Fine Arts Programs

E2 | Sunday, March 15, 2020 | ExpressNews.com | Laredo Morning Times 50th Anniversary By Christian Alejandro Ocampo Laredo Morning Times “A rt is just some- thing we can- not help but do.” Those are the words of Ellen Winner, a psychologist and Boston College professor to The Harvard Gazette. Whether it is a visual art or a dance performance, TAMIU pro- vides a consistent stream of fine arts to the Laredo community over the span of each year. What are the fine arts? What can a student, prospective student or an art enthusiast find in their growing border town? “We have an extremely support- ive administration and structure within this creative environment which enables us to have multiple output opportunities,” Dr. Colin Campbell, Associate Professor of Music and TAMIU organist said. “Not only for us as performing musi- cians and artists across the broadest spectrum, but also opportunities of working with the students.” According to Dr. James Moyer, TAMIU’s Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair, there are four programs available. Music and art are majors, while theater and dance are minors. Mu- sic has three separate degrees while art has two. This results in approxi- mately 90-100 art majors in the school at a time, allowing professors to spend more time with individual students for more personal lectures and practices. It also allows the staff to alter the schedules and classes to the benefit of the students. Another benefit is that the stu- dents have the fine arts building to themselves, Moyer said. Since the building of the AIC, the fine arts building has been left to the fine arts students. “We are the last bastions on the campus that has our own place,” Moyer said. With the degree plans provided, more than 80% of music majors are in the music education program, which means that most students find work during school and after graduation. The other art students with a BA have the opportunity to explore their options and jump into a field where they can use their cre- ativity or go into graduate school and continue their education, Moy- er said. “We now have 15 (TAMIU alum- ni) teaching in the city,” Moyer said. “We have a much bigger footprint than we had before.” These alumni teachers then in- spire the next generation of artists, musicians, dancers and actors to continue their education and pas- sion at TAMIU which then inspires the next, creating a cycle of cre- atives helping and inspiring cre- atives. “We’ve got a very active and thriving community,”Campbell said. TAMIU’s 50th anniversary Fine Arts programs Spring Dance concert performers