Visi Performing Arts Problematic

[Anonymous]

Our family was happy when our daughter was accepted to Visi last year. One reason is that our performing arts-interested girl was promised high quality instrumental, dance, vocal and drama programs. This occurred during discussions with admissions personnel, instructors and was affirmed by administrators. I am not a stage parent and she is not obsessed with performing, but these promises were an important part of why she chose Visi. Regretfully, the performing arts instruction and activities are so low in quality that our daughter believes she was lied-to and is unhappy. She wants to go elsewhere for her sophomore year.

The promises of high-quality performing arts instruction were supported by the school’s website. For example, it includes media interviews with professional classical ballet alumnae who impliedly were inspired toward a professional career by Visi’s dance program. The reality is that there is no dance program in any normal sense. Only a club with a small number of girls who work out and occasionally adapt music video moves. The performances are painful to watch.

Instrumental and choral offerings are similar. Both are taught by well-intentioned part-timers who visit campus. Instruction is simplistic and music choice is from the elementary level. The sound generated by these performing groups is awful. I always expect music by developing musicians to be loaded with mistakes, but these results are below the quality experienced at our daughter’s junior high school. Musically experienced Visi girls avoid association with the performing groups out of embarrassment and are encouraged by sympathetic staff to find music instruction outside the school.

Drama offerings (one play and one musical) are taught by the sole full-time performing arts employee, who is also responsible for dance. Despite efforts of some talented girls, the overall experience is disappointing and the results are far inferior to other private and public schools. Inexplicably, junior high students are allowed to perform.

Organization is problematic. Little flow of information, last minute changes and unexplained solicitations for contributions. For example, the full-time employee recently demanded involved girls buy/sell $100 of lottery tickets with no explanation. For the second year in a row, he cancelled the only performing arts trip without explanation.

There are good things about Visi (academics, sports, etc.), but it is shameful for management to allow these circumstances. For a high school, Visi’s performing arts instruction and performances are substandard and unserious. Potential students who prioritize performing arts should think carefully about this. I feel stupid for having been duped and for not having protected my daughter.

[Anonymous]

Have you talked to the school about this? Maybe they will help you find a school that’s more suited for her.

[Anonymous]

Where are you considering to transfer to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family was happy when our daughter was accepted to Visi last year. One reason is that our performing arts-interested girl was promised high quality instrumental, dance, vocal and drama programs. This occurred during discussions with admissions personnel, instructors and was affirmed by administrators. I am not a stage parent and she is not obsessed with performing, but these promises were an important part of why she chose Visi. Regretfully, the performing arts instruction and activities are so low in quality that our daughter believes she was lied-to and is unhappy. She wants to go elsewhere for her sophomore year.

The promises of high-quality performing arts instruction were supported by the school’s website. For example, it includes media interviews with professional classical ballet alumnae who impliedly were inspired toward a professional career by Visi’s dance program. The reality is that there is no dance program in any normal sense. Only a club with a small number of girls who work out and occasionally adapt music video moves. The performances are painful to watch.

Instrumental and choral offerings are similar. Both are taught by well-intentioned part-timers who visit campus. Instruction is simplistic and music choice is from the elementary level. The sound generated by these performing groups is awful. I always expect music by developing musicians to be loaded with mistakes, but these results are below the quality experienced at our daughter’s junior high school. Musically experienced Visi girls avoid association with the performing groups out of embarrassment and are encouraged by sympathetic staff to find music instruction outside the school.

Drama offerings (one play and one musical) are taught by the sole full-time performing arts employee, who is also responsible for dance. Despite efforts of some talented girls, the overall experience is disappointing and the results are far inferior to other private and public schools. Inexplicably, junior high students are allowed to perform.

Organization is problematic. Little flow of information, last minute changes and unexplained solicitations for contributions. For example, the full-time employee recently demanded involved girls buy/sell $100 of lottery tickets with no explanation. For the second year in a row, he cancelled the only performing arts trip without explanation.

There are good things about Visi (academics, sports, etc.), but it is shameful for management to allow these circumstances. For a high school, Visi’s performing arts instruction and performances are substandard and unserious. Potential students who prioritize performing arts should think carefully about this. I feel stupid for having been duped and for not having protected my daughter.

Stone Ridge has a much more robust performing arts program/curriculum. Dance, chorus, and drama are offered for class credit and one art class is required each year. This is one of the reasons DD chose SR over VISI. VISI is very very basic in arts offerings.

Here is VISI's complete arts offering, which includes very basic studio art plus a smattering of basic art history and AP courses:



Here is an overview of SR's arts offering. Note they offer performing arts in addition to visual art and musical art. More description of the offerings can be found on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family was happy when our daughter was accepted to Visi last year. One reason is that our performing arts-interested girl was promised high quality instrumental, dance, vocal and drama programs. This occurred during discussions with admissions personnel, instructors and was affirmed by administrators. I am not a stage parent and she is not obsessed with performing, but these promises were an important part of why she chose Visi. Regretfully, the performing arts instruction and activities are so low in quality that our daughter believes she was lied-to and is unhappy. She wants to go elsewhere for her sophomore year.

The promises of high-quality performing arts instruction were supported by the school’s website. For example, it includes media interviews with professional classical ballet alumnae who impliedly were inspired toward a professional career by Visi’s dance program. The reality is that there is no dance program in any normal sense. Only a club with a small number of girls who work out and occasionally adapt music video moves. The performances are painful to watch.

