They span all forms, some are self-selecting, others are taking the course because an adviser or a dean felt the class would build confidence or strengthen speaking skills. Very few hands, if any, are raised. Again, very few hands, if any, are raised. Almost all hands go up. All hands go up.
All hands go up.
Students need to discover early on the artist within themselves. And discovering the artist within is about making personal connections. Making personal connections is not always easy in a society that often refuses to recognize the richness of the arts and what they have to offer. Many of us were told when we were younger that we couldn't carry a tune, or didn't have the ear to play an instrument, or the hand to draw or paint skillfully. Personal connections to the arts must be made early on, and making those connections within an arts curriculum is essential.