Teaching as a Lifestyle

How did I come to the understanding that one could access learning and love through the arts? I consider the arts to be therapeutic and educational. I am defining the arts for the purposes of this book as creative dramatics, movement, dance, music, performing arts, creative writing, and visual arts. Literacy skills are defined as the ability to read for comprehension and understanding, mathematical skills, and to speak and write so others will understand. Yet, there are occurrences that can happen, especially during participation in the arts which words cannot express or define. I hope that you have had such an experience and can relate to what I am saying. Some things in life are not quantifiable nor can words explain, but the intent and purpose is communicated through the medium of the art form and adds meaning to the moment.

Let me stop here and give you a brief history as it relates to my experiences with the arts. I attended Richmond City Public Schools (1958-1971). I was taught the core subjects English, mathematics, history, physical education and some science (upon entering middle school). I was also given the opportunity beginning in fourth grade to be pulled out of homeroom for a foreign language class in French. I stayed with French until 12^th grade. I am most grateful for these learning experiences. However, there was very little emphasis on the Fine Arts for my fellow students and me.  The Fine Arts seemed reserved for special few- if at all during this historical time period. There is an incident that happened when I was in fifth grade that is still with me. At the time it seemed devastating to my self-esteem. But as time has moved forward I have come to see it as an opportunity for growth and development; prompting this advocacy for the arts as a means of teaching, learning, and healing.

What happened was that my fifth grade teacher would not allow me to participate in the school choir. She said, “You cannot sing.” She made me stay in the classroom and help her with paper work while the other students were allowed to participate in the school choir. More recently, I was given an opportunity to sing in a community choir. This choir was directed by Dr. Ysaye Barnwell of the internationally acclaimed acappella singing group Sweet Honey and the Rock.  For more than 12 weeks I took a class at the University of Maryland College Park under Dr.Barnwell’s direction; while the culminating activity was a performance at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center-Maryland, December 9, 2003.This performance was recorded and made into a public CD. Over the years I have been a participant in numerous vocal community sings sponsored by the Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C. under Ysaye M. Barnwell’s direction. However, I had never performed publicly until December 9, 2003.

“It was a vocal community that created the spirituals and ring shouts during slavery. It was a vocal community that understood that song would be the glue between generations and between races in the struggle: that song could  be the weapon of non-violence,  and the balm that allowed the Civil Rights Movement to transform a nation…”(Ysaye M. Barnwell-taken from cover of Endings & Beginnings CD 2004).

Words cannot give credence or full expression to my experience throughout the above process. It was truly a transforming experience for me. I was scared at first but with time I came to trust myself and began to fully participate. I ended up singing with the second tenors; so I was surrounded by the altos and basses. A close friend commented that the quadraphonic sound of the altos and basses would give me the needed support. In truth