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Brand New to Dance, Voice, & Acting?
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If most performing arts studios seem to have qualified, friendly teachers, experience teaching children and a big show at the end of the year, aren’t they really all pretty much the same? Does it really matter which place you decide to enroll at? Yes.
There are 5 main things that can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the amount of extra work and hassles the parents must deal with and the overall excitement and satisfaction of being involved with a performing arts program. Here are 5 things that every parent should consider before deciding on a performing arts studio for their child.
- What type of dance floor is used?
Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot of jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide any cushioning or support, so the shock of many dance movements can place a lot of pressure on the knees and the back of a dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “floating floor”. A floating floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of high-density foam, to absorb the shock of jumping. A high-density foam base is superior to a “Sprung” floor and a “tongue and groove” wood floor which usually consists of a wood structure built on the regular floor or concrete.
The top layer of the dance floor is also an important factor. Hardwood maple floors are accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance. Wood floors are absolutely essential for tap dancing, breakdancing and all jazz and ballet jumps. Very few studios use professional wood floors because of the expense involved and usually opt for a regular tile floor over concrete and try and pass it off as a dance floor. Our custom designed Maple floating floors reduce the risk of injury and allow our students to dance longer without getting tired.
- What is the size of the classroom and the amount of children in each class?
If the dance class has fewer students in it each child will receive more personalized attention, learn more and have more fun. With younger students it is easier for a teacher to maintain control over the class and make sure each student understands the concepts and instructions. Our smaller class sizes and 2 year level programs make sure that no fundamental concepts are being missed. A smaller class size also allows our teachers and their assistants to ensure that students are not developing bad habits or improper technique.
Our studio has three state of the art studios to accommodate all types of classes. All three studios are 1250 square feet, accommodating up to 30 children in any given dance or acting class. Our Private Voice and Piano Studios are Sunny and Comfortable for student & teacher. Our Visual Arts Studio, used for more stationary classes, is also a sunny and spacious room that perfectly accommodates up to 15 children in any given class.
At Arts YOUniversity, you are given multiple options on how your child would like to take lessons in dance, acting, voice, piano or the visual arts. In addition to our group classes in dance, acting, voice and visual arts, we offer private lessons in ALL our classes, which give students a personalized curriculum to provide any special needs that you and your child may have.
- What are the “extras” required for the year round performances and year end recitals?
Most studios put on a long and boring year end recital in a local theater, with many costumes that require many alterations or extra money to take care of all the details. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for our busy parents who may not know how to sew. At Arts YOUniversity, we order the finest quality of costumes, with little to no alterations needed and our very own Arts YOUniversity seamstress to help with any alterations or adjustments that may need to be made.
For voice and acting students, Arts YOUniversity offers year round performance opportunities in our permanent, 200 seat theater for students to enjoy performing all year round with tickets at only $10 each, including snacks, drinks and free babysitting.
Our Year end recital is only 2.5 hours long, jam packed with each and every student showing the skills that they have gained that year and includes a 20 minute Mini-Musical that features all our Musical Theater classes.
Other studios require you to purchase many costly tickets, programs and DVD’s. Arts Youniversity offers our families a Family Recital Package, that includes 6 tickets for any show of your choice, programs, and a Recital DVD for only $165.
We offer many performance opportunities throughout the year, not just in the late Spring, keeping children invigorated and parents seeing their children’s progress. We take care of all the details….all you need to do is show up!
- Can I get immediate assistance and customer service?
In many studios the teacher or the studio owner conducts all the classes and does all the administration. By trying to do too many jobs at once, the classes suffer and therefore so do the children. At Arts YOUniversity, we feel to have a good experience it is important to choose a studio that can assist you with details like costumes or schedules, even if a teacher is occupied in a class. Our studio has office staff on hand during all regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance. We are also available via email throughout each and every day and answer all emails within 24 hours time, even on Sundays. Our website offers up to the minute updates and details on all programs at Arts YOUniversity, including rehearsal schedules, class times, audition results and school closings.
- How will I know if my child if my child is fully benefiting from an arts education?
At many studios, the space is so small that you simply drop off your child for class and you do not see them again until after class. You eagerly ask, “What did you learn today?”, only to be told “I don’t know”. In many cases, parents are not aware of the skills students are being taught and what work is actually being accomplished in each class.
At Arts YOUniversity, we use observation windows and closed circuit TV, with flat screen monitors, in the Lobby, so that parents may stay and watch the class if they want to. This allows parents to see the superior teacher/student interaction and monitor their own child’s level of participation, growth and development.
We also provide each student with a Spring Recommendation in May of each school year accessing their skill level in their present classes. This recommendation is available after each teacher, along with the school’s directors, makes personal recommendations advising the student what classes would benefit them most in the upcoming school year. This is an unparalled guide for parents to view their child’s progress and aide in choosing classes for the upcoming year.
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The guidelines will help you to have a successful, rewarding experience learning voice and piano. These are practical tips that we have discovered from years of teaching and our experiences with teaching hundreds of students each year.
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How Young is too Young – Starting at the Right Age
Adults can start any instrument or voice lessons at any time. Their success is based on how willing an adult is able to commit to practicing. For children, starting at the right age is a key element to the success of their lessons. Some people will tell you “the sooner the better” but this attitude can actually backfire and be negative. If a child is put into lessons too soon they may feel overwhelmed and frustrated and want to stop lessons. The last thing you want to do is turn a child off to music just because they had one unpleasant experience which could have been prevented. Sometimes if the child waits a year to start lessons their progress can be much faster. Children who are older than the suggested earliest starting age usually do very well. The following guidelines we have found to be successful in determining how young a child can start taking voice or piano lessons.
