By Matt Ealand
Reading, writing, and rock’n’roll. Or, for those more into the performing arts – how about science, algebra, and drama?
Possibly not the combination of priorities Education Minister Erica Stanford would support with the government’s staunch focus on core subjects. Yet, for many students, the arts, music and creative outlets such as dance and drama complement and enhance core subjects.
It’s the old story: if a person is feeling good about one part of their life, then more-often-than-not, that rubs off in other areas.
Many students happily pore over maths equations or explore the meaning of life through James K Baxter’s famous poem, Rocket Show. And while subjects like English, maths, and science are key for students who find them difficult or uninteresting, that’s where the arts, music, and creativity come to the rescue.
For them, a dreaded algebra internal is made all-the-more bearable if they have a dance class to look forward to later in the day.
Singer, songwriter and prolific musician, Troy Kingi, who is currently completing album nine of a 10 album series, admits he would have left school if it wasn’t for his extracurricular activities.
“I wasn’t academically inept or anything; I just think I had switched off a while back, so I probably would have left school if it wasn’t for Rockquest,” he recalls.
“You look at my report card at the end of that year, the academic side was tragic, but the extracurricular was pretty much a whole page. That’s really where my job has always been, in the extracurricular, not the usual 9 to 5, and I love it.”
Kingi, like many students, is proof the power of music and the performing arts helps to keep students engaged in class and motivated to stay at school.
Music and performing are often perceived as a fun pastime with no practical use and future benefit. However, research in the Journal of Educational Psychology shows that students who participate in music out-perform their non-musical counterparts in maths, science and English.
Not all students learn in traditional ways. And many schools are already thinking differently about learning and how they inspire their students. For example, numerous kura around New Zealand partner with Showquest and Rockquest to enable students to earn NCEA credits from participating and working at events.
So a student doing Level 1 Music can demonstrate ensemble skills through performing a piece of music as a member of a group to earn four credits. Or a Level 3 Drama student can gain six credits by stage managing a production in an entertainment or event context.
Programmes that nurture collaboration, connection, and creativity inspire outside the box thinking, which is key for a students future academic and career opportunities.
Learning key skills such as problem solving, leadership, team work, and thinking innovatively sets young people up for a diverse range of career prospects – from the arts and entertainment world, through to the tech, creative, and business sectors.
Let’s leave the last word to a teacher at the front line. Shannon Coulomb, Head of Music at Auckland’s Birkenhead College, says music and the performing arts plays a pivotal role in the holistic education and personal development of students.
“It encourages skill development across various domains and prepares students not only for careers in music but for diverse career pathways. It empowers students to nurture their creativity, craft compositions, and deliver outstanding performances, while building confidence, learning from mentors, and acquiring important life skills.”
Matt Ealand is General Manager at Rockquest Promotions Group (RQP) which runs seven national music and arts programmes giving young people in Aotearoa a stage to create, develop and thrive.
