From Da Vinci to Samuel Morse, great minds have tapped into their artistic prowess to make amazing inventions and contributions to society. While scientists say that their interest in arts often informs their vocation, artists also draw inspiration from their scientific interests. In terms of polymath tendencies, psychological profiles, and mental strategies the two branches of science and artistic creativity have a strong correlation, as per researchers at Michigan State University.
Yet, many parents think that performing and visual arts are frivolous pursuits when compared to Common Core or STEM-related subjects. Students can learn valuable life skills through art and get inspired to experience the world in different lights, which is why a fine arts academy is important for their holistic development, according to experts at Mandala World Academy.
Here are few reasons how a fine & performing arts academy can be beneficial in K-12 education.
Improving Student Engagement
Art education in music, dance, theatre, and visual arts put students in an involved position. They are encouraged to try new concepts and make their interpretations. They often work on team projects, which improve their interpersonal and collaboration skills. These experiences shine through everything. The fact that the end results of these projects are visible means that students can continuously track their performance throughout. This translates into a medium of learning which is more reward-based or analogous.
A 2019 study done with 10,548 students in 42 schools across the Houston area, revealed that arts-learning experiences benefit students in plenty of ways including improved school engagement and college aspirations, as per research by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Imparts Critical Life Skills
Enrolling in fine art academies such as the academy of fine arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida FL can help students acquire critical skills to survive in the 21st century digital economies. Today’s world is that of the information age and learning is not limited to textbooks alone. Workplaces today are significantly stressing on human abilities that can’t be automated, such as emotions, people skills, sense of wonder, truth, and justice, and creativity. There is sufficient evidence that supports the theory, that participation in fine arts is a vital aspect in improving all these qualities, as per research published in Quest Journals, Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science.
Improved Outcomes in Different Subjects
By immersing children in arts education, they are drawn into a multi-faceted environment that combines diverse subject matters like science, sociology, language, and history. For instance, to play a tune on the guitar, students will need an understanding of musical acoustic principles and sound waves. Similarly, to participate in a Shakespearean drama they will need to understand the historical, social, and cultural events of the time. The same applies to disciplines like clay work or carpentry.
Thus, arts provide the perfect link between all subject matters. This makes it easier for students to grasp new concepts.
Years of research show that arts education is closely associated with almost everything that we desire for our children-academic achievements, social and emotional skills, equity in education, and civic engagement. Yet, it has steadily declined in the US education system since the 1980s and instead has been replaced with test based accountability reforms for K12 education. Enrolling students in a fine & performing arts academy is something that parents need to seriously consider, apart from Ivy League admissions and sports achievements.
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