July workshop trains teachers for arts-in-education program

Apr 27, 2006 11:59 AM

Teachers interested in enhancing their students’ knowledge and understanding of music, dance, theater and visual art can get expert guidance at the National Educator Workshop, a week-long introductory seminar conducted during July. It is run by the Lincoln Center Institute for Arts in Education, (LCI), a component of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which collaborates with K-12 teachers in more than 100 partner schools in the city.

The workshop includes live dance, music and theater performances, museum visits, hands-on art sessions, research, lectures, study groups and curriculum-planning guides. All sessions feature a balance between philosophy and activity.

“The partnership with teachers supports an ongoing discussion,” said Cathryn Williams, director of strategic alliances. “What they learn in our workshops helps them engage their students on a deeper level, and helps them imagine their own curriculum in new and innovative ways.”

In the workshops, teachers work with specially trained “teaching artists” to develop and enhance their own skills of perception and engagement. The collaboration continues into work on a curriculum that each teacher can use in the classroom.

The National Educator Workshop serves as a lead-in to LCI’s philosophical approach to teaching and learning called aesthetic education. “It’s very different from a music teacher coming into a classroom to teach music skills,” said Alice Cohen, manager of LCI partnerships with schools that are integrating the arts into every classroom and every grade.

Tuition for the workshop is $525. Registration for either of the two New York City workshops — July 10-14 and July 17-21 — must be postmarked by June 2, although late registration is possible with a $25 late fee. To obtain a registration form, log on to www.lcidb..org and follow the links, or call Lincoln Center Institute at 1-212-875-5535.