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Message from the
The importance of the arts
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The Creative Arts faculty members are committed to pern this issue, we focus on the exceptional arts education sonalizing students’ education. Differentiated instruction by available at Derryfield. Self-discovery through artistic ability within the same class is key. Here the beginner may expression is fundamental to a liberal arts education. At explore a given medium, while the advanced student may Derryfield, active participation in the arts promotes positive intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic development. Our pro- be challenged by a complex project. Creative arts teachers know their students and match opportunities to each one— gram is marked by three elements: participation, personalsometimes with long-term consequences. A young alumna ization, and individual creativity. Students in every grade recently recounted that Jim Speigel steered her to be the are encouraged and, at times, required to engage in artistic endeavors. The program emphasizes personal choice in both stage manager for her middle school play, launching her on the subject of study and the level of depth. The creative pro- a journey to college as a theatre major, which led her to become the stage manager of Broadway’s production of the cess as a way of thinking is taught in every course and arts musical Wicked. The culture of encourageactivity. In our close-knit school, the edument in the Creative Arts Department can “Creative arts teachers cation is notably personal in all discibe profound for the individual. Many stuplines, but in none is that individualizaknow their students and dents’ lives are enriched when they become tion so evident as in the arts. confident instrumentalists, singers, actors, match opportunities to Opportunities in the arts abound. All or visual artists as a result of the personal sixth graders participate in a musical each one—sometimes with attention they received at Derryfield. theatre production, while seventh and Finally, Derryfield’s arts program seeks to eighth graders are encouraged to audilong-term consequences.” develop creativity and an understanding of tion for the autumn middle school musia creative process in every course and activity. Students are cal, in which every student finds a place on the stage or on encouraged to think in multiple ways: as problem-solvers the production side. In addition to their classroom experiand as people who are inspired by the past but think origiences in music, drama, and art, middle school students are nally. These creative-thinking skills are applicable not just in invited to join the chorus, band, and art club. An array of the arts but in all disciplines. that students encounter. choices opens for upper school students. One can learn to play the piano, compose music, paint landscapes, perform Shakespeare, and improve or build monumental outdoor sculpture. In addition, students build their confidence Mary Halpin Carter throughout their seven years at Derryfield by singing, playHead of School ing instruments, dancing, or acting at weekly all-school assemblies, talent shows, concerts, and other performances.
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Derryfield Today – 2012