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Richard Kessler on arts education

Richard Kessler Follow richard4artsed on Twitter

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I am the executive director of The Center for Arts Education, the
non-profit organization dedicated to stimulating, restoring and sustaining arts
education as an essential part of every child’s K-12 education in the New York City public
schools.   
       


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My assorted and sundry career, going back to working my way through college as a Broadway and television stagehand, has included work as an educator in K-12 as well as post-secondary, educational consulting work throughout North America, years as a professional musician, and over a decade as an arts administrator.

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From 1997 to 2004, I was the executive director of the American Music Center (AMC), the national service and information center for new American music. My years at the AMC included the creation of the American Music Center Collection at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the creation of the award-winning web magazine NewMusicBox.org, and the establishment of a first-ever endowment.

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From 1991 to 1997, I was vice president of Artsvision, an arts education consulting company where I researched, created, and helped implement programs for school communities, arts organizations and foundations including The Center for Arts Education (Annenberg Challenge), Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education, the Center for Creative Education (Palm Beach County), and the Learning Through Music Partnership Program of The Cleveland Orchestra. During this period I also worked with hundreds of artists, helping to prepare them for work in schools and communities, facilitated the creation of arts integrated curricula, provided professional development for teachers, artists, and administrators, and authored a number of plans and reports.

Before joining Artsvision, I was a professional musician and the winner of 1990 Walter W. Naumburg Chamber Music Award. My years as an artist included being a teaching artist in schools across America and numerous commissions and premieres of works by composers such as Arvo Part, Ned Rorem, Aaron Kernis, and Elliott Goldenthal.
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I have been a facilitator, panelist, commentator, key note speaker, guest lecturer, and regularly provide testimony on legislative and policy matters for city and state government. Now and then there’s a random consulting gig, guest lecture, or media appearance, for a host of organizations and media, including the Woodruff Arts Center, the Trento School of Management (Italy), WNYC, NY1, WNYC, Teachers College, Chamber Music America, the New York City Arts Education Roundtable, the League of American Symphony Orchestras, St. John’s University, and others.

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I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Rockaway Beach, NY. I have two degrees from The Juilliard School and was a college faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music from 1988 to 1993. I am the treasurer of the board of Common Core, the DC-based organization dedicated to a liberal arts education for all K-12 children nationwide, and also serve as a trustee of the American Composers Orchestra, The Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT), and Sequitur–a new music presenting organization. I August 2010 I was appointed to the New York State Board of Regent’s Task Force on Teacher and Principal Effectiveness.

In 2005, I was awarded the American Music Center’s Letter of Distinction for my “significant contribution to the field of American music.” In 2010, I was honored by both the Music Educators Association of New York and the New York City Art Teachers Association.

I live in Maplewood, New Jersey, with my wife Debbie Ferraro (former Nonesuch Records executive) and five-year-old daughter, Sophie, a natural born scam-artist.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I am so impressed and would like to do what you are doing in Philadelphia. I have been involved with an after school art program in an inner city church for several years. I along with several artist colleagues have been teaching stained glass making to kids who otherwise are not exposed to artists and making art. It has been my experience that way beyond the end product of a stained glass art piece to take home some of the following has occurred:
    Good interaction between students with some being called upon to teach others skills like glass cutting etc. This develops trust and a feeling of accomplishment that some kids tell us is totally missing in their regular school environment.
    Interaction between 3 white women, a Jewish grandmother-me and black kids that has inspired a special informal friendship. We get former students from past years who come back just to say hello.
    I will never forget the kid who said, “This is the only place where I can focus.”
    I would love more information on your program.
    Thanks.
    Joan

  2. I am a grad student at American University and when I am not teaching piano and playing, I am reading alot of the subject of arts in education. In fact I was thinking of doing something along the lines of your book for my thesis! (You might be a great resource for me in the future…first I am running out to get your book!)
    My experience has been teaching piano, community music education, and public school music, both through residencies and as a contracted teacher.
    My interest in music started early since I grew up with the best in the field My father is in the Guarneri and my mom, a flutest. As a player myself, I have always felt that the highly trained musician is, as you say, able to do anything. I want to be an advocate that advocates by providing the best educationally, either as a teacher or program director. I am new in the business side of arts management and would like to know more!

  3. Hello Richard-
    Great blog!
    I am an elementary music teacher in LAUSD.
    I have created a web page with many links to interesting articles about music and arts education, especially involving links to cognitive development. No blog there, just links, but many great ones, and I keep adding more. (By the way, there is a link to your blog there.) There is also information there about the fight for arts education in LAUSD, links about the testing mania, etc. The URL of that page is:
    http://mysite.verizon.net/mspector2/research.htm
    Check it out.
    ———–
    Another page people might find interesting, although unrelated. My mom, a few months before she turned 88 years old, began painting, which was wonderful for her, completely transformed her life. She kept painting until she suffered a severe stroke (ultimately fatal), a year and some months later. In that time period she created a large body of expressive colorful oil paintings. One can see more info on my mom, including her paintings, at http://becky.art.officelive.com
    Richard, since you are involved a lot with New York City Schools (the only district larger than L.A.), could you tell me something about the elementary school music program in New York City? Thank you.

  4. Hello Richard
    This is a great blog! I am an Art Educator (Early Childhood thru 12th)currently persuing my MA in Art Education with the University of Florida and have been researching the lack of Art Education Programs in the local elementary schools (South Texas Region). I posted a small blog on my research findings, but there is not much support for Art Education in the area. I am so greatful for websites like yours. Do you have any sugesstions on how to get people involved? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
    Concerned Art Educator,Parent,Community Member in South Texas.
    http://veronicamariscal.weebly.com/

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