Summer retreat inspires local teachers

While students spent their break from classes rock climbing, swimming or just hanging out, their teachers were enjoying a summer retreat of their own.

Funded by The Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education, The Summer Institute was created to help teachers learn new techniques to better engage their students in the arts. Artistic Director Anne Oldach says the focus of the training was to help teachers create effective programs that would not break the bank.

"With the school budgetary problems, we looked for things interesting and outside of what normally would be a venue and also affordable," Oldach says.

The program, which was held from June 16 to 25, gave teachers the opportunity to partake in workshops and live performances with instructors from in and around Delaware.       

Local musician and summer instructor Tony Vacca says the programs were not only instructional, but also motivational.

"They don't need me to say here's how to teach, but I can energize them, and have them like it so much is inspires inquiry," Vacca says.

Vacca taught the World Music Percussion workshop, which was open to teachers of all disciplines. He says his use of giant gongs, rattles, voices and blaphons pushes musical boundaries and emphasizes the notion of being what he calls under the influence of music. Vacca's workshop is hands-on, and teachers learn how to teach by ear rather than by reading sheet music.  

"I load them up with experiences so they can create their own lessons and directions, and use graph paper charts to illustrate mathematical concepts to describe rhythms," he says.

In addition to Vacca's course, teachers were able to sign up or workshops such as Mexican Folk Masks, tin can art and the traditional dances of the Nanticokes tribe. Bobby Hansson taught his tin can class in conjunction with Delaware College of Art and Design, giving students and teachers the opportunity to create tin can knick-knacks. Hansson's personality also came through when titling his art (a banjo made out of a cookie can was dubbed "The Canjo").

Oldach says its hard to find talent like Hansson.

"It's a shame when you have these fabulous resources in your backyard and you don't take advantage of them," she says.

Executive Director Danny Peak says Oldach is relentless about finding the new talent, even going as far as traveling to Philadelphia to experience the arts and various visual art exhibits.

Before working behind the scenes as executive director, Peak conducted a theater workshop.

He says the reception from the teachers from all three counties and school districts in Delaware has always been positive.

"It's a time for teachers to recharge after nine months of working in the classroom," Peak says. "It's a time to try new things and new teaching methods."

Peak says the leaders at the Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education strive for interdisciplinary work the teachers can bring back to the classrooms.

"Even though some of them may be teaching history or French, they can use the arts in their curriculum to engage the students more and use it in the teaching to make an impact," Peak says.