Instrumental and choral offerings are similar. Both are taught by well-intentioned part-timers who visit campus. Instruction is simplistic and music choice is from the elementary level. The sound generated by these performing groups is awful. I always expect music by developing musicians to be loaded with mistakes, but these results are below the quality experienced at our daughter’s junior high school. Musically experienced Visi girls avoid association with the performing groups out of embarrassment and are encouraged by sympathetic staff to find music instruction outside the school.

Drama offerings (one play and one musical) are taught by the sole full-time performing arts employee, who is also responsible for dance. Despite efforts of some talented girls, the overall experience is disappointing and the results are far inferior to other private and public schools. Inexplicably, junior high students are allowed to perform.

Organization is problematic. Little flow of information, last minute changes and unexplained solicitations for contributions. For example, the full-time employee recently demanded involved girls buy/sell $100 of lottery tickets with no explanation. For the second year in a row, he cancelled the only performing arts trip without explanation.

There are good things about Visi (academics, sports, etc.), but it is shameful for management to allow these circumstances. For a high school, Visi’s performing arts instruction and performances are substandard and unserious. Potential students who prioritize performing arts should think carefully about this. I feel stupid for having been duped and for not having protected my daughter.

Wait until they promise very advanced math.That's the problem with many of the area private schools. They promise lot of things supported by the school's website and catalogs but once you get there.....

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry to hear this OP. My DD plays a few instruments at an advanced level and after speaking to the Visi performing arts director at an accepted student event, it was very obvious that their music program would not suffice. DD wanted a school where music could be an elective not a club.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your thoughts. I did not include visual arts in my comments and hear that the teacher for that does a good job. We did not require a highest-level performing arts program for our daughter, but what was delivered is far below what the misleading "sales talk" promised. It is far below the minimum expectation anyone would have for a high school. I am not the person to reform their situation, but the impression I have is that management knowingly allows this.

[Anonymous]

I guess you’ve learned an important lesson about reading a course catalog, meeting actual teachers of classes that are critical to your child’s school experience, and attending events of critical interest during the application period.

It seems like you should have been able to learn a lot of this information before your daughter enrolled. Like, how was it possible you thought there were dance class offerings when there aren’t?

Visual arts are my child’s passion. It was a deciding factor in the school choice. We spoke with multiple members of the visual arts departments at both schools we were deciding between, attended art events and musicals (DC is also interested in tech theatre), looked very closely at the different art courses offered and at how feasible it would be to take them based on schedules.

Professionals who were “inspired” by their time in high school a decade or more ago are an irrelevant data point, and even current admin aren’t better to speak to than the actual teaching staff. How did you not learn that they had so few full time performing art staff? That should be right on the website.

Due diligence is important.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you would be happiest at a large school, possibly public, where there are enough students to form a full orchestra and cast more plays. If your kids are embarrassed by classmates who are happy to get a chance to step outside of their comfort zone and try a new skill, a new sport, a new talent, then small schools are not for you.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is having a similar experience at her small private school. She’s really into performing arts (singing and theater) but she’s found the offerings aren’t adequate. I think it’s disappointing but the reality most private schools are not going to provide anything at the level of a performing arts high school or other specialty programs. Schools may think their programs are robust but not really know what high-level performing arts really entail. In my daughter’s case we’ve kind of accepted things for what they are and she pursues a lot of her extracurricular experiences outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Criticizing a specific production where specific kids spent a lot of time and effort to do their best and build a community and have fun together is actually mean.

I am beginning to believe the Visi rep. The bad one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess you’ve learned an important lesson about reading a course catalog, meeting actual teachers of classes that are critical to your child’s school experience, and attending events of critical interest during the application period.

It seems like you should have been able to learn a lot of this information before your daughter enrolled. Like, how was it possible you thought there were dance class offerings when there aren’t?

Visual arts are my child’s passion. It was a deciding factor in the school choice. We spoke with multiple members of the visual arts departments at both schools we were deciding between, attended art events and musicals (DC is also interested in tech theatre), looked very closely at the different art courses offered and at how feasible it would be to take them based on schedules.

Professionals who were “inspired” by their time in high school a decade or more ago are an irrelevant data point, and even current admin aren’t better to speak to than the actual teaching staff. How did you not learn that they had so few full time performing art staff? That should be right on the website.

Due diligence is important.

Where did your DC end up for visual arts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Criticizing a specific production where specific kids spent a lot of time and effort to do their best and build a community and have fun together is actually mean.

I am beginning to believe the Visi rep. The bad one.

The criticism is directed toward the person directing the performance. Kids will do what they are directed to do. Given that other schools with similar aged kids can put on stellar performances, it's not the kids responsibility to direct themselves - it's the director who is at fault.

[Anonymous]

Not Visi but currently having this experience at another private school. As someone who has volunteered for admissions offices for years, I’m over the fake song-and-dance during admissions season and feel gross for being a part of it. Honestly, so much (all?) of what schools and even current families tell you is what they wished was true, and not what’s really going on. I feel incredibly cynical about it and now that my child is old enough to apply out, I’m wary of almost every pitch we hear.

The reality is that even in the biggest, richest cities, only 2-3 schools per city have the resources to really offer everything and at a high caliber. Everything else is going to be broadly mediocre with a few standout parts.

I grew up in public schools and really wanted more for my kid. I think private schools that aren’t truly elite are a waste and I’d rather have a well-funded public school from the 80s and the experienced faculty that used to come with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry to hear this OP. My DD plays a few instruments at an advanced level and after speaking to the Visi performing arts director at an accepted student event, it was very obvious that their music program would not suffice. DD wanted a school where music could be an elective not a club.

Most schools have two levels of band and orchestra but none are at a high level like a private orchestra.