Make sure to join us tonight at our annual Fine Arts College Information Night. Registration begins at 6:30 pm at Howard High School in Ellicott City, followed by a short plenary session at 7:00 pm before breaking out into panel discussions for music, theatre, visual art, and dance. At 8:30 pm, there will be an additional session open for financial aid and scholarship information. Our event is growing still, and we would love for you to experience everything College Night has to offer.
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Fine Arts College Information Night Is Here!
Maryland Schools Rank Number 1 for Fifth Year
As reported in the Baltimore Sun today, Maryland’s schools have been ranked first in the nation for the fifth year in a row. Please see the full article here. Well done, students, educators, and administrators.
FAAC Update
A new school year has begun, and the FAAC is excited to continue our work with the Howard County Public School System.
State of the Arts in Howard County Schools
We had our first meeting of the 2011-2012 school year on September 19, 2011. After a brief welcome by FAAC co-chair George Wilson, current and new members of the council introduced themselves and their ties to the arts and the Howard County Public School System. HCPSS Fine Arts Coordinator Mark Coates presented a State of the Arts. Highlights from his presentation include:
- Art labs: programs to assist students in digital media
- Music Technology labs: MIDI set-ups with keyboards and computers, Sibelius notation software, Smart Music student assistance software, Garage Band
- All lab spaces to be created or retro-fitted by Summer 2012
- All high school auditoriums are now centralized in the office of the HCPSS Fine Arts Coordinator
- Inspections of all high school theaters were performed and funding has been secured to standardize light and sounds systems across all high school theaters
- 2011-2012 marks the fortieth year of the Columbia Mall Art Show for HCPSS students
College Information Night
Janis McNutt introduced College Information Night, and Stephanie Gurwitz-Zurier provided a brief description and sought volunteers to help moderate panel sessions and other required tasks. More information will be provided in a later post.
High School Communication Liaisons
It was suggested by a council member that we establish communications liaisons with each school to provide more focused communication with school administrators and teachers. FAAC would create a newsletter type of communiqué to distribute to the schools and school board members.
Board of Education
Brian Meshkin, HCPSS parent and a member of the Howard County Board of Education, attended our meeting to familiarize himself with the county arts administrators and hear the concerns of all council members. Mr. Meshkin is quite interested in keeping arts involved with all school in Howard County and taking our schools in a direction that would enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to become STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). He sought our ideas and suggestions for improving arts education in HCPSS schools and innovating the teaching of common core subjects to enhance students’ interest in school and improve their test scores. A council member provided feedback on enhanced arts integration, in particular, at Thunder Hill Elementary and its dramatic effect on their test scores.
Parks and Recreation
Holly, a representative from Howard County Parks and Recreation, was in attendance and seeking a partnership with a HCPSS school to provide an after-school program involving the arts. Her department would be providing the funding for this program.
Openings Within the Committee
Positions for a secretary and website administrator were open and volunteers sought. Katey Pearson, parent and violist, volunteered for the secretary position, and Donna Wiles-Noyes, parent and clarinetist, volunteered for the website administrator position. The FAAC co-chairs and members thank these women for their commitment to our council.
Next FAAC Meeting
The next meeting of the FAAC will be in November. Details will be updated as they are received.
Long Reach High School Student Art Show
click on image to view full size
Columbia Art Center Association presents the Long Reach High School Student Art show at Long Reach Shopping Center. Student works from Jillian Jenkin’s Art I and Art II are on display from February 22 through February 28. Join us for a special reception on February 24th, 6:30-8pm.
Long Reach Shopping Center
6100 Foreland Garth
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 410-730-0075
Fax: 410-997-2902
Web: columbiaartcenter.org
Howard County Arts Council’s 2011 Arts Scholarship
Need money for college? Apply for the Howard County Arts Council’s 2011 Arts Scholarship.
The Council will award a minimum of $10,000 in scholarship funds to students entering college in the 2011-2012 academic year. Scholarships must be used for enrollment in an accredited college program for a degree in the arts. Applicants must be a legal resident of Howard County. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered by Monday, December 13, 2010.
Download the application form here.
The Glee Effect
It appears to be a national trend forming in high school arts programs. It is all because of the Fox TV show “Glee”. Across the nation, more and more students are succumbing to the “Glee Effect” and there seems to be an uptick in enrollment in school choirs and theatre programs. Here is a sampling of articles that were in the press recently. The first article quotes a Marriotts Ridge Student in the first paragraph.
‘Glee’ puts high school choirs at center stage – Baltimore Sun
The ‘Glee’ effect: Singing is cool again
As one choral teacher gleefully puts it: Singing is cool again.
