ARTS NEWSLETTER #20 – 13 November 2007
GREETINGS FROM ARGY’S CUBBY with a view of the STATE HOUSE DOME at the Department of Education
ARTS NEWS
CONGRATULATIONS to all the students and teachers involved in high school musicals this month. I had the opportunity to see two this past weekend. I know hours and commitment that theater, music, and art educators to put forth for these enormous productions. Year after year students, parents, and community members look forward to visiting high schools around the state to see the magic when teenagers take to the stage. What a great opportunity to promote arts programs. ‘BREAK LEGS’ to all of you!
NEWSLETTER
This electronic arts education newsletter is going to 571 readers. This is an increase of 4 from the last newsletter. You can read back issues by clicking on: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/doe-arts/
I know there many NEW teachers so please ask them to contact me if they are interested in receiving the arts education newsletter: argy.nestor@maine.gov
REORGANIZATION
For information on the reorganization law and its implementation please go to http://www.maine.gov/education/supportingschools/index.html
It is important that you are aware of the law and communicate about the importance of arts education in the transition to the reorganization.
A DANCE STORY
This is a link to a wonderful essay entitled "Dancing All the Dances
As Long As I Can" by Robert Fulghum. This was part of NPR's October 27th segment "This I Believe Series". Robert Fulghum wrote "Everything I Learned....I Learned in Kindergarten" and was a minister and a painting teacher. You can read his essay or listen to him reading it, at this link http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15679626
MUSIC AND LIFE
No explanation needed, just please click on http://www.neticons.net/music_life/
CREATVITY
If you haven’t see this short video of Sir Kenneth Robinson speaking on creativity please check it out at http://anguswhines.typepad.com/angus_whines/planning/index.html
PORTA PORTAL
Please check out the porta portal at http://portaportal.com. On the right side of the screen find the words “Guest Access”. Below that, under the words “Guest Name” in the box type: meartsed. To the right of that click “Visit”. There are many links to websites for you to use. If you have any sites you’d like to share, I will add them, please send them along to me argy.nestor@maine.gov
ARGY’S ARTS BLOG
Some thought provoking comments were posted on the Arts Blog on the music topic that was posted in the last newsletter. If you’d like to share your thoughts on the topics I post please go to the blog at http://mearts.edublogs.org/.
Another topic you can respond to: Recently I received an email from a high school arts educator informing me that the use of “iphones and ipod touch have been banned from her school with the reason being a teacher will not know if a student is on the phone or illegally taking pictures”.
- what’s your opinion on the topic?
- Is there a policy in your school on electronic devices?
- Is your school using ipods as a teaching tool?
- How have you been innovative with this technology?
- If your school has put policy’s in place, what is the reason for this change?
Please take a few minutes and go to the Arts blog http://mearts.edublogs.org/ and give feedback on what you know is happening in your school district and give your opinion.
To use the arts blog please follow these directions: Click on http://mearts.edublogs.org/ Each comment you see is a different topic that has been posted for you to read and/or respond to. At the bottom of the topic you see the number of “comments”. Click on the word “comments”. At the bottom of this page you need to fill in the boxes (not necessary to fill in “website” box) and in the large space type in your comment and than hit “Submit Comment”. The comment goes to me and I approve the comments before they can be posted.
ART AND SCIENCE AND MATH
Origami: It’s not just about folding up pieces of paper to make those little cranes anymore. Physicist Robert Lang has made a science of this ancient Japanese art. In more than 30 years of practicing the craft, Lang has created more than 400 unique designs and written books on the subject. He combines a deep appreciation for traditional aesthetics with advanced mathematics and computer modeling, using software he developed to discover combinations of folds that he calls “computational origami”. Lang applies his expertise to solve real – world engineering problems such as helping to design automobile airbags. He designed a lens the size of a football field for a gigantic telescope that the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory wants to put in space. His paperwork has been exhibited in galleries around the world. To learn more about Mr. Lang’s work please go to http://www.langorigami.com
MEETING
- Art in the Heart: Tuesday, November 27th, 4:00-6:00PM, Room 101, Brewer High School, 79 Parkway South, Brewer. If you have questions please contact Randy Menninghaus at menninghaus@brewerdu.org
ARTS SURVEY
A student at Teachers College, Columbia University is conducting research about arts educators and their experiences with assessment. This survey will take you 10 minutes to complete online at http://www.questioinpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=778795
INTERESTED IN TRAVELING TO JAPAN?
