Chapter 4: Performing and Visual Arts High Schools

Chapter 4

PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOLS

The 1980 movie "Fame" made the world aware of New York City's specialized performing arts school, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. Today, the city boasts several excellent performing arts and visual arts high schools that offer a conservatory-like training experience together with a solid college-preparatory academic program. These schools are wonderful options for young artists who are as serious about their art form as they are about going to college.

Fiorello H. La Guardia High School

100 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10023 URL: http://www.laguardiahs.org

La Guardia is New York City's only specialized high school devoted to the arts. The school's dual mission is to provide professional preparation in conservatory arts and college preparatory academics. There is no SHSAT exam to take for entrance to La Guardia. Instead, you have to show your artistic talent in a live audition, or in a portfolio. In addition, your school records and attendance are reviewed and you are required to produce a written response during your

audition/interview.

Students audition for the following studios: Art, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Technical Theatre, and/or Vocal Music. Students come from all five boroughs and reflect the diverse racial and cultural composition of New York City. The school's website provides details about how students can prepare for their auditions whether they are applying for dance, art, drama, voice or music. The academic program is strong at LaGuardia which offers about 20 AP classes. Languages taught include Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese (Mandarin) all of which are taught from Beginner through AP level. Many students go on to highly selective colleges. There is strong academic support, including a Writing Lab, Language Labs and Science Lab Centers where students can receive one-on-one or small group instruction.

Consider applying for the major in Technical Theatre. This major is perfect for students who love the theatre, but are not sure they want to take center stage as an actor, dancer, or singer. In this major, you will learn lighting, set design and a range of other skills that are highly valued. These skills may be useful in careers such as video game design or interior design.

Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School

35-12 35th Street Queens, NY URL: http://franksinatraschoolofthearts.org

In 1999, Tony Bennett, and his wife Susan Benedetto, a public school teacher, were inspired to start a public high school for young artists. They dreamt of a school that would integrate the arts with rigorous academics, require a commitment to community service, and help students cultivate a lifelong love of, and dedication to, their artistic passions and crafts. In 2009 Frank Sinatra School of the Arts opened its new extraordinary home, located at the vibrant Kaufman Astoria Studios complex, in Astoria, Queens.The school is medium-sized with 853 students, 68% of whom are female.

The school demands a high level of commitment from its students, who, on a typical day, take a full load of academic classes in addition to two or three periods of art classes and then spend a few hours after school rehearsing for a performance, working on projects, or participating in sports or internships. Majors available are: Art, Dance, Drama, Film, Instrumental and Vocal Music. The academic program is solid, but not exceptional.

Admission is based on audition, grades, test scores and attendance. Visit the school website for instructions on preparing your audition.

Special Features:

Facilities include: a 750-seat concert hall, 2 black box theatres, a stagecraft workshop, 2 dance studios, 2 fine art studios, an art gallery, choral & orchestral classrooms, practice room, a film lab and an outdoor rooftop performance garden.

Strong community service program

Talent Unlimited High School

300 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 URL: http://www.tuhs.nyc

Since 1995, Talent Unlimited has offered a small performing arts school together with a liberal arts academic program. Students complete internships with cultural organizations, perform in school productions and compete in national competitions. The school has approximately 500 students.

Unlike LaGuardia, Talent Unlimited allows you to audition for more than one major. The options are: Musical Theatre, Drama, Vocal, Instrumental Music and Dance. Be prepared to rank the studio program in order of preference. Visit the school's website for details of how to prepare for an audition. Applicants should score level 2-4 on standardized exams and have an 80 average or above in academic classes.

The school is located in a wing of the Julia Richman Educational Complex on the Upper East Side. It shares facilities such as a library and cafeteria with other schools in the building. About 15 clubs are available including Chess, Debate, Step, Student Government and Asian Culture. The school's College Readiness Program starts in Sophomore Year. Students receive two periods of instruction in their majors each day. Efforts are made to integrate arts and academics.

