ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, July 6, 1996 TAG: 9607080054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
PAINTING, SINGING, ACTING and playing the piano are some of the things Roanoke kids can do this summer in "Art World," a creative arts program sponsored by the city's magnet schools.
Seven-year-old Emily Erdman munches on her crackers at snack time after piano and drama lessons. When she finishes eating, she'll have art and vocal music classes.
Emily is going to school this summer, but there are no arithmetic, science or reading classes. It's a time for creativity and fun.
She's learning to play the piano, act, sing, paint and create designs. She likes art and drama the best.
"I think I'd like to act and maybe do a television show," said the rising second-grader at Roanoke Academy for Mathematics and Science.
Emily discovered "Art World" almost by accident.
"They came to our school and were handing out things about it," she said. "I thought, 'Yeah, I'd like to go,' and decided to come."
For children who like the arts, it's bliss in a summer camp atmosphere, a place to explore the visual arts, music and theater.
It's a five-week summer program offered by Roanoke's magnet schools. It's a companion to "Tech Camp," a summer magnet program in science and technology.
Fifty-five children are attending the art classes, which are open to beginning and experienced young artists who want to sharpen their skills. The children are rising second-through ninth-graders.
In the intensive program, the children spend four hours a day in classes for drama, piano, voice and visual arts. Each class lasts 45 minutes; the children also spend time together in larger groups.
"They are exposed to all areas. We try to help them find what they do best," said Susan Houston, a piano teacher in the performing arts suite at Ruffner Middle School, where the classes are held. "A lot of children have talent, but they never know they have it unless they explore the arts."
The summer classes are an extension of the city's school-year magnet arts program. In addition to learning how to act, sing and paint, the children in the summer program study the arts from a historical perspective.
For the classes, students are separated into four groups by grades. The instruction is geared to the children's ability and skill levels. Most of the rising second-and third-graders are exploring the arts for the first time.
Devon Ray, 7, has never had musical training, but he's learning the piano keyboard and the fundamentals of playing the instrument. A rising second-grader at the Highland Park Elementary magnet school, Devon likes music the best of the arts.
Jalissa McPherson, a rising second-grader at Green Valley Elementary, has fallen in love with pantomime in drama class.
On one recent day, drama teacher Terry Cole guided the children through a series of pantomimes ranging from imagining they were standing on a raft in a stream of crocodiles to being stuck in a bowl of whipped cream.
Jordan Fifer, who will be in the second grade at Fishburn Park Elementary in the fall, said he likes acting the best.
The children are spread throughout the grades. But, Cole said, there are more second-and sixth-graders.
"Each age group is different, but I enjoy working with all of them," she said.
"You get to do a lot of different things in the classes," said Alicia Taylor, a rising second-grader at Raleigh Court Elementary. "You get to play the piano, sing, eat snacks and do other things."
Some middle school students are attending the art camp to improve their skills. They've had arts classes in elementary school and taken private lessons.
Amber Thompson, 11, has been taking dance lessons for six years and piano for three. "I've always been interested in the arts, and that's why I came," she said.
Amelia Robinson, a student at the private Community School in Roanoke County, was attracted to the summer program because she's interested in drama. She attended Mill Mountain Theatre's drama camp last summer.
In the visual arts classes, the children are learning design techniques. They will help design a T-shirt that each will receive for participating in the program.
The children also will help design the sets and scenery for a show during the final week featuring their own artwork, drama and music.
"The production combines all of the art disciplines. They will act, sing, play the piano, and their art will be on display," said art teacher Pam Feldman.
Charles McGeorge, who finished the fifth grade at Westside Elementary last month, came to the art camp because he's interested in drawing and wants to improve his music skills. Charles learned to play bass, cello, guitar and violin in the Westside magnet arts program.
The children come from 15 schools in Roanoke, Roanoke County and surrounding school divisions. The tuition for Roanoke children is $135 for the five weeks, plus a $35 registration fee. For children from outside the city, the charge is $160 and a $50 registration fee.
Pupils do not need to be enrolled at a magnet school to attend the summer classes.
Lisa Patterson, a rising eighth-grader at Ruffner, enrolled so she could spend more time refining her piano skills. She said this is the first time she's had the opportunity to take summer arts classes; she moved to Roanoke from Ohio last year.
Dominique Adams, who will be a sixth-grader at Ruffner in the fall, mainly came for piano and music classes, but he also likes the visual arts and drama.
"I'm learning how to play the keyboard better," he said. "I've been playing since I was little."
Chris LaBrecque, who finished the fifth grade at Grandin Court Elementary last month, likes to sketch, and he plays the clarinet and drums. But he never considered the summer classes until brochures on the program were distributed at his school.
"I decided it would be a good way to spend part of the summer," he said. "Now I think I'd like to go to Ruffner for the arts program" during the regular school year.
Houston said some parents send their young children because they want to expose them to the arts. It's also a better option for some families than hiring a baby sitter to care for their children four hours a day, she said.
"If my kids were young, I'd rather for them to be here than at home with a sitter," she said. "It allows children to be creative, and it doesn't take all of their day."
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. 1. Jordan Fifer, 6, practicesby CNB"Chopsticks" (right) on an electronic keyboard during piano class at
"Art World," a summer program sponsored by Roanoke magnet schools.
2. Emily Erdman, 7, feigns uncontrollable laughter (above) during
her drama class. 3. Crystal Jackson, 12, creates a design for a
T-shirt during art class. color. 4. Sophia Pizzamiglio, 7, strikes a
frightened pose during her drama course.