As the saying goes, talent is good...but preparation is essential. The arts make a contribution to education that reaches beyond their intrinsic value as direct forms of thinking.
Because each arts discipline appeals to different senses and expresses itself through different media, each adds a special richness to the learning environment. As students imagine, create, and reflect, they are developing both verbal and nonverbal abilities necessary to school progress. At the same time, they are developing problem-solving abilities and higher-order thinking skills.