Glee: How “Glee” is changing high school choir
The “real Will Schuester” explains the way Fox’s hit show is pushing boundaries in a world known for jazz hands
High school choir programs growing fast and gleefully – Wire – Lifestyle – bellinghamherald.com
Gabriel Herrera has never had a Slushy thrown in his face.
Get the Latest from HCFAAC Using RSS
Wonder what those funny links to “RSS” are in our right-hand menu?
RSS is a great way to make sure you get all the latest news from this site. Rather than surfing over to our site, RSS will bring our information to you. Here’s how in three easy steps:
(1) Subscribe to a feed reader. (Here are some to choose from.)
(2) Return to hcfaac.org and click on the orange RSS button in our right-hand menu. (It will look like the picture in this post.)
(3) Choose your feed reader from the dropdown menu in the yellow box at the top of the page. Or copy and paste the url into your feed reader.
Now, whenever you log into your feed reader, you’ll see all the latest news from us!
Fine Arts College Night: Suggestions for Parents and Students Interested in Studying Performing & Visual Arts
FINE ARTS COLLEGE Information
Sponsored by the HCPSS Fine Arts Advisory Council
Suggestions for Parents and Students Interested in Studying Performing & Visual Arts
Performing and visual arts programs usually require more than the normal admissions application and essay. The programs often desire a demonstration of the student’s work which can require a great deal of preparation.
Most arts programs that are not conservatories (music, theater, dance, and visual arts) require a two-tier approach: the normal admissions process that all students follow plus a separate process which may include an additional application, fee, and essay as well as a CD, video, DVD, or portfolio combined with an audition, interview and/or special project. Each college has different criteria. It is important to check out the requirements of many different schools early since they vary greatly and often require extensive advance preparation. While conservatories usually have only one admissions process, it can also be multi-tiered and often much more demanding in terms of the artistic requirements. Many schools have 2 or 3 cuts they make throughout the admissions process.
Check out the admissions requirements of different types of schools even if you are not yet sure where you want to apply. It will give you an idea of what is required.
Ask many different people for advice. Use the numerous resources available. Often individuals, both teachers and parents, base their knowledge on their own personal experiences which can be very helpful but sometimes limiting, so it is best to get information from a variety of sources.
To get questions about this process answered, start with your student’s teachers, both school and private instructors have knowledge that can be helpful.
There are numerous blogs and online discussions that can be helpful. It is often hard to find college listings and rankings for the arts programs that are fully inclusive so do not rely on these too heavily. [For example – if looking for a Jazz Program but the school lists itself as Contemporary and Jazz it may not show on a general list.]
Attend the Performing and Visual Arts College Fair held in Washington every fall. There are hundreds of schools in attendance and it is a great place to pick up information.
Contact the admissions counselors at the schools you are considering. If you are seeking information about programs within larger universities do not rely only on the general admissions office, be sure to contact the admissions person in the particular department as well. Do not be afraid to share information about your student and what specifically you are seeking. They are usually very helpful.
Ask your teacher and parents in your high school boosters program for names of parents who have recently gone through the process. The information they share can be very useful.
For further information or questions feel free to contact Stephanie Gurwitz Zurier, Fine Arts College Night Coordinator sgurwitz1@verizon.net
Fine Arts College Night: Tips for Choosing Performing and Visual Arts Schools
FINE ARTS COLLEGE Information
Sponsored by the HCPSS Fine Arts Advisory Council
Tips for Choosing Performing & Visual Arts Schools
Students who wish to study visual or performing arts have some unique challenges and options during their college search. If you’re considering a major in music, art, dance, or drama, read on for some advice from the experts.
A Difference of Degree
Prospective arts majors have two degree options: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with a major in the arts and a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) for artists/performers or bachelor of music (BM) for musicians. The BA degree is the typical liberal arts degree–students who major in English, history, and other humanities majors also earn BA degrees. The BFA or BM degree is more focused and intense.
“There is a world of difference between a BA in music and a BM in music,” says Anthony Celentano, school counselor/military advisor at Pope John XXIII High School (NJ), who holds a BM and MM (master of music). “A BA in music will be pretty much like any other BA degree–lots of courses outside of your major with approximately 12 or so courses in your major. That’s not a lot of music for the student who is looking for an intense musical experience. A BM in music essentially is a professional degree. Within my 120+ credits for my BM, only 36 were liberal arts courses. The remainder were music or degree-related courses: private lessons, conducting classes, music history, music theory, etc.”
