Boston and the Arts!

There’s no use trying to deny it. The Arts are important. Think, for a moment, about trying to watch a movie with no soundtrack…pretty boring. Or visualize a room without decorations; no pictures, no colors, nothing but blank walls…admittedly dismal. Art and music give our lives color and beauty. Even people who don’t necessarily paint, draw or play a musical instrument probably have an appreciation of art and identify on some level with an artistic community. Simple things such as viewing a famous painting, watching a theater production, or listening to a symphony are all ways to enjoy art. When putting together a student trip, be sure to add in one of these activities in the tour package. Here several places to consider visiting while touring Boston.

Now a student trip just wouldn’t be a student trip without a visit to a museum, so why not tour an art museum. Boston has several remarkable art museums so be sure to stop in at one of these facilities. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is located in a beautiful building intended to replicate a Venetian Renaissance palazzo. It holds an impressive collection of Asian, European and American art. The Museum of Fine Arts is another choice. This museum is one of the largest art museums in the United States, and features an extensive collection of art ranging from sculptures, photographs and paintings, to collections such as musical instruments and textiles. Student tours are available upon request.

For all those for a life on the stage…well…you may have to settle for watching other people onstage. Just the same, Boston has a number of ornate theaters that are conveniently located in the city’s downtown Theater District. The Cutler Majestic Theater is one such theater, and its architecture alone is enough to astound, but students will also enjoy watching productions of both Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, as well as non-musical theater and dance. The Boston Opera House is smaller in size, but no less impressive, and also features musical theater as well as the occasional opera.

Igniting kid’s enthusiasm for classical music is an important thing. You may have heard some people describe classical music as outdated, boring, or tedious, but any true fan will tell you this is not true. Classical music has astonishing depth, and more power to communicate emotions than people realize. Taking your group to see the Boston Symphony Orchestra could be a good choice; this orchestra offers youth concerts designed to help students understand and value classical music. Evening concerts are an option as well, and the orchestra even offers open rehearsals for those interested in seeing what goes on behind the scenes of a major symphony. Another option is to visit the Boston Pops, a division of the BSO. The Pops performs popular show tunes and features concerts with focus on popular Broadway singers, movie soundtracks, and even jazz tunes, making it more accessible for those who have little prior knowledge of classical music. The Boston Lyric Opera also makes its home in the city. This company stages full length operas for those who are particularly daring, but also offers shorter operas that are translated into English and reduced for younger children.

Here are just a few places where your group can go to see superior art and hear some great music. The fine arts are a critical part of any education, so make sure to take your group to take in a concert, or visit one of the art museums.