The Consulting Arts
The Consulting Arts spawns environments that are catalysts for creativity, focusing on piano, voice, creativity coaching, art and writing. Karen Smith-Will teaches students of all ages and with various learning styles, disabilities, and health concerns. Typically her students' ages range from 5-100, and accommodations can be made for exceptional students.
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Why music?
- Great for an aging brain - a longitudinal study with >1000 participants. Another longitudinal study from Australia
- Great for fine motor control - a study demonstrating how pianists have control over nuance, aka "timