CREATIVE KIDS PROGRAMS
MUSIC DRAMA VISUAL ARTS WRITING
Creative Arts are a normal part of most persons childhoods, but not all schools have specialist programs that devote equal time to artistic and creative development. For many the arts get left behind or the creativity of children get set aside in favour of more 'desirable skill sets'. This is where community arts based programs can fill the void and support exploration and development of innate creativity and desire.
I have run workshops using Visual arts- painting, drawing, collage, Music- popular children's songs and nursery rhymes and songwriting, and Drama- working with both text adaptation, improvisation, games and devising original work.
Creative Arts programs can also serve to facilitate larger social themes and educational themes, such as enhancing self worth, bullying, racism, environment, identity, culture etc. Artists and creatives are essential cultural curators who give commentary and wealth to the commons via cultural expression. Creativity is the cornerstone of all the inventions we use in the day to day world. Might how we envision 'creativity' be in need of a review?
Age ranges have been from 3-15
MUSIC
Whether through using traditional nursery rhymes, contemporary song, rhythm games, voice explorations or original supported songwriting, music can serve to learn about how the body is an instrument for life expression, feelings and expression of thoughts. Music is the equivalent of painting with sound in time and space and there is nothing we can not express with music. Music is one of the best gifts you could give a child to foster well rounded learners and enhance /develop body, mind and spirit. I teach voice, guitar and beginner piano.
DRAMA
My approach to drama is based on improvisation, play and devising. It is important to connect with innate creativity and nurture the voice within, so each child recognises the worth of their own ideas and is given guidance to shape and express themselves through improvisation, using body, voice, characterization and devised script. We work on props together, everyone contributes to story line development and direction. Children are natural storytellers, so the aim is to develop confidence in vocal expression, physical embodiment, use of space, prop and the articulation of ideas and characters, into a cohesive whole which can be shown for a performance outcome. This gives the children a sense of pride, ownership and achievement whilst fostering great team work and collaboration skills. Drama is a very holistic activity.
VISUAL ARTS
Visual arts are wonderful for tactile exploration, using materials, colour and mixed media for learning about how to express ideas, images, thoughts and feelings. Visual arts nurture the joy of discovery in 2 and 3 dimensional realms by creating works of art, and fostering fine motor skills, whether for pleasure or process. Visual art methods lead to many different life and career paths and can enhance quality of life in many ways. Visual arts are great for enhancing mind, body connection and promoting resilience as well as exercising both brain hemispheres. Creative problem solving is a core arts skill.
WRITING
Learning to express oneself via the written and spoken word is very important. Learning to clearly phrase, articulate and orate; to put into words, to develop ones own voice and style is vitally important to a child's sense of self worth. We all have something to say, writing is great to honour the inner voice or voices wishing to speak. Writing can be a form of reflection or for brainstorming or for specific forms such as poetry, story writing, developing character and script, used in lyric writing, making a report and so on. To be able to write and express from a variety of viewpoints is an essential life skill.
ALL KIDS ARE CREATIVE KIDS
Expanding our sense of what it means to be creative and how creative intuitive right brained activity can enhance left brained logical processing is essential for a well balanced person. Connecting and building strong connections with the inner world and creativity is essential for well functioning adults who can serve their communities and be lifelong learners. the Kingdom of childhood is a magical place where little people learn the rules to function effectively in life. Creative arts can give a depth and passion to life that other things can not provide. All kids are creative kids.
Photos with permission from the Eynesbury Music Drama club, which came to it's conclusion.
