Music, drama and art can be powerful forces in the lives of children who struggle to read, write and do math because of their learning differences. Frostig School students discover new talents, find creative forms of expression and gain self-confidence through the arts.

The arts are an integral part of the Frostig curriculum. Elementary school students have one hour of music, drama and studio art each week. Middle school students have daily arts instruction and rotate quarterly between music, art and drama. High school students may take the classes as electives.

Frostig’s emphasis on arts education, and the quality of its program, set it apart from other schools serving students with learning differences.

Elementary school students learn the fundamentals of music through singing. Middle and high school students learn to play an instrument and perform with their classmates as an ensemble. Each class prepares for an end-of-semester concert that is well-attended by students, families and staff.

The spring musical is always a highlight of the Frostig school year. Students of all ages work throughout the semester to bring Willie Wonka, The Lion King and other classics to life. Students also deliver a winter showcase in which they perform the works of Shakespeare, Shel Silverstein and other masters. Through practice and hard work, students confront their challenges and without fail come through with inspiring performances.

Students learn the principle elements of art such as form, shape, texture, and color while experiencing the joy and satisfaction of creating art. Students are introduced to multiple art forms, including ceramics, collage, painting, tie-dye, mask-making and more. The instructor weaves social skills into the curriculum by encouraging students to collaborate and offer constructive critiques to classmates. Twice a year, the art teacher transforms the school hallway into a gallery of student art for families and friends to appreciate.

Students each make a short film during the high school film class. From idea to script to filming and editing, students work through the entire film process to make their vision come alive. As students work together on their projects they gain knowledge in producing, directing, filming, audio recording and editing.

Students get an opportunity to practice creating journalistic media for the school. By incorporating journalism principles and video editing skills, Frostig’s Media Production class works on producing a school-wide video bulletin that includes announcements, event highlights, and student features. Unique to Frostig is that it is a cross-program broadcast, featuring all program groups from elementary, middle, and high school students. Video bulletins are released every few weeks and are included in the Courier so parents can watch them.