Music, Visual Arts & Theater

At The Leelanau School creativity is encouraged and students are welcome to explore each arts discipline. Parents are often amazed that their “non-singing” child has a beautiful voice or that their camera shy child feels perfectly comfortable on the other side of the lens!

You don’t have to come with a talent,
we will help you discover and develop your talents

Arts offerings include:

Photography and Darkroom, Ceramics, Improv, “Mighty Snappy” Band, Singing and Songwriting, Applied Design, Enameling, Metalworking, and more!

Visual Arts Instructor Elara Coleman explains her theory of art education as a gentle process of introducing technique alongside confidence building:

“Since starting here at The Leelanau School, I’ve changed my mind about making art in a lot of ways. Coming from a formal art education I was focused on giving students a  technical foundation. Once in the classroom I saw how much fear there was about creating and making mistakes and suddenly leading with a list of rules seemed like a way to lose the very students who needed it the most. My priority became finding each student’s passion and connecting it to the work. The students who connected their interests with the projects were taking on more challenges, getting more practice, and naturally making progress. Once they found joy in the process their curiosity made them ready to learn more of the formal aspects. Now the foundation of our classroom is trust, authenticity, and commitment to an environment that is free of judgment and full of encouragement.

Making art should be something we all just do, without thinking about whether it’s “good or bad.” There is so much creativity in all of the students…in all of us and it deserves a space to be expressed. Art can be a life practice that benefits us not because of the end product but through the act. I enjoy riding my bike even though I know I will never win a Tour de France. When a student learns to trust themselves and get past feeling uncomfortable they can find their voice. That kind of confidence carries into their future in anything they take on.”

Ceramics /Pottery Instructor Bruce Hoods says the true definition of “hands on learning” comes from the ability to work with your hands, and get dirty.  But the process begins well before the clay hits the wheel.

Hood also emphasizes process and sequencing, and works with the students on building from an idea to drawing up a sketch to the actual 3-D work.   “Oh, and we always have to build the clean-up time into the process.  That is a very important part of the process.” Because ceramics involves a small group of students, they are able to come in and strongly focus.  Through ceramics the students learn about chemistry through the creation of glazes, as well as respect for equipment.

Music Instructor Laura Hood says starting beginning musicians on guitar allows them to learn quickly, even to the point of having brand new guitar students able to play three songs by the end of their first class period.

“Seeing quick success is key to them sticking with it.  I like to believe there is a hidden musician in everyone. “

Songwriting is a class she offers during winter term, and during this from the first day, the only music that can be performed and shared must be all original.   They learn music structure and composition, basic theory and lyric writing.

Another gratifying experience is being able take the “Mighty Snappy” musical ensemble on the road to nursing and retirement homes and other schools.  The instrumentation changes year-to-year, but the ability to spread joy and goodwill through music is a constant goal.