Arts Education


Feature Writer: Jo Murphy
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Arts Education teachers work together so that students of dance, drama, fine art, music and all of the expressive languages can see the bigger creative picture.

Here you will find discussions about dance, drama, music and the Fine Arts. Articles will introduce you to ideas about teaching and learning through the Arts in ways that develop resiliency and self esteem. Blogs will look at the lighter side of the arts and expand on article ideas and topics. Polls allow you to have your say. Appreciation of and involvement in the Arts broadens Education and contributes to a healthy and vital curriculum.

I welcome your comments.

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feature articles
Jo Murphy

The Magic of Paper Sculpture

In: Visual Arts Education

David Swinton shares creative paper art projects in an easy to read format . He supplies templates for sculptures described. Great as lesson fillers and group actvities. more...

Handmade Beaded Jewelry For Mother

In: Visual Arts Education

Beautiful handmade beads can be used in a variety of ways. These recipes are cost effective. Students will enjoy creating a jewelry set as a gift for Mother's Day. more...

How To Make Paper

In: Visual Arts Education

The art of paper making is simple. The variety of textures, shades and grades is unlimited. An excellent activity for an art class with scope for personal flair. more...

A Day For ANZACs - Photo Slideshow

In: Arts Education (general)

Create useful historical resources as you explore the meaning of ANZAC DAY for Australians. A practical journalistic photography assignment. more...

Graffiti Tag Writing as an Artform

In: Visual Arts Education

What attracts young people to become involved in graffiti tag writing? Is this phenomenon an artform to be embraced or simple vandalism in need of eradication? more...

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Jo Murphy

May 4, 2008

Caring For The Artistic Ego

Creative Arts Students benefit from learning about Life's Balance. Fame and the stress of fortune can be managed if students are well prepared ahead of time.


I have recently trialed an E-course written by Jerry Lopper and begun bringing an awareness of the need for balance to the Creative Arts Students I teach.

When teachers talk to Creative Arts Students about living a balanced life, they are not “talking about achieving an outcome or arriving at a destination." Lesson 4

Artists need to monitor feelings throughout the day. By monitoring how comfortable they feel, students can gauge how they react when faced with set backs or challenges.

Because the artistic life is thwart with competition, it is calming to focus on what Jerry calls the five comfort zones.

  • Think about your life’s purpose often and deeply. Ask, "Why am I really doing this?"
  • Devote as much energy and time as you can to personal passions, Become involved and proactive. This will boost self esteem and enhance relationships with others.
  • Develop and utilise personal powers in nearly every aspect of your daily lives so that gifts and talents are developed to the full. This will help you feel good about your achievements,
  • Design a set of personal principles. Students who think about their personal values find it easier when they face difficult choices or if life seems unfair. (Someone else gets that part!)
  • Focusing from a positive, healthy, and optimistic perspective students become able to draw on their own internal resources when workload is high or challenges seem formidable.
When students feel tense or overwhelmed, it can be helpful to stop a while and look at the way they spend their time and the amount of energy being given to different aspects of their life. When one aspect of life goes astray, remember the Five P's …purpose, passion, personal power, principles and perspective.

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