The transformative power of arts education in building confidence and resilience in young people.

Every summer I work as a voice tutor at a music theatre summer camp. It is a wonderful way to spend a week in the summer and despite being in my eighth year, I am still astounded by what young children can accomplish in a short space of time.

Professionally working with these children aged 8 to 15, inspires me to be a better educator. I aim to fine tune my process and improve on the year before. I scaffold my voice teaching to achieve the best outcome with the smallest amount of interference in their artistic approach. I know now, after years of practice, that this takes more skill than it looks! However, if the kids feel they are in the drivers seat they are more likely to feel confident and know that they have everything it takes to be successful on stage. Micro management particularly when the time from rehearsal to stage is so small can lead to confusion self-doubt and fear.

Ultimately a good teacher provides the foundations and skills from which the children can artistically apply their knowledge on their own.

I want to share with you that this year something remarkable happened which caused me to think more deeply about the benefits that only the arts can bring. It is rare after years of arts advocacy that I was so keenly blown away.? I can think of no other scenario where a situation like this would occur.

Music and drama education is still to this day, despite years of academic research and advocacy, seen by many schools as an opportunity that should be afforded to only the students who are either interested in it or good at. However as a music educator of over 30 years, I would argue that music education and an arts education should be afforded to every child because of the unique standalone skills which only it can offer.

This epiphany came about as a consequence of my student Jack's onstage performance last week.

Jack has only just turned 13, and was given a lead part in the Beetlejuice set. He had no less than 50 or more children performers behind him. The piece of music was an exceptionally fast patter song with lots of lyrics to remember and choreography to coordinate.? It was an adult song being performed by a young lad.

About 1/5 of the way into the song, there was a muck up with the backing track and it subsequently stopped. Jack was faced with the unenviable decision to stop, and PANIC, as probably most of us would do, OR continue as if nothing had happened.

Most of us would agree that this would be a challenging decision for even the most experienced seasoned performer, let alone a young, vulnerable teenage boy. The lights were on him and in that moment, (a split second), he chose to continue, give 100% and ensure that the ensemble behind him was able to keep going. The song was a complete and utter success! Most of the audience weren’t even aware of the near disaster unfolding onstage. From their perspective Jack hadn’t skipped a beat.

I subsequently thought to myself that I really do not know of a sport or activity where that same situation could happen. In that moment I knew that Jack had developed the skills he needed to face any challenge in life. His resilience, courage, determination and grit in that one moment was the truest test of this young man’s character. I was in awe.

So for those of you who are reading this if you know of a child who expresses interest in the arts in any shape or form, encourage them every single step of the way because the skills that they will learn are unsurpassed.

If the jury is still out as to why all children should have access to an arts education, I have compiled some benefits below.

The arts offer unique growth and developmental benefits that are difficult to replicate in other fields due to their integrative, creative, and experiential nature. These benefits span cognitive, emotional, social, and personal development. Here are some of the key contributions:

1. Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness

???????Expressive Outlet: The arts provide a safe space to express emotions and explore personal identity, enhancing emotional awareness and regulation.

???????Empathy Development: Engaging with stories, characters, or artistic expressions fosters understanding of diverse perspectives.

2. Creativity and Innovation

???????Original Thinking: Artistic activities encourage divergent thinking, enabling individuals to generate novel ideas and solve problems creatively.

???????Experimentation and Risk-Taking: The arts promote experimentation without fear of failure, fostering adaptability and resilience.

3. Cognitive Benefits

???????Enhanced Brain Function: Studies show that music, visual arts, and dance stimulate neural pathways, improving memory, attention, and spatial reasoning.

???????Interdisciplinary Connections: The arts link abstract concepts with tangible experiences, deepening understanding across disciplines like math, science, and history.

4. Communication and Collaboration

???????Improved Communication Skills: Performing arts enhance verbal and nonverbal communication, such as vocal expression, body language, and storytelling.

???????Teamwork: Collaborative projects in theatre, ensembles, or group art-making teach negotiation, conflict resolution, and shared responsibility.

5. Resilience and Discipline

???????Skill Mastery: Pursuing artistic skills requires perseverance, patience, and attention to detail, building discipline and a growth mindset.

???????Constructive Feedback: Learning to accept and apply feedback in the arts prepares individuals to handle critique in other areas of life.

6. Social and Cultural Awareness

???????Cultural Literacy: Exposure to diverse artistic traditions broadens understanding of cultural heritage and global diversity.

???????Community Building: Participating in shared artistic endeavours creates a sense of belonging and strengthens social bonds.

7. Wellbeing and Mental Health

???????Stress Reduction: Engaging in artistic activities like singing, drawing, or dancing reduces stress and promotes relaxation.

???????Mindfulness and Flow: The immersive nature of the arts encourages mindfulness and enhances overall life satisfaction.

8. Unique Modes of Learning

???????Kinesthetic Learning: Dance and drama provide hands-on, embodied learning experiences that are often missing in traditional education.

???????Symbolic Thinking: Visual and performing arts teach individuals to think metaphorically, enhancing abstract reasoning.

The arts, therefore, play a vital role in fostering holistic growth, enabling individuals to thrive personally and professionally while contributing creatively to society.