Bringing the Fine Arts into At-Home Learning 2024

When art and music teachers learned their schools would be closed due to the Coronavirus, many pondered, “Can the arts go digital?” While not all households have access to an abundance of art supplies or musical instruments, most homes do have access to a smartphone. Research shows that around 80 percent of American households have a smartphone, offering teachers a foundation to find creative ways for students to learn remotely, especially those with limited supplies at home.

Transitioning to online art and music education poses unique challenges and opportunities. It’s essential to consider whether students can access art supplies, musical instruments, or the Internet. Additionally, understanding if students will be working alone or with a parent or sibling and assessing the feasibility of recreating classroom lessons at home are crucial steps in planning effective remote arts education.

Things to Consider When Planning for the Arts at Home

When planning for the arts during remote learning, shifting focus from the original classroom skills to encouraging creative engagement with available supplies is critical. To create art, students can repurpose everyday items like toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and empty containers. Household items like pots and pans can serve as instruments alongside their voices for music class. Teachers can utilize virtual meetings, singalongs, YouTube videos, and essential household items to deliver engaging lessons.

Ways to Bring the Arts into At-Home Learning

Many teachers have found innovative ways to continue teaching from home. Here are a few ideas:

Utilize Digital Resources

The arts can indeed go digital! Numerous digital resources are available. Teachers can lead students through simple art activities, such as drawing, via YouTube channels or video conferencing apps like Google Classroom or Zoom. One-on-one sessions can be held through FaceTime, and students can be assigned to watch online videos to perfect their techniques or learn about famous artists. Virtual museum tours, like Met Kids, are also an excellent resource.

Music and drama teachers can also embrace digital platforms. For example, virtual singalongs can be conducted, as demonstrated by a chorus teacher who hosts weekly Google Meets for her students to sing together. Band teachers can assign YouTube videos to learn new notes or songs and organize virtual band classes for online practice sessions.

Utilize Unconventional Materials

For students with limited internet access, unconventional household materials can become the foundation of art lessons. Students can turn food packaging into suncatchers, use egg cartons as paint dishes, or create a color wheel from household items.

Music and band teachers can encourage students to make music with household items. Students can create songs using pots, pans, and spoons or get creative using various household items to produce unique sounds. The possibilities are endless with a bit of imagination.

Create an Activity Themed Around the Pandemic

Incorporating students’ current experiences into their art and music lessons can provide a meaningful creative outlet. For instance, drama students whose performances were canceled can rewrite song lyrics to reflect their pandemic experiences, using terms like “six feet apart,” “social distancing,” and “life in quarantine.”

Create an Online Performance

Although performance-based rehearsals online can be challenging, they are feasible. Students can gather on platforms like Google Meet or Zoom to rehearse. While managing overlapping conversations requires established rules, an online performance is better than none.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Can digital resources effectively teach art and music?

Digital resources such as YouTube tutorials, virtual museum tours, and video conferencing can effectively teach art and music.

What if students don’t have internet access?

Teachers can design lessons using unconventional household materials, encouraging creativity with food packaging, pots, pans, and other readily available items.

How can students perform music or drama online?

Students can use video conferencing tools like Google Meet or Zoom to rehearse and perform online, ensuring rules are in place to manage the virtual environment.

How can the arts help students during the pandemic?

The arts provide a creative outlet, assisting students to destress and heal during anxious times by fostering a sense of community and expression.

What are some creative projects students can do at home?

Projects can include repurposing household items for art, creating music with kitchen utensils, rewriting song lyrics to reflect pandemic experiences, and participating in online performances.

Conclusion

The arts have a remarkable ability to help people cope with stress and anxiety. Teachers provide a valuable outlet during these challenging times by encouraging students to remain creative. Despite the limitations posed by remote learning, innovative use of digital resources and household items can keep the arts alive and thriving in students’ lives.