Fine Arts Education
The arts are essential for the healthy development of children and are an integral component of our educational system in developing the attitudes, characteristics, and intellectual capacities required for students to participate successfully in today’s society and economy. The arts teach self-discipline, reinforce self-esteem, foster thinking skills and creativity, and promote teamwork and cooperation, all of which are so valued in the workplace. Most notably, though, the arts are important in and of themselves in that they are a vital and vibrant part of our personal, social, and cultural environment. -- Shirley Neeley, former Texas Commissioner of Education
UT Elementary School offers instruction in the visual arts and music. The allocation of instructional time, implementation of teaching methodologies and the development of curriculum are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
Art Education
The Center for Educator Development in the Fine Arts (CEFDA) describes TEKS for the fine arts:
Elementary students produce creative and imaginative pieces that:
- perceptual skills
- a variety of media in multiple activities
- knowledge of art history
- art as an expression of cultural experience
- skills of evaluation.
In the primary grades, art helps students become more aware of their physical environment, extend and develop the use of the senses, and utilize inventive thinking. Art programs support individual interpretation of ideas, thoughts, and feelings and provide opportunities to work in a variety of media. Teachers encourage students to explore and express their responses to artwork.
At UT Elementary, there are many art educational approaches that are involved to ensure that all students are involved and given many opportunities to learn and succeed in the visual arts as part of their general education. DBAE (Discipline Based Art Education), Multicultural Art Education, Community Based Art Education, and Interdisciplinary Art Education are all approaches utilized in the Art Education program at UTES. Through DBAE the teaching of art history, aesthetics, production, and art criticism are incorporated into their curriculum. All the approaches listed above utilize an inquiry method of teaching and learning and emphasizes critical thinking skills. Because students analyze, synthesize, explain, justify, and make critical judgments of the works, the students experience significant growth in reasoning skills that are applicable to other academic areas in addition to the arts.
UTES students have had the opportunity to visit and interact with many art venues and professionals in Austin: the Blanton Museum of Art, Mexic-Arte, the Austin Museum of Art, UT’s Creative Research Lab (CRL), UT’s College of Fine Arts Summer Outreach Program with Dr. Christopher Adejumo, and Visual Art Studies graduate students from UT. Students have had their artwork displayed in/at the President’s Office at UT, Explore UT, the Provosts’ Offices, and the CRL. Thanks to the generosity of the University Co-Op, this year every class at UT Elementary School will participate in a field trip to the Blanton Museum which will enhance their arts education. Here students will make connections between art, culture, their classroom curriculum, and their communities as they explore the exhibitions.
One of the projects at UTES that has impacted the entire school is the very large mural that adorns the library. It is comprised of students’ self-portraits and is painted in vibrant colors that reflect the creativity and energy of these very talented young students. They have created a true legacy that will be part of the school for a very long time to come.
Music Education
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) writes that:
Children can understand movement as a form of nonverbal communication as they begin to tell stories and express their feelings through body movements. They learn to imitate patterns of sound and rhythm and become aware of music in nature, for example whistling wind, chirping birds and crickets.
Children respond favorably to music that is familiar. Playing a recorded song several times as background music can boost familiarity and build vocabulary as the lyrics are learned. Inventing new verses for familiar songs and spontaneous singing as they play can help children understand that music is a form of creative expression.
At UT Elementary, Kindergarten through fifth-grade is instructed one hour per week per grade level. Emphasis is placed on exhibiting communication through Music. The students develop artistic competence by exploring singing/playing concepts and skills to demonstrate an awareness of basic Music theory. The general goals are to help children manifest a basic understanding of the cultural heritages, historical influences and artistic contributions of man through Music Appreciation, encourage development through movement which stimulates creativity and musical expression, demonstrate the ability to perform well and to feel secure in their abilities, learn the importance of listening, become proficient at playing the recorder which teaches young performers to read notes, play together as a group, and explore different levels of their playing abilities.
All of the goals are a continuous effort to expose their incredible abilities. It is of extreme importance that children have the opportunities to participate in Fine Arts Programs. Music provides opportunities to reveal and understand emotions, know that whatever they musically create is acceptable, work independently or as teams, learn basic groups of instruments and generally feel competent and comfortable as they mature in the educational process.
The classes perform at various events at the school and around The University of Texas at Austin campus.
At UT Elementary, art is taught by Lee Anne Gardner, music is taught by Margaret Wright.
Theatre arts are incorporated into the curriculum in individual classrooms, library classes, and music classes.
