What better place to discuss the long-term benefits of an education stressing creativity and arts performance than a Super Bowl party!
So while the linemen bashed each other senseless, the quarterbacks "threaded needles" with rifle-like passes, and the receivers caught those "bullets," a few of us began discussing culture. That does not refer to Madonna or Janet Jackson and the half-time show.
The group included nine parents from in-and-around Annapolis who have children of their own who were or are now involved in arts training and performance.
We asked questions like, why is it easier to get funding for sports activities than arts activities? Why are arts-related classes the first to go in a budget crunch? What kind of national mind-set elevates the possibility of bone breaks or mind-numbing concussions above the development of actual talent and brain stimulating physical and mental exercise?
Half the group grew up participating in one or both of these activities and enjoyed them equally. These are parents who spent "bundles" of money, sacrificed "scads" of time, and expended "oodles" of energy to get their kids to practice or performance on time, attired correctly with instruments, snacks, water bottles, etc, etc.
Who are these tireless benefactors?
Kathy Russo, a public school music teacher, recognized a budding vocalist when her daughter Cami "sang," especially at night while others tried to sleep. Cami was a small and shy child as she grew up, who now recognizes the acting and singing activities helped her gain confidence and interact successfully with adults and other children.
Cami acted first with Children's Theater of Annapolis, one of the foundational childrens drama organizations in the area. She sang in school and church choirs, and eventually joined a local kids group who entertained at local nursing homes and convalescent centers. She eventually graduated from Towson University, is married with one son, and continues her activities volunteering with drama groups in the area.
Three beautiful young ladies, all cousins and born of creative parents, started acting at three and five years old, and joined "The Talent Machine" company working out of the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, located at dockside in the Historic District. All three girls grew up with the production, in its' later iterations, and honed their natural acting, dancing and singing skills into professional quality talents. All three are married, and employed in creative jobs or professions.
"The process was a family bonding experience," one cousin said, "the whole family participated in front talent parts, or back stage activities. The experience taught us discipline, how to follow directions; we gained confidence, developed healthy self-images and became more comfortable with constantly being judged. You develop a thick skin and learn how to constructively control your jealousies when someone else gets 'your' part."
One more local young man grew up the last of four children of creative parents. While neither parent "made it" in their creative art forms, the genes were distributed more-or-less evenly, with all four kids involved in the arts. The eldest plays bass and sings regularly in a rising Bluegrass band which tours the East Coast and beyond. When not playing, he freelances for local publishers and produces multi-media historic presentations.
While married to a budding artist in Baltimore, son number two plays guitar in a rock band, and assists in the business aspects of his wife's career. The daughter began ballet at an early age, and while being more practically employed, still teaches and takes dance classes. She hopes to eventually incorporate dance into the therapeudic aspects of her work.
The young man first mentioned grew up "attached to a piano bench," and at age four, his piano teacher mother started formal lessons. He rapidly conquered the fundamentals, and moved to the more complex, mastering whatever he was given. He selected the clarinet when given the option to change instruments, and today is a junior at one of those expensive music schools, where he continues to make a strong impression.
Making forcasts is dangerous, but the future looks bright for these siblings who followed their intuition and creative training to develop rewarding life's work. They received help along the way from many different sources, but diligence and hard work have powered their natural talents to get what they want from their lives
The Super Bowl ended with the Giants going home with the cup and a few thousand more dollars than the Patriots. The Super Bowl party ended with a few people a little richer, and others gaining insights on how their creative kids can survive a society slowly learning the value of its creative side.
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