If you are interested in traveling to Japan with the Fulbright Memorial Fund program online applications are due December 15th. I was fortunate to be part of the program in 2000 and urge you to take advantage of this “all expense paid unique experience” and would be glad to answer any questions you might have. Access information and the application at http://www.fulbrightmemorialfund.jp/
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PCA Great Performances’ Family Series presents Mayhem Poets, Saturday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m. at John Ford Auditorium, Portland High School. Tickets $10 and are available at the door. This presentation is great for middle and high school students and parents. For more information please contact Barri Lynn Moreau at blmoreau@pcagreatperformances.org
- Bay Chamber Concerts is sold out for their school performance of the Wakaiko Yamato Japanese drummers at Strom Auditorium at Camden Hills Regional High School. In fact, there are 748 students on the waiting list! Because of the great interest in this performance Bay Chambers is offering the following for the public performance:
- December 9, 4:00 PM at Strom Auditorium
- Education group rate of 8 youth tickets ($8 each)
For more information please go to Bay Chamber website at http://www.baychamberconcerts.org/Perform.cfm?EventID=224&SeasonId=6&TID=501&CFID=6396245&CFTOKEN=58860831
- Bay Chamber Concerts presents a dance workshop with BodyVox on Saturday, January 12, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. at the Camden Hills Regional High School. “Dancing from the Core: Contemporary Dance” is a basic, well-rounded technique workshop with emphasis on contemporary, modern, and ballet. Tickets for the workshop are $10 for individuals and $20 for families. To register, please call the box office at 207-236-2823. For more information about BodyVox, please visit their website: www.bodyvox.com The public performance of BodyVox will be Sunday, January 13 at 2:30 in the Strom Auditorium, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, tickets $27 - $35, youth ages 25 and under are $8.
- The Theater at Monmouth presents William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, January 19- February 6, 2008. The Theater is one of 31 professional theaters in the US selected to participate in this National Endowment of the Arts’ Shakespeare in American Communities program and are interested in every Maine high school having the opportunity to participate. In addition to the performances, workshops are available for
students, teachers and community members. Pre-planned or custom
designed workshops are also available, as time permits. For more information or to make arrangements for the program to travel to your high school please contact Director David Greenham at 933-2952 or at tamoffice@theateratmonmouth.org
- The Cellistanbul cello quartet will be there in February, not December, as stated in the last newsletter. If you have questions please email Barb Packales at Bbpackales@aol.com
NATIONAL ANTHEM PROJECT-WASHINGTON DC
On JUNE 12-15, 2008 National Music Educators will gather more than 5000 students to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Washington Monument. This event will remind our nation of the importance of music programs in our schools. To learn more please click on http://www.americanmusicalsalute.com/
CAN YOU HELP?
Beth Walker is looking for the study guide for the Praxis II Art Content Knowledge (Test Code 0133). If you can help please contact her at bwalker2@msad45.net
YOUNG CONDUCTOR
A story found in the New York Times about Gustavo Dudamel from Venezuela, the incredible young conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Read the story.
MUSICIANS WANTED
- Beth Preston is putting together a group of 12-16 voices, Aureole Chamber Ensemble, soloists and/or very strong choral vocalists. Rehearsals will take pale on Sunday’s, 4-6 at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle. For more information or if you are interested please contact Beth at preston@lincolnacademy.org
- Bremen Union Church is in need of an organist. The choir has 7-10 members year round with additional voices in the summer months. If you are interested please contact Pastor Kathleen M. Maclachlan at kmmac06@yahoo.com
- Steel drum band director is needed in Wayne. If interested please contact Justin Walton at jwalton@sad11.k12.me.us
$10,000 SCHOLARSHIP
The 1st annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship is for students starting at age 14. All high school, college and university students are eligible. The design can be created in photography, graphic design or fine arts. The submission date is January 15, 2008. For more information please go to http://www.gallerycollection.com/scholarship.htm
ASCD
You can find interesting reading in the Maine ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) Blog. Please click on http://maineascd.blogs.com/
NASA ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGE
Through the NASA Engineering Design Challenge, elementary, middle and high school students will:
- Design, build, and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers
- Receive cinnamon basils seeds flown on STS-118
- Test lunar growth chambers by growing and comparing both space-flown and earth-based control seeds
For more information and to register please go to http://www.nasa.gov/education/plantchallenge
QUOTE OF THE NEWSLETTER
“The things I learned from my experience in music in school are discipline, perseverance, dependability, composure, courage and pride in results. . . Not a bad preparation for the workforce!”
- Gregory Anrig – President, Educational Testing Service
