National Arts in Education Week was the second week in September so we thought we’d do an update of what’s new this year and in store for our Arts Career Path Program.

Remember that cool Duck Truck dance residency we did last year through a partnership through Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre?  Well it was such a success that we decided to build an after school program with them.  We now offer an after school dance class that students take three times a week for a long block class.  They are earning class credit just as if they were taking a class during regular school hours and it can count as their VPA or PE required credits.  It’s going great so far.  Our students have already gone on a field trip to see a performance by Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre at Culver City Hall which was part of Culver City’s Centennial celebration.

Our Belles were super happy to see one of their teaching artists from our residency last year!

We have a record number of freshman that have joined the Arts Career Path Program this year.  Freshman in the visual arts track are taking drawing class and have been learning about different types of drawing techniques including contour drawing, shading and gesture drawing.  Performing arts freshman are taking acting and media arts are taking digital photography.

Ceramics has a long standing tradition of being offered at SMA and this year is no exception.  We were very excited to break in the new kiln that was purchased over the summer!

And we are proud to offer a NEW addition to our arts course load this year, Digital Photography.  Photography is more present than ever in our world today with social media and a camera most often available at our fingertips with new technology developing daily.  Most individuals are capable of taking an average photo and looking at a photograph and determining whether or not they “like it”.  However, trying to then explain why it’s a “good” photograph requires disciplined and thoughtful observations, as well as precise and descriptive language, and often serves as a more complex challenge for most people.   This new course utilizes iPads in class as our main tool since it enables us to take photos, edit them , and even share them all with the same device.   The class goes on weekly “field trips” within walking distance to look for interesting subject matter.

 

Music classes for stringed instruments through our partnership with Harmony Project started last week.  Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays after school from 2:50-4:00pm. New students are required to do six weeks of introductory musicianship before receiving an instrument rental of violin, viola, or cello.  If you haven’t signed up yet and want to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity please contact our principal ASAP.

Our Arts Career Path Director, Ms. Muraczewski, has been busy planning some enriching field trips for our arts students to take this year including one to The Broad Museum again.   She attended a teacher open house there recently and can’t wait to take her students back.  Other trips will include visits to The Hammer Museum, The Annenberg Space for Photography, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Sony Picture Studios, YouTube Space LA,  The Ahmanson Theater,  A Noise Within,  and The Skirball Cultural Center. We look forward to sharing all of our “outside of the classroom” experiences as they happen.   The arts are alive and thriving at SMA. #BecauseOfArtsEd #ArtsEdMatters #ArtsEdWeek

 

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