14 Businesses Doing a Great Job at performing arts classes for kids

Most public schools and high schools in the United States are traditionally based with a curriculum that will prepare you for college. There are other schools, however, that focus one specialty such as creative and performing arts. This article will look into three such schools located in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. They have traditional classes as well as classes to enhance on the artistic talents of their students. SPCA in Cincinnati has been highlighted with a reality television series on MTV giving others a glimpse into what a school like this is like showing singers sitting at a piano with a piano lamp or piano lamps shining down on them as they prepare to perform in an all school talent show, for example.

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The first school is the one mentioned above called SPCA which stands for the School of Performing and Creative Arts located in downtown Cincinnati. It is the oldest public arts school in the nation and the enrollment has increased by 60% over the past year after the airing of the show "Taking the Stage" showed what the school is all about on MTV. The show is like a real life Fame exploring the lives of different students pursuing their dreams of being a professional dancer, rapper or songwriter. A brand new facility and building will be opened for this public school for next year to house the 988 students in grades 4-12. Academics are as good as the arts here being noted as a Blue ribbon School in the past.

Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts has the mission to nurture all of the creative talents of their students while also giving them a solid college prep academic curriculum. The arts that are offered here are creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, vocal music and visual arts. In order to be accepted to CAPA you must have good grades from your previous school and go through an audition in the art area you want to major in. The famous singing group, Boyz II Men, all are alumni of the Philadelphia Arts school.

The Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School started in 1979 with just over 30 students and have grown throughout the years to now have students in grades 6-12 at the school studying a variety of arts programs. In 2003-2004, they moved into a new facility that has a large auditorium, a theatre, singing classes for kids an art gallery, a television studio and spacious rehearsal areas for all of the various arts to practice in. This new building makes this school a step above many of the others in the area and because of that, the competition to be admitted to this school is very difficult.

There are over 350 arts schools in America, but just a handful of them have been nationally recognized for being some of the best including the ones described in this article. Kids are becoming more interested in arts schools today and the "Taking the Stage" show will only increase that interest.

It's the question that floods my inbox daily: "Adam, how do I get to be an actor?"

The answer: You already are. We all are. Even the most bland and boring librarian plays many different roles in life, depending on who she's with. She flatters her boss, disciplines her kids, pampers her husband, seduces her lover, and bickers with her parents.

But something tells me that wasn't the answer you were looking for. Maybe a better question would be this: "Adam, how do I get to be a working actor? I don't have any experience."

The answer: You must prove yourself.

Acting is a business. And people only do business with those that they know, respect, and trust. For example: Why do you think every Christopher Guest film has the same actors in it? Because they're all friends, sure. But also because he knows that they're talented, they'll show up on time, and they'll be ready to work.

So that begs the next question: How do you prove yourself? How do you show the powers that be that you're reliable? Industrious? Talented?

Well, the bad news is that it takes some time and effort. Then again, anything worth doing/getting/being doesn't happen overnight. Rome wasn't built in a day.

But the good news is that it's completely within your control. Because, just like any other industry, the acting biz is tiny. So when you start attending auditions, you'll run into the same casting directors over and over. (You'll also run into the same actors over and over, but we'll save that for another article.)

If you audition often, and audition well, the powers that be will start to notice you, call you by your first name, ask how you're doing. In short, they'll take an interest in you (and hopefully your career). And that may lead to a job. Which leads to another job, and another. And before you know it, you're actually getting paid to be an actor.

By the way, this principle applies on every level of the business, from community theatre, to Broadway, to the MGM Studios. And that's important. Because, if you are completely new to the world of acting, your name probably won't be lighting up a marquee in Times Square anytime soon. So find out how to get involved with your local community theatre. Volunteer backstage, usher, help with advertising, whatever it takes. Then, the next time they hold auditions, march in there and wow them with a monologue from As You Like It.

Wanna know how to become an actor? The secret is out: Audition often, and audition well.