Doing it Together: The Arts in the Family

I’m a singing teacher, and recently one of my adult voice students brought his nine-year-old son David with him to his lesson. David amused himself quietly while I put his father through his warm-up routine, technical exercises, and finally his song repertoire. When we were getting near the end, my student asked me if I could spend the last few minutes of our time working with David, which I happily did.

I was immediately impressed by David’s willingness to engage and confidence about singing for me—a virtual stranger. It got me thinking about the effect family involvement in the arts can have on a young person’s sense of self and openness to new experiences. Of course, David is no stranger to performing. I know that he has sung in choruses, and right now he and his dad are in a community theater musical together. So it’s not surprising that he is so self-assured.

We’ve all heard about the growing body of evidence that suggests exposure to, and participation in, the arts helps young people learn by engaging different types of thinking and areas of the brain—how strong arts programs in the schools can boost academic performance, how playing a musical instrument nurtures self-discipline, how painting and drawing can give expression to an impulse not accommodated by words. After decades of neglecting the arts, our schools are finally getting better at including them in their curricula again, and many professional arts organizations in the U.S. practically subsist on their educational outreach programs to young people.

But there’s something even more fundamental that happens when families participate in the arts. And the best part is that you can do it everywhere—at school, at home, and in public venues. Family participation in the arts can be as easy as a trip to a local museum or community theater, reading a book together, or even just switching the channel over to PBS every now and then. So let’s not overlook the transformative power of the arts in home and family life, too. Whether it’s through active involvement in a performance like David and his dad are doing or just going to see one, the arts are something families can experience together.

Ryan Bunch is a writer, composer-lyricist, teacher and vocal instructor specializing in musical theater and theater for youth. He provides musical direction, songwriting, script development and educational writing services for schools, theaters, performing arts organizations and other entities that engage with young people and the arts.