Minnetonka Elementary Expanded Fine Arts Curriculum

Photo: Emily J. Davis

Clockwise from upper left: Beau Pullman, Kayla Parker, Maddie Uglum, Olivia O'Brien and Austin Davis at Excelsior Elementary School learned to play trombone through last year's enhanced fine arts pilot program.

Rather than the familiar screech of a violin or the honk of a trombone gone wrong, the Minnetonka area is alive with the sound of music.

In 2008, the Minnetonka School Board established a goal to evaluate the fine arts programs at its district’s six elementary schools. Pam Langseth, school board treasurer, says it wanted to make sure children have experience in all disciplines so they can reap the benefits in the future. “When you look at CEOs, a lot of them have experience in the performing arts,” she says. “It’s our responsibility to create leaders of tomorrow.”

So in 2009, the administration and teachers planned a pilot program to see if a new, world-class curriculum would be music to the ears of fifth-grade students at Excelsior and Minnewashta elementary schools. Over the last school year, students had more concerts; more instructional time for band, choir and orchestra; and more choice in having a specialized interest. Then, the school board gathered feedback from parents every month to ask about the results.

“There was overwhelming praise,” says Janet Swiecichowski, executive director for communications at Minnetonka Public Schools. So much so that coming this fall, all six elementary schools will have the enhanced fine arts curriculum. She adds, “Having more opportunities to perform is something we know that helps.” And Langseth agrees, saying, “Parents are amazed at how proficient their kids had become in just a few months.”

Deborah Thomasson, an Excelsior mom, can attest to that. Her son Oliver, 11, took part in the pilot program at Minnewashta Elementary just after he started playing alto saxophone last summer.

“My son had huge progress, much more than my daughter,” says Thomasson about Charlotte, an eighth grader who went to Minnewashta and played violin before the re-evaluated fine arts program. “The chance to see that rapid development and to watch his final performance, where not only do you recognize [the tune] but it sounds good? That’s great,” she says.

Thomasson adds, “Because there is that performance aspect, children practice more,”—but it’s not in complete fear that they’ll mess up a couple of notes. It’s more that “they really enjoy showing what they’ve learned,” she says.

The same goes for children in art classes. With events like last May’s week-long Celebration of the Arts, children who made visual art displays got an audience to admire their work, too. And starting this fall, students with their heart set on acting will have a new opportunity.

Coming off of the early success in the pilot fine arts program, all of the district’s elementary schools will add a theatre component. Trent Boyum, operations manager at the Arts Center on 7, leads the way in this avenue of fine arts by bringing theatre to the classroom. He says he will set up theatre games and improvisation activities, and may have children make plays on what they’re learning in other classes. But the big addition to the curriculum is the spring musical, which takes place in late February and early March.

Boyum is full of excitement that fourth- and fifth-grade students at Clear Springs, Deephaven, Excelsior, Groveland, Minnewashta and Scenic Heights elementary schools will all perform their version of the same production. Along with staff and the school board, Boyum says, “I know we’re really looking forward to it. I want the kids to have the opportunity to perform, and I hope this absolutely becomes a new tradition!”

Recalling last winter’s Willy Wonka production, put on by Minnetonka Theatre at the Arts Center, Boyum says he saw more than 100 children try out for the role of Oompa-Loompa. Thus, “We know the desire is there [to be in theatre],” he says. And it’s about joining in that community experience. Boyum says, “There’s nothing like a school musical to bring people together.”

As more ideas brew within the school board on enhancing the fine arts, Langseth says this wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated staff, too. “The Board makes the vision and the staff makes it happen. And they do a great job,” she says.

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