148 HAWAII PARENT September/October 2025 needed for the brain to function in mathematics, engineering, and physics. Discipline The benefit last to me mentioned, but certainly not least, is the benefit of discipline. Discipline is taught through dedication as students learn to develop their specific art form. While some students may show a natural talent in the performing arts, the truth is that ongoing commitment and practice are required to improve. By committing to classes, rehearsals, and practicing outside of the classroom and stage, they learn disciplinary skills that will benefit them in many aspects of life. Engaging students in the performing arts at school, through extracurricular classes and the wider theatre arts community, provides undeniable benefits that will help them transcend traditional education and aid them throughout their lives. life, as 72% of employers in the United States say that creativity and teamwork are the top skills they look for when hiring. Language, Reading, and Critical Thinking Skills Studies, such as those conducted at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute in 2016, show that students of the performing arts develop at an accelerated rate in areas associated with language acquisition and reading skills. The performing arts provide opportunities for language development, but they also encourage language learning, communication, and reading in their students. The creativity involved in the performing arts strengthens critical thinking skills for students. The visual-spatial skills and spatial-temporal reasoning used in singing, dancing, and acting enhance the logical thinking, abstract thinking, and problem-solving Behind the curtain: Young actors fine-tune their performance during rehearsals. “…performing arts enhance the logical, abstract, and problemsolving skills needed for the brain to function in mathematics, engineering, and physics.”
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