Five hundred fifty-five (555) Detroit Public Schools students from schools across the city had the extraordinary experience to perform onstage at the illustrious Fox Theatre during the 44th Annual Evening of Fine Arts on Thursday, May 16. The evening commenced with Lobby Performances and an Art Gallery showcase at 6 p.m. followed by performances beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Theatre. This [Read more…]
When any woman walks into a classroom at Brewer Academy on the city’s east side, the young men have been taught to immediately spring to their feet and provide the appropriate greeting—either “Good morning ma’am” or “Good afternoon ma’am.” And they do not sit back down until that woman acknowledges their greeting.
I Am a Man
This simple yet highly impactful gesture is part of Principal [Read more…]
Detroit Public Schools today renewed its commitment to supporting all families, providing the highest quality public education available, and supporting a regional workforce that will drive the city’s economic rebirth through a brand new transformative plan developed by hundreds of community members. An intensive five-week strategic planning process involved parents, students, teachers, [Read more…]
There's never been a better time for businesses, alumni, community members and everyone concerned with public education to partner with Detroit Public Schools. With a rigorous new five-year academic plan in place and new instructional strategies and a stronger curriculum in every classroom, major worldwide corporations and alumni of local schools are stepping forward to volunteer, contribute and pledge human resources, talent, technology and monetary gifts.
The Office of Fine Arts Education provides robust instrumental music, choral music, general music and visual arts instruction throughout Detroit Public Schools to help every student reach their full academic and creative potential.
We also have a renowned fine arts school, the Detroit School of Arts, located on the grounds of Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Detroit Public Television operates collaborative instructional activities on site.
At DSA, students can participate in Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, Dance, Forensics, and Visual Arts, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Concert Choir, Female Vocal, Male Vocal, Mixed Choral Ensembles, Show Choir, School Musical Pit singers and/or Pit band and much more.
Music and Visual Arts curriculums are sequential with instruction for beginning, intermediate and advanced students in elementary, middle and/or high school.
What we offer
Instrumental
Beginning, intermediate and advanced level of instruction is available for instrumental music students on brass, woodwind, percussion and string instruments. Piano, music theory and (harp instruction at Cass Technical High School only) are also available to students within the district.
Vocal
Small and large ensemble (SSAA, SATB, TTBB) instruction at the beginning, intermediate and advance levels are also available to vocal music students.
Visual Arts classes are taught in a sequential format in the areas of drawing, painting, ceramics, graphic arts, fashion design, jewelry, fibers, art composition, crafts, lettering, drafting and architecture, pewabic pottery, pen and ink, sculpture, print making, automotive design, digital photography, and video photography.
Honors courses
AP and Honors courses in visual arts, vocal and instrumental music, music theory courses, jazz combos and vocal jazz ensembles are available at the high school level.
All-City Marching Band
DPS also offers an All-City Marching Band for highly talented and skilled musicians, majorettes and flag twirlers.
The Detroit Public Schools All City High School Marching Band serves as a vehicle for all qualifying DPS high school musicians to participate and express themselves in a well equipped large ensemble with full instrumentation, highly qualified staff and very talented musicians. Entrance into this group is through audition only.
Resources and Tips for Parents
Student involvement in instrumental music programs is based upon the number of programs and/or instruments available through the school. Parents have the option of renting instruments from local instrument dealers.
Fine arts students are strongly encouraged to participate in summer music and visual arts camps to enhance their skill set and the instruction received during the school year.
Detroit Public Schools Fine Arts Students have been involved in and received recognition and scholarship awards through participation in:
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camps
Interlochen Center for the Arts
GM You Make a Difference (Automotive Design Program)
Wayne County Community College Art Program
James Tatum Foundation
Omega Psi Phi Talent Showcase
National Scholastic Art and Reading Competition
Detroit Public Schools Fine Arts students benefit from partnerships and additional educational support with state universities and colleges as well as:
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Center for Creative Services
DPS Foundation
Detroit International Jazz Festival Educational Division
Detroit Federation of Musicians, Local 5
Each year Detroit Public Schools Fine Arts students are involved in several major events that highlight their many outstanding talents in visual arts, dance, drama, instrumental and vocal music. Such events include the following:
Detroit Public Schools Evening of Fine Arts
Student Exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Michigan Student Film and Video Festival
Michigan Youth Arts Festival
Festival of Arts
Noel Night
Detroit International Jazz Festival
Thanksgiving Day Parade – Float Design
Detroit Fire Department Arson Awareness Program
Sphinx program
Wayne State University Weekend School of Music
Michigan State University New Horizons Program
DSO Power Dream Program
DSO Civic Ensembles
University of Michigan High School Honors Ensembles
Michigan State University High School Honors Band
Eastern Michigan University String Camp
Central Michigan University String Master Classes
Detroit Public Schools music programs have been recognized and recipients of awards from the:
Grammy Foundation Grammy Signature Schools Series, Tournament of Roses Parade “Coming Up Roses”
Rose Bowl Field Show Competition Award Winner
America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Detroit Public Schools Visual Arts programs have been recognized and recipients of the National Gold Key and Silver Awards from the National Scholastic Art and Reading Committee in the categories of:
Photography
Digital Photography
Painting
Drawing
Enrichment Opportunities
Middle School and High School students are encouraged to participate each school year in Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association Solo and Ensemble Festival and the Band and Orchestra Festival.
Vocal students are encouraged to participate in the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Solo and Ensemble Choral Music Festival, Middle Schools Honors Band, Orchestra and Vocal program. Participation provides additional instruction and exposure to a variety of genres for the students. Students are tested and critiqued according to State of Michigan Standards for the arts.
Visual arts students are encouraged to participate in the DIA/DPS Art Exhibit, WCCC/DPS Student Art Exhibit, and the National Scholastic Art and Reading Competition.
Why should my child be involved in music and visual arts?
Music and Visual arts are a science
Music and Visual arts are mathematical
Music is a foreign language
Music and Visual Arts are history
Music is Physical education
The arts develop insight and demand research
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, includes the arts among all of the other ‘core academic subjects’
2nd Grade Piano Students scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests
Middle and High School students with high levels of involvement in instrumental music show significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12.
Students with coursework/experience in music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT; on the verbal and the math, than did students with no arts participation
The disruptive percentages of music students is much lower than the disruptive percentages for non-music students.
Music students receive more academic honors and awards than non-music students
DPS music students receive millions of dollars in scholarships each year.
66% of music majors who applied to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group.
A study of 811 minority high school students, 36% of these students identified music teachers as their role models, as opposed to 28% English teachers, 11% elementary teachers, 7% PE/sports teachers, and 1% principals.
Students in selected arts programs in NYC showed significant increases in self-esteem and thinking skills.
Fine Arts programs serve as an inroad for students to receive scholarships and internships are available through professional and philanthropic organizations
The Detroit Public Schools Office of Fine Arts has received many requests for recordings of student performances.
We are pleased to announce that we have several videos of some of the most memorable student productions available for you to purchase. Please click on the link below which will take you to the order form.
