EL DORADO ? The white house with the periwinkle trim in El Dorado is known to most as the Crocker House Creative Art Center. But for students who come here on a regular basis, it is simply known as their home away from home.
Located at 6205 Main St., the Crocker House is the place for several voice, music, theater, language and creative writing classes. These lessons are taught by professional performer Jolinda Crocker and several other credentialed staff members.
All teachers are extensively trained in their specialities, and are even required to attend a 15-hour training session to learn how to foster creativity and adapt to different learning styles.
Many choices
While private voice, piano, recorder, song writing, guitar and cello lessons are available as they always have been, the Crocker House also has a few new classes.
Language lessons are now available every Thursday to learn how to speak Italian and/or German. Classes are taught by Francesca Padulla Sahrgard-Monfared, who is fluent in English, German and Italian.
The Crocker House also has various drama, musical theater, and show choir opportunities.
The drama club meets every Wednesday in the early evening, while the junior high and high school show choir practices every Wednesday night. The show choir is a popular attraction, as Crocker calls it the ?Glee, But For Real!? club.
Classes fill up so quickly at the Crocker House that students are often placed on wait-lists.
The success and popularity of the Crocker House is not only attributed to the students? passions for the craft ? it also has a lot to do with the teaching methods and the effects placed on students.
?I?m very fun and not too strict,? said Crocker when talking about her teaching styles. ?With me, it?s easy and joyful to learn.?
Crocker mentioned how students come to her and talk about how other people have told them that they can?t sing or act. Students are reluctant to practice and pursue their passion because of these comments, but Crocker encourages and motivates them to overcome these past judgments. She pushes them to be the best they can be.
?I create self esteem, bring self-awareness, and I build confidence in my students,? said Crocker.
Although Crocker said that her experiences are never the same with students, she can always see how they are affected by the arts.
Crocker teaches people from ages 2 1/2 to 69, but no matter how old they get, she never ceases to hear comments such as, ?This is my pain-free zone,? or ?This is the place where I?m alive.?
The arts are important
How does she allow the arts to have this effect on people? It all stems from her philosophy and firm belief that this craft really does have a strong impact on people.
?I believe in arts education,? said Crocker. ?I believe the arts and artisitc expression are vital for human expression and intellecutal development.?
Crocker has always been a strong advocate for the arts and its inclusion in school curriculums.
After she spent the majority of her life working as a professional author, musician, performer and vocalist, she became involved with The California Arts Project (TCAP) for 10 years. TCAP is an outreach program that believes all Californian students have the right to a ?sequential, comprehensive, and excellent standards-based visual and performing arts education.?
Crocker worked to bring these visual and performing arts standards to schools by writing grants and speaking to different officials and members of the legislature.
This advocacy work took place during a time when people were questioning if arts were necessary and if educators were really ?getting their bang for their buck,? as Crocker explained. Several schools were talking about cutting arts programs, and Crocker did not want to see this happen.
True passion
Crocker was so passionate about arts education that she received a masters in education from California State University, Sacramento, where she wrote her thesis on how the arts impact intelligence.
After completing her education, writing grants and working on other outreach projects for TCAP, Crocker started up the Crocker House Creative Art Center in 2004 and began teaching.
Since then, Crocker knows that she has chosen the right calling, and she loves to bring and introduce so many people to the world of art.
?Why does art have to be so mystified?? asked Crocker. ?Some people think only the elite can practice art, but no, it?s everyone?s human right.?
For more information about the Crocker House, visit crockerhouse.info or call 530-622-7879.
This story falls on page "B3"Short URL: http://www.mtdemocrat.com/?p=131921
Source: http://www.mtdemocrat.com/features/crocker-house-is-home-to-creativity/
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