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The Role of Arts in Academia

In an increasingly technologically driven world, some question the value of including arts instruction as part of twenty-first century educational models. The recent emergence of dedicated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) secondary schools is one example of this paradigm shift. Likewise, increased usage of technology in the classroom is often also cited as a necessity in preparing students for success. While technology, when used in conjunction with strong pedagogy, enhances and augments a student’s educational experience providing such paybacks as increased collaboration, improved and expanded writing skills, and better research analysis skills, it is important to remember the benefits of a truly comprehensive liberal arts education – one in which instruction in the arts is valued and promoted.

The Intrinsic Benefits of Arts Instruction

At DC, education in the arts remains a primary focus for all students. The arts are studied because they promote skills important in both academic and life success. These key skills include: creativity, confidence, problem solving, perseverance, and focus, the ability to receive constructive feedback, collaboration, dedication and accountability.

Former DC Middle and Upper School Instrumental Director, Mrs. Mandy Limpert, unpacks the correlation of learning through the arts at the micro level of instrumental ensembles. She notes “As students make music in an ensemble, they are essentially reading a foreign language which must then be translated and interpreted in five ways simultaneously.

  1. Looking simply at the notes, students must correctly interpret and execute what notes should be produced.
  2. Looking at the notes and rhythm, students must correctly determine when to produce those notes.
  3. Having determined these things, students must then correctly connect this knowledge with the physical actions necessary to correctly produce those proper notes at the proper time.
  4. Students must then determine where their part fits within the context of the whole and make whatever adjustment is necessary to place their part in context.
  5. Lastly, and most importantly, looking at the expressive instructions in the music and using the laws of musical expression that transcend any written instruction, students must determine and produce whatever is called for so that the listener may experience the emotional content of the music. This is impossible to do without the emotional involvement of the students.

Mrs. Limpert concludes “Making music in an ensemble involves using the intellect, the physical body, the ability to work cooperatively and the creative and emotional capacities in order to produce results which will be evaluated by those who hear the ensemble. This synthesis of skills is perhaps unique to music as an academic pursuit.

Even more importantly….

While the study of the arts offers students the opportunity to develop an array of valuable skills through mediums steeped in creativity, the pursuit of the arts within the context of the Christian worldview is augmented to an overall experience that is comprehensive, holistic, and complete. One only needs to read Genesis 1:1 (In the beginning, God created....) to confirm that the expressions of any Christian artist, musician or performer are directly linked to the master Creator himself.

When orienting first time students to her art classes, former DC Upper School Art Teacher Mrs. Linda Unger, brings her students face to face with a poster hanging on her wall featuring a passage from Exodus referring to Bezalel, son of Uri, that states “and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills – to make artistic designs...” Mrs. Unger states “watching students make the connection that their artistic skills and creative expressions are a gift from God is like watching a light bulb go on.” Her students understand this truth - what they create within the four walls of her classroom is directly linked to the indwelling of the Spirit in their lives. The certainty of this knowledge brings relevance and a purpose to their work that transcends art instruction in a secular setting.

In its seventy year history, Delaware County Christian School has consistently valued and sought to promote arts instruction that is clearly embodied in the school’s core values of Excellence and Rooted in Christ. With a curriculum and program offerings that are both sequential and comprehensive, DC students thrive and develop their gifting and passion – all to the Glory of God. For DC students pursuing the arts, instruction built on this foundation prepares them to use their creative abilities to impact the world through biblical thought and action.
 

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