Academically, the school is weaker than LaGuardia. The average SAT score is 1479 and the AP pass rate is 42.9%. The student body is 4% Asian, 27% African-American, 47% Latino and 15% White.

Preparing a Studio Art Portfolio

For a Visual Arts program at LaGuardia, Frank Sinatra High School or other Fine Arts program:

Students applying to LaGuardia for Art will need:

1) a portfolio of drawings that show your skill. These are drawings that you have prepared in advance of the application. 2) to be able to “draw from life”. That means that at your interview, you will be given something to draw, for example a vase with flowers. Your "audition" is to draw as accurately as possible the "still life" item or arrangement they present. This is a type of “exam” because you have to do that drawing under timed conditions at the school; alongside other candidates.

So if you are serious about applying for the visual arts at La Guardia, you need to prepare both your portfolio and your still life drawing skills in advance. Your drawing skills need to be well-developed.

There are three fantastic programs that help students prepare for the entrance exam for an Arts major at LaGuardia. They are:

1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

81st Street and Fifth Avenue To prepare a portfolio, the following FREE program can help:

ART EXPLORE

WHERE: Metropolitan Museum of Art (Manhattan: 81st Street and 5th Avenue) ASK THE INFORMATION DESK FOR: Carson Family Hall, at the Center for Education HOW TO GET THERE: Take the 5 or 6 train to 86th and Lexington Avenue IS IT FREE? Yes, it is 100% free. HOW DO I RESERVE a SPACE? Email familyprograms@metmuseum.org or call 212-570-3961. WHO CAN GO: Students ages 11-14

WHEN: MONDAY, JULY 15 at 1pm to 3pm TUESDAY, JULY 16 at 1pm to 3pm WEDNESDAY, JULY 17 at 1pm to 3pm THURSDAY, JULY 18 at 1pm to 3pm

SATURDAY SKETCHING

WHERE: Metropolitan Museum of Art (Manhattan: 81st Street and 5th Avenue) ASK THE INFORMATION DESK FOR: Carson Family Hall, at the Center for Education HOW TO GET THERE: Take the 5 or 6 train to 86th and Lexington Avenue IS IT FREE? Yes, it is 100% free. HOW DO I RESERVE a SPACE? Email familyprograms@metmuseum.org or call 212-570-3961. WHO CAN GO:

WHEN: Students ages 11-18

MONDAY, JULY 22 at 1pm to 3pm TUESDAY, JULY 23 at 1pm to 3pm WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 at 1pm to 3pm THURSDAY, JULY 25 at 1pm to 3pm

2. 92nd Street Y School of the Arts

92nd Street and Lexington Avenue

Portfolio Prep for Visual Arts High Schools / Ages 11-14 (This program has a fee but you can apply for financial aid)

This intensive class will focus on developing observational and design skills in a variety of media in order to produce a varied portfolio that demonstrates technical skill as well as creativity and conceptual skills. We will address NYC Blueprint for the Arts Benchmarks to ensure students are prepared for specialized high school admissions. Class is geared toward specific portfolio requirements and includes extensive one-on-one instruction, sketchbook development exercises, short writing exercises about the art making process which will prepare students for the writing component of the application, and interview prep skills for the visual arts high school audition.

3. The Art Students League of New York

215 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 212-247-4510 (phone) 212-541-7024 (fax) info@artstudentsleague.org

Various Drawing Classes Available for Tweens

4. Arts in Action

HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO PREP 8th Graders

Portfolio PREP classes for 8th Graders are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays in a 10 week intensive to prepare students for their auditions into specialized art high schools (such as LaGuardia).

For any class related questions, please call 917-741-2297 or email artsinactionvap@aol.com For any registration platform (ClassEnroll) issues, please call 646-926-2008 or email contact@classenroll.com

Angela Tripi-Weiss Program Director (917) 741-2297 Angela@artsinactionvap.org