3 – 4 Years Old
If a preschooler has a keen desire and wants to start music, a group preschool class, such as our Creative Movement level classes will give them a good foundation in Music and Movement, which will later be helpful in private lessons. At this age, private lessons generally do not work as the child has not yet experienced the formal learning environment of kindergarten or school and learns more effectively through the song and dance environment offered in our Creative Movement classes.
Piano/Keyboard
At our school, 7 years old is the youngest that we start children in private piano lessons. At this age they have begun to develop longer attention spans and can retain material with ease.
Voice Lessons
7 years old is recommended as the youngest age for private vocal lessons. Due to the physical nature of voice lessons (proper breathing techniques, development of the vocal chords and lung capacity), the younger body is generally not yet ready for the vigors of vocal technique. For children younger than 7, we have a weekly Group Voice class (ages 5 and up) that teaches them how to use their voices properly, in a fun and relaxed environment.
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Insist on Private Lessons when Learning a Specific Instrument
Group classes work well for preschool music programs, and theory lessons. However, when actually learning how to play an instrument, private lessons are far superior since it is hard to miss anything, and each student can learn at their own pace. This means the teacher does not have to teach a class at a middle of the road level, but has the time and focus to work on the individual student’s strengths and weaknesses. For that lesson period, the student is the primary focus of the teacher. The teachers also enjoy this as they do not have to divide their attention between 5 -10 students at a time and can help the student be the best they can be.
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Take Lessons in a Professional Teaching Environment
Learning piano and voice is not just a matter of having a qualified teacher, but also having an environment that is focused on music education. In a professional school environment a student cannot be distracted by tv, pets, ringing phones, siblings or anything else. With only 1/2 hour to one hour of lesson time per week, a professional school environment can produce better results since the only focus at that time is learning music. Students in a school environment are also motivated and inspired by hearing peers who are at different levels. In a performing arts school, the lessons are not just a hobby or side-line for the teacher but a responsibility which is taken very seriously.
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| 4. |
Making Practicing Easier
As with anything, improving in voice or piano takes time. One of the main problems with lessons is the drudgery of practicing and the fight between parents and students to practice every day. Here are some ways to make practicing easier:
a) Time – Set the same time everyday to practice so it becomes part of the routine or habit. This works particularly for children. Generally the earlier in the day the practicing can occur, the less reminding is required by parents to get the child to practice.
b) Repetition – We use this method quite often when setting practice schedules for beginners. For a young child 20 -30 minutes seems like an eternity. Instead pd setting a time frame, we sue repetition. For example, practice this piece 4 times everyday, and this scale 5 times a day. The child does not pay attention to the amount of time they are practicing, but knows if they are on repetition number three they are almost finished.
c) Rewards – This works very well for both children and young adult students. Parents can encourage children to practice by granting them occasional rewards for successful practicing. In our school we reward young children for a successful week of practicing with stickers or stars of achievement. Praise tends to be the most coveted award – there is just no substitute for a pat on the back for a job well done. Sometimes we all have a week with little practicing, in that case there is always next week.
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| 5. |
Use Recognized Teaching Materials
There are some excellent materials that we use at Arts You, developed by professional music educators that are made for students in a variety of situations. For example in piano, there are books for very young beginners and books for adults that have never played before. There are books that can start you at a level you are comfortable with. These materials have been researched and are continually upgraded and improved to make learning easier. These materials ensure that no important part of learning the instrument can inadvertently be left out. If you ever have to move to a different part of the country, qualified teachers and institutions will recognize the materials and be able to smoothly continue from where your previous teacher left off.
| HAVE FUN!
Singing and Playing Piano should be something that you want you or your child to enjoy for a lifetime. So, try not to put unrealistic expectations on yourself or your child to learn too quickly. Everyone learns at a different pace and the key is to be able to enjoy the journey!
Let it begin with your group or private lessons here at Arts Youniversity!
Arts Youniversity 609-586-3008 www.ArtsYouniversity.com
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Here's why Arts Youniversity
is the right choice for your family...
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Arts
Youniversity |
Other Performing Arts Schools |
| Leading Industry Professional Teachers with over 95 classes in the performing arts to choose from |
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| Uniforms including leotards, tights, jazz pants, and accessories at discounted prices to save you time & money |
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| All Costumes purchased for you - No hastles for parents |
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| 200 seat permanent black box theater |
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3 Large Studios, 1 Art Studio, 2 Private Vocal rooms, a large & comfortable Waiting Room, Student Lounge with large spacious bathrooms
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| Perfectly calculated class size numbers based on room size, dance style, and student age |
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| Choice of more than 9 dance styles and 12 teachers to fit your chillds personality and learning style |
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| Mirrors that start at floor level so that dancers can see their feet from any place on the dance floor |
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Closed Circuit TV in each studio with Flat Screen Tv's in the lobby & a one way glass observation window in the Visual Arts Studio
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Professional length technique classes for all ballet and jazz classes in our Pre-Professional Companies
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| Desk staff available to assist you during teaching hours every day |
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| Pre-professional cirriculum developed for children 10-14 and teens ages 13-18 with individualized instruction |
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| Students or parents are never required to fund raise for studio events |
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| Ability to take dance, acting, voice, piano and visual arts lessons at the same location and save travel time between activities |
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