Which degree you choose depends on your college and career goals. If you have a high degree of commitment to your art and desire an intense, often competitive college experience, a BFA or BM might be right for you. If you would rather study a variety of subjects along with your arts major, a BA may be the way to go.
Types of Colleges
Visual and performing arts students have several types of colleges to consider. Conservatories and stand-alone arts schools offer an immersion-type experience for students earning BM or BFA degrees. All of the students you meet at this type of school will be artists, and the atmosphere is often highly competitive.
Some larger universities offer BFA/BM degrees as well as BA degrees in the arts. You may find somewhat self-contained music or arts schools within the larger university. In this atmosphere, you could pursue the more specialized degree while still keeping the door open to taking a few liberal arts courses (which would be unavailable at specialized music or arts schools). There are also Certificate programs which are not college degrees but instead provide a specialized highly concentrated training. In addition, a university-based arts program might give you the option of pursuing a double degree, such as a BM in music and a BA in history. (A double degree would usually require more than four years, however.)
The Application Process
In addition to completing a typical college application, students in the visual or performing arts should prepare a portfolio or audition. Each arts program has different requirements, so you should contact the schools as early as possible to obtain their portfolio or audition requirements.
Although your portfolio or audition is an important part of the application, arts programs do consider your academic record and test scores.
“Some [colleges] place greater value on academics, while others lean more toward the student’s portfolio or audition,” according to a workshop on arts programs presented at several NACAC meetings (compiled by Kavin Buck, UCLA; Jane Buckman, Cornish College of the Arts; Ed Schoenberg, Otis College of Art and Design; and Jenny Woo, UCLA). “Most colleges balance the student’s creative talent with their academic achievements.”
Assessing Your Abilities
If you’re interested in pursuing arts major and career, now is the time to seek objective opinions of your abilities in the field.
James Gandre, dean of Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University (IL), offers this advice to young musicians: “In addition to asking for honest advice and evaluation from high school ensemble and private teachers, students can get outside assessment from musicians at a local symphony, dance company, theatre, etc. Of course, everyone doesn’t live in a big city, so this may require driving one to two hours or more to get this advice, but it’s worth it.”
Visual arts students can receive portfolio evaluations and college information at one of the National Portfolio Days sponsored by an association of arts schools and art departments at universities. For more information, talk to your guidance counselor or art teacher or visit http://www.portfolioday.net/
Other Considerations
All students benefit from visiting the colleges that interest them and asking questions about academics, student life, and other facets of college life. As an arts student, you may have different or additional things to consider.
Location. The location of your chosen college may be more important to arts students than to students in other majors.
“There may be many factors to consider when choosing where to study,” notes the workshop authors. “For art students, these should involve access to professional venues such as museums, galleries, theaters, and concerts. Also, do these venues attract regional, national, or international talent to inspire and educate the students? Additionally, the opportunity to perform, exhibit, and have active internships is vital to a young artist’s education.”
Facilities. In addition to checking out dorm rooms, classrooms, and athletic facilities, art students should look at a college’s studio space or practice rooms, performance or exhibit venues on campus, darkroom facilities (for photographers), computer resources, and any other resources specific to your field of study. And ask questions about how accessible these resources are to students: attractive studios are of no help if there aren’t enough to go around.
Reputation and philosophy. Talk to your art, music, drama, or dance teachers about the reputation of the colleges you’re considering. Ask the colleges about career opportunities for graduates and about what their alumni are doing. The goal here is to get some idea of how the program is perceived by professionals in your career field and what career opportunities you might have when you complete college.
Also, ask each college about their philosophy. Different fine arts or music programs can have very different emphases. For example, one music program may emphasize classical music, while another specializes in more modern forms, like jazz. Similarly, the intensity of competitiveness, workload, and pressure can vary from school to school. During your visits and talks with students and faculty, try to get an impression of the daily pressures of being a student in that particular program.
A good fit. Finally, as for any student, visual and performing arts students need to find a college that fits their personality, interests and goals. Especially for very ambitious students, it’s easy to be dazzled by the prestige of a top professional school or arts department and overlook the question of whether the program is right for you.
“When working as dean of enrollment at New York City’s Manhattan School of Music, I would run across the occasional unhappy student who came to New York City because someone else had told them that New York or Manhattan School of Music or a particular teacher was perfect for them. They listened to those mentors instead of their gut and made a wrong choice,” says Gandre. “No matter how talented the student and how wonderful the school, fit is always crucial.”
Written by Jennifer Gross. And prepared by the National Association for College Admission Counseling
Howard County Fine Arts Advisory Council 