Considering an Arts Program

Idyllwild Arts Academy

Considering an Arts Program

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.

New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts offers university-level summer programs in New York and Europe. Students interested in studying theatre in New York choose from Acting with the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, Experimental Theatre, Musical Theatre Performance with the CAP21 (Collaborative Arts Project 21) professional training studio, or Musical Theatre Writing.

Future filmmakers choose from Filmmakers Workshop: Narrative, hands-on training in all aspects of video production, or Filmmakers Workshop: Animation. Students make their own films using techniques such as flipbooks, stop-motion puppets, claymation and computer-generated imagery. They work with Final Cut Pro, PhotoShop, AfterEffects and 16 mm cameras.Young writers may choose to develop their own scripts in the Dramatic Writing for High School Students Program. They learn to write for both stage and screen, act in readings and plays, and later stage, shoot, edit, produce and critique their work. Students with a musical interest may want to try their hand at Musical Theatre Writing, in a workshop where they will learn about music, lyrics, and story.

Young writers may choose to develop their own scripts in the Dramatic Writing for High School Students Program.

Miller School in Virginia provides a woodshop, where Woodworking students working in groups and individually have built kayaks, blanket chests, and other items. Students start in the drafting section of the course by learning to draw the blanket chest. Next they learn to use stationary power tools. After mastering the machine skills needed, they start working on the components of th e chest, until it is completed. They also acquire the skills of hardware installation, and applying finish to the completed chest.

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.

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, Headmaster of Idyllwild Arts Academy.