Dramatic Arts, the Truth!

In most schools, there are the basic art subjects: Music, Art, and Theatre. These subjects are the basics of a schools art program. In Hong Kong, music is the most respected art subject out of the three. Schools mostly use their resources to support orchestras and choirs. Parents always encourage or force their children into learning an instrument from a young age. Mostly piano or violin are most common. The reason why this is true is due to the fact that parents think that forcing an instrument on their child will make them creative in a way. This may be true, or not, no one can prove this. In fact, I believe that most children do not enjoy practicing piano or violin every night. Parents also like his because when a situation comes along where the children are asked to do something for some friends, they can play the piano, and the parents would become so proud of them. Music can also be an academic help due to that it can be proven through grades how good you are, such as having a grade 8 piano certificate would be something good to put on a resume in the future.

Art is something that is similar to music. The subject requires students to be able to draw an image through the use of colors with their hands. Parents like their child to learn this form of art due to another chance of showing off to other people what their children can do, For example, a friend or relative comes over and sees a beautiful painting on the wall. The friend or relative later praises this painting and also learns that this is the work of the parent’s child. The parents would be very proud. Art is also something that can train a person’s neatness when writing, so there is another good reason why. Although art is something that is not gradable, it is something that is practical and could be seen and compared easily.

Compared to theatre or drama studies, music and art is always on the upper hand. Parents look at theatre and they think, I wouldn’t want my kids to get interested and have a movie star dream. Many students at schools also somewhat are bias towards drama. They think that in drama, you could easily get high marks because basically it’s just playing games and doing plays very casually. This is not the case at all. Drama is actually one of the most important subjects that a school should teach. Drama is not just about improv and laughing. For a person that just started taking drama, they may find that their confidence level arises due to the many times they have to stand in front of an audience. The creativity level for drama is very high and encourages students to engage in creating something from scratch. Having good presentation skills is also a big part of drama. Having a good and clear voice, also making gestures to engage the audience. Most of all, drama can teach the most important aspect of human beings, sociability. In drama, you have to be working with different people all the time and cooperate very closely. Not like music or art, one can stay at home and practice all day by themselves. Drama, we have to work as a team. That brings in the whole tide of teamwork! In other academic classes, teachers talk about working in groups to build team work. Sometimes that does work, but other times, one may be doing all the work themselves. Also, group work doesn’t teach having confidence in your group members. Drama enables students to learn how to have confidence in yourself and as well as the same people that you are working with. This is very important if you want to be successful in life, because people will like you for this. Drama can really be said as a subject which is always put away as the subject that is not practical. Yet, it is actually very practical when you take a look at a person that takes drama and a person who does not.

In Hong Kong, there is even one school that is thinking of cancelling the drama program due to academic reasons, or due to the reason where they want to promote music as the frontline art of the school. When the drama students learned this, they were furious and made a video talking about how this is an outrageous idea. Therefore, for now, the drama program is saved. The school even built a huge performing arts center and just when it was finished, the try to cancel drama. Many of the teachers disagree to this as well, knowing the drama is a great subject for the school and for students. Drama can really possibly change the path of someone’s life, whether if it was taking it as a career or just being able to boost up their confidence and sociability. If all parents think about is something which can be shown off or practical, they are doing their children a very bad favor. Not saying that is not good, but don’t discourage them in doing this. Drama studies should not be under looked and even be cancelled from any academic schedule.