The Benefits of the Performing Arts

Somer Bjork

Driving Question

•Describe what happens when children are introduced to the performing arts at a younger age and how it affects their success later in life. 

Thesis Statement

•When children are introduced to the performing arts, they are more likely to be accepted to a university, more likely to be accepted in society, more likely to be considered role models in their community, and they are more likely to achieve higher grades in school.

Interesting Facts

• Students with or more than three years of in-school arts instruction scored remarkably higher on tests based on creative thinking, an important life skill to carry on through life (Champions of Change 3).

Interesting Facts

Figure 1: Comparisons of High Arts vs. Low Arts Students in Grade 8

Low Arts Involvement Students

High Arts Involvement Students

Grade 8 Students Scoring As and Bs

64.2% 79.2%

Scoring in the Top 2 Testing Quartiles

45% 72.5%

Consider Themselves to be Bored in School >50% of the Time

45.9% 37.9%

Successes and Challenges: Paper•Successes

• Majority of paper was finished during sophomore year; only a few revisions were necessary.

• Valuable resources – Champions of Change and ArtsConnection

• Challenges• Meeting the length

requirement – quality vs. quantity.

• Last-minute additions; changing citations from MLA to APA.

Interest

• Personally involved in local theatres such as New Bern Civic Theatre and Rivertowne Rising Stars.

• President of Troupe #7777 of the International Thespian Society.

Product•Assistant Directed

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

•Rehearsals started in November, show ended in February.

•Director – John Van Dyke

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes: Video

Promotionals

Impact of Product

Impact on Me: - Knowledge on managing a cast and being on production team, increased organizational skills, communication skills increased, strengthened bond between cast.

Impact on Others: - Being the only high-school student in a cast and crew of adults made it a worthwhile challenge to earn equal respect both as a group of peers as an equal and respect as an assistant director.

Connection• Because I am a high-school student, I

was be able to experience the mental, physical, and social benefits of being directly included in a theatrical production.

• Because I am of such a young age taking on the job of assistant director in one of the town's largest theatre groups, I am considered a role model to younger students of theatre.

Successes and Challenges: Product• Successes

• Experience on production board

• Impact on others• Overall connection

with cast• Improved relations

with local directors• Addition to resume

• Challenges• Becoming close with

an adult cast• Preparing the set on

time• Unreliable stage

managers and crew so that the assistant directors were required to step in

Future Plans

•Internship at Camp Broadway with Rivertowne Rising Stars

•UNCSA Summer Intensive for Drama•Summer productions (Cabaret? RENT?) •2013 Season at NBCT and RRS•Elon University to major in Musical

Theatre with a minor in Elementary Education

Works CitedChampions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved

December 7, 2011, from The GE Fund, The John D. and Catherine T. MacartherFoundatio website: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/champions/pdfs/ChampsReport.pdf

Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary School.(n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2011, from Americans for the Arts website: http://www.americansforthearts.org/NAPD/files/9393/Involvement%20in%20the%20Arts%20and%20Success%20in%20Secondary%20School%20('98).pdf

Fretz, J. (2005, July 15). Arts for...Everything's Sake. Retrieved December 10, 2011, from Children's Music Workshop website: http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/artsforeverthing.html

Questions?