ARTS Newsletter #9- 29 May 2007

GREETINGS FROM ARGY’S CUBBY with a view of the STATE HOUSE DOME at the Department of Education

This newsletter is being emailed to 418 educators this week! That is an increase of 14 people since the last newsletter two weeks ago! YAHOOOOOOOO! If you know someone who isn’t receiving the newsletter and would like to, please ask them to email me argy.nestor@maine.gov
I know some folks are at a different email address for the summer. If you would like the newsletter to go to a “summer email address” please email me and I can add a second email for you.

ARTS NEWS

Almost two weeks ago I had the honor of attending the All-State Festival and Conference at USM. I had a chance to watch and listen to the band, orchestra and a chamber singer rehearsal. I was soooooooooooo impressed, especially seeing approximately 300 students and teachers fill the gymnasium for an evening performance of the Blue Hill Brass Band. I can’t imagine what it would be like to perform for such an amazing musical audience. I could almost feel the musical energy in the air. From there I flew out to Detroit, MI for three days of meetings with my peers from 17 other states. The group has received a small amount of funding to research where we are by region with assessments. It is going to be interesting work. My favorite part of visiting Detroit was the chance to attend the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, see an Ansel Adams exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts and attend an awesome student performance at the Mosaic Youth Theater.

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CONFERENCE-

Oct. 5,6, 2007- The title is:
AT THE CREATIVE CENTER
THE ARTS IN MAINE SCHOOLS

A state-wide arts conference sponsored by the Maine Department of Education (MDOE), The Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) and the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) partnering with Maine Art Education Association (MAEA), Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA), Maine Drama Council (MDC) Dance Education in Maine Schools (DEMS) and VSA arts of Maine (VSA).
AS PROMISED, THE “CALL FOR PRESENTERS” FORM IS ATTACHED TO THIS NEWSLETTER. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FACILITATING A SESSION PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM AND SEND IT MY WAY BY EMAIL argy.nestor@maine.gov OR SNAIL MAIL Maine Dept. of Ed., 23 State House State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0023 IT TO ME BY JULY 1ST.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

*** Register now for the 6th Annual Widening the Circle NECAP Conference A New England-wide conference for teaching artists and early childhood educators working with children age 3 to Grade 3. Wednesday, June 27, 2007 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Wells Elementary School, Wells, Maine. See the attached document for more information. *** Center for Maine Furniture Craftsmanship located in Rockport, ME is offering interesting workshops this summer. Please go to their website to see the details www.woodschool.org

WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO FOR MUSIC EDUCATION- CONGRESS PASSES MUSIC EDUCATION

RESOLUTION

On May 15, the House and Senate passed a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that "music education grounded in rigorous instruction is an important component of a well-rounded academic curriculum and should be available to every student in every school."
The bill, H.Con.Res. 121, introduced by Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) with 35 cosponsors, recognizes the benefits and importance of school-based music education with a number of findings to support the legislation's position:

School music programs enhance intellectual development and enrich the academic environment for students of all ages;
Students who participate in school music programs are less likely to be involved with drugs, gangs, or alcohol and have better attendance in school;
The skills gained through sequential music instruction, including discipline and the ability to analyze, solve problems, communicate, and work cooperatively, are vital for success in the 21st century workplace;
The majority of students attending public schools in inner city neighborhoods have virtually no access to music education, which places them at a disadvantage compared to their peers in other communities;
The arts are a core academic subject, and music is an essential element of the arts; and
Every student in the United States should have an opportunity to reap the benefits of music education

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

*** Applications are being accepted for 1 music teacher, grades K-4 and 1 art teacher, grades K-6 in Caribou. Please contact Frank McElwain, Superintendent of Schools, Caribou School Department, 628 Main Street, Caribou, ME 04736. Submit application, resume and three current references.

*** Applications are being accepted for three teaching jobs in Belfast, 2 elementary and 1 high school visual arts position. Send to MSAD 34, Central Office, Waldo Ave., Belfast, ME 04973. For more information contact high school art teacher Chuck Hamm at chamm@sad34.net

CREATIVITY

DO SCHOOLS KILL CREATIVITY? Why don't we get the best out of people? Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson argues that it's because we've been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies -- far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity -- are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences. Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it. With ample anecdotes and witty asides, Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail to recognize -- much less cultivate -- the talents of many brilliant people. "We are educating people out of their creativity," Robinson says. "All kids have tremendous talents and we squander them." He goes on to say that he believes that creativity is as important in education as literacy, and we should give it the same status. Click here for more information.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66

SPEAKING OF CREATIVITY

This is interesting…. A friend of mine who is a technology teacher send this to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knFykmLljos

ARGY’S ARTS BLOG

During the last four months you have received information on proposals for reorganizing Maine school districts. Proposals are still under discussion in the legislature. Some of you have followed this story through a variety of media. Please take a few minutes and go to the Arts blog http://mearts.edublogs.org/ and give your opinion on how you think the reorganization may impact your visual or performing arts program.

CONGRATULATIONS TO WATERSHED

Watershed Ceramics program was honored for Leadership in Arts Education during the Maine College of Art 12th Annual Art Honors. Executive Director, Lynn Thompson, received the award on behalf of Watershed. To learn more about the Watershed in Edgecomb, ME please click on
http://www.watershedceramics.org/

FUNDING SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMS?!

School art programs rely on donations, integration Schools are increasingly relying on student and parent fundraising to fund art programs; a recent survey of 1,123 California schools found the majority of the schools rely on private funding to support arts education. Meanwhile, a Hawaii elementary school is integrating arts into nearly every core subject as an example of how to ensure that students learn about art even when there's not enough money for a regular arts class or teacher. San Diego Union-Tribune (5/21), The Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii) (5/21) (Click above where it says “school art programs rely on donations” to read more)

HELP OUT A COLLEAGUE

Some of you know Carolyn Brown, art teacher from Camden Hills High School, resident of Appleton. If you are interested in helping her receive a $10,000 scholarship, see the attached for more information. Deadline is June 1st, help out and get a good feeling.

WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH USED CD’S?

My son sent me this link (he knows I am always finding ways to use old CD’s http://www.flickr.com/photos/inhabitat/512451907/

QUOTE OF THE NEWSLETTER

"Just as there can be no music without learning; no education is complete without music."
Quoted from Growing Up Complete: The Imperative for Music Education, a brochure published by National Coalition for Music Education, Reston, VA.

Visual and Performing Arts Information

contact information:

Learning results Information