clearly honored the essential role that the arts play in our lives when they chose to locate Berger Hall in the heart of the campus. As educators, our hope is that we provide our students with the confidence and skills to develop their stories—their own expressions and works—to think critically about them, and to share them in a caring and respectful environment whereby we are all enriched.   

To that end, with the school year well underway, we’re happy to share some exciting news from the Performing and Fine Arts Department.  

  • We’ve revamped the 6th Grade experience, expanding our exploratory minicourses into two trimesters, allowing for a deeper dive (four weeks each) in the six core areas:  Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Dance, Theater and Visual Arts.  We found that with various interruptions in the weekly schedules (both planned and unforeseen), students and teachers were feeling rushed to get a solid grasp of the many creative opportunities these courses have to offer.  Our hope is that students will be more informed about choosing their “major.”  At the end of T2, they’ll make their selection, and take a much deeper dive into their selected areas 5 days per week in T3. 

 

  • In the Upper School, we are excited about a new interdisciplinary Performance Studies course called Musical Theater, which is team-taught by 4 Performing Arts teachers:  Glen Matthews (Theater), Jasmine Powell (Dance), Emily Turner and Linda Velto (Chorus).  The focus is to develop confidence in creating character, choreography, and vocal delivery.  14 students are currently enrolled, each choosing a signature piece from Broadway hits.  It’s remarkable to see and hear the diverse range of talent developing in our studios, and word is that students and teachers alike are truly inspired by this challenging collaboration. 

 

  • We are excited to welcome two new teachers to our arts faculty—Alyssa Armstrong in Middle School Visual Arts and Lester Turner in Middle and Upper School Band.  Both have redesigned the layout in those studios and the course of study and have been enjoying getting to know their many talented students.  Look for the new and exciting works these talented teachers generate with their students. 

 

  • Last year, we launched the “Brick Wall Design Challenge,” a venture to give students the opportunity to collaborate in designing permanent installations for the new Center for Math and Science.  Ideation began through last winter and spring, including a celebratory large format stained glass project and a Discovery Term team called “Dream, Design, Deliver.”  (See latest issue of CA Magazine).  These students, along with US Visual Art teachers Kay Parks and Cayce Lee, are hard at work developing prototypes for installations in the public spaces of the new building.  It’s exciting to see the design process in action; students began with architectural drawings, then developed 3D digital models of the spaces.  It’s a true challenge because access to the new spaces are still restricted, and now we are in the process of scaling up a variety of possibilities. 

 

  • Next week begins the creative journey of producing The Music Man. While design discussions are already under way, the true work begins with the Student/Parent Information Session on Monday October 8 at 7:00 PM in Berger Hall Theater for this all-school musical, to be performed in February.  Auditions begin on October 15.  All students are invited to participate in this Extra Curricular Production, which will include guidance and direction from no less than 8 arts faculty and several veteran parents.  Want to be a part of it?  Come to the Information Session, or email Glen Matthews for more for more information. 

 Curious to know more?  I’d be happy to hear your ideas.