| The Music Center will work with you to plan and implement sequential arts education programs based on California's Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards. A quality arts education program is comprised of components from three core areas:
- Professional Development: Includes Teacher In-Services, Institute for Educators, Professional Development Workshops, Artsource curriculum resources and the Online Educator Network
- Assembly Performances at Your School: Music Center on Tour Performance Assemblies with world class performers and ensembles
- Student Workshop Programs: Includes workshops with teaching artists that range from short-term series to longer term artist-in-residence projects.
Music Center staff members are available to work with you in designing the best program to meet your arts education needs. As schools begin this process, it's important to designate a School Program Coordinator to help facilitate the answers to these questions. Schools can use this online article, titled "Selecting a School Program Coodinator," to help delegate this important responsibility.
To start this planning process, our staff will ask your school to consider the following questions when planning your programs:
What do you envision a child will know and be able to do in the arts as a result of attending your school?
- Consider the overarching themes and curricular goals for your school. How can the arts further learning goals in other curriculum areas?
- How does art education contribute to your school's overall goals?
What would the school like teachers to gain from the experience?
- Who teaches the arts to your students?
- What is the level of arts experience possessed by the teachers?
- Do teachers have access to arts professional development opportunities?
- What type of teaching strategies are used for arts instruction?
What are you hoping students will gain or learn as a result of having participated in a Music Center arts experience?
- Do you want students to be exposed to all art forms? Or learn one art form in depth?
- Do you want your students to become knowledgeable about a particular culture? Many cultures?
- Do you want your students to improve their literacy skills? Math skills?
Who will the program serve?
- What grade levels will have Music Center programs?
- Will students on different tracks have different programs?
- How many classrooms will participate?
- Are there special education programs?
What arts disciplines (dance, music, theatre, visual arts) will be the focus of your program?
- What arts programs currently exist in your school?
- Do you have arts teachers (i.e. specialists, artists) in your school?
- Are the arts taught as discreet disciplines or used to enhance learning in other subjects? Both?
- Are teachers familiar with the state content standards in the visual and performing arts?
What is the availibility of resources (budget, facilities, and time) in your school to implement the desired activities?
- What kinds of instructional materials are available to use in your classroom? This includes curriculum, supplies and equipment (visual arts materials, musical instruments, books, art prints, audio and video tapes).
- What kind of space is available? For performances, what are the stage's dimensions and surface? Does the school have a sound system with microphones? For workshops, is there a large empty room, such as an auditorium, cafeteria or multipurpose room that is regularly available?
For more information, read answers to questions commonly asked by our school partners in the "Creating a School Arts Program through the Music Center " in our FAQ section.
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