Many international students have a significant background in the arts. By the arts, I mean the study of visual art, (drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, & computer graphics), theatre (acting and theatre design), dance (ballet, jazz or modern), creative writing, music (vocal or instrumental) or filmmaking.

When choosing a boarding school in the U.S.A. it is important to match up your interests with the strengths of the school.

While traditional boarding schools offer excellent academic and broad athletic participation, a number of them also have excellent arts instruction. These schools have outstanding faculty in the arts, specialized facilities, and utilize advances in contemporary technology to provide an inspiring education.

If the arts are part of your interests and your passion, you should research each school’s available offerings. A school’s website and brochures should provide you with information on the qualifications of the artist-teachers, and the range and level of available courses. A broad array of campus facilities for arts study should be evident.

It is also important to determine whether the arts are your first priority or a portion of the well-rounded education that you wish to enjoy. A school with an excellent arts program will provide time for class/studio instruction as well as practice or creative periods.

Finally, the location of the school may be important. Does the school have access to performers, filmmakers and teachers who could help you grow?

Wide variety of arts programs

If a lifetime in the arts or an exciting career as a performer is your dream, you might consider the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. Students interested in attending Idyllwild audition for admission into one of the seven arts majors. They spend half of each day in pre-professional training in the arts and half in university preparatory academics. Students come from 30 states in the US and 20 different countries. The ESL faculty have experience helping students enjoy living and learning in the U.S.A.

The campus, near Los Angeles and Hollywood, has a film soundstage, three dance studios, seven art studios, (painting, sculpture, computer graphics, ceramics, photography, drawing and printmaking), 25 music practice rooms, an art exhibition center and four performance facilities. Additionally the campus has the normal classrooms, science labs and library.

Each year, graduates from Idyllwild are accepted to the finest music conservatories, art schools, film schools, theatre programs, dance companies and excellent academic colleges in the U.S.A.

At the Storm King School near New York City, almost half the students play a musical instrument or are involved in singing. Theatre Tech and Stagecraft complement a Theatrical program where students can take playwriting classes. Storm King students are encouraged to explore their own ideas in music, theatre and the visual arts and to push the boundaries of a material, idea or piece of music.

Arts are an integral part of education at Purnell School. Each girl enrolls in at least three performing and three studio arts courses during her four years at the New Jersey school. Students in higher grades choose “elective” classes such as jazz dance, dance improvisation, creative process in movement, acting, clowning, creative theater, classical voice training, music theory, instrumental music, and modern and world dance history. Each year Purnell students produce a full length musical show in two and a half weeks during “Project Exploration.” They build sets, run lights and sound, design costumes as well as act.

Beyond traditional drawing, collage, pastels, ceramics, photography, oil painting, charcoals and fashion design, Purnell girls also work on projects such as art portfolio and furniture installation. Students also take art history classes which include trips to museums in nearby New York City.

Arts education is so important at St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont that many of the school’s graduates go on to major in art at university or attend arts colleges. The music program includes private lessons as well as ensembles for performers—vocal groups such as The Hilltones, an a cappella chorus, along with a school chorus—and instrumental groups. St. Johnsbury offers a Celtic music program, with classes in bagpipe, chanter, drumming and traditional dance. This group performs across the United States and has competed for medals at the world championships in Scotland.

Modern Dance students attend professional dance concerts and participate in Master classes at the Martha Graham Studio in New York City each semester. Student directed one-act plays are entered in state and regional competitions. Filmmaking courses are also popular.

There are art courses in drawing, anatomy and figure drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, welding, pottery, fashion design, digital design, photography and AP Studio Art and portfolio preparation. Each spring, the St. Johnsbury printmaking class spends two weeks in Florence, Italy, in a working studio.

Each program is unique

Each boarding school in the U.S.A. unique. You will find excellent programs within comprehensive schools and wonderful opportunities at specialized schools for the arts. Enjoy this opportunity to research some of the finest schools in the world.

By Bill Lowman

 

Bill Lowman is Headmaster of Idyllwild Arts Academy in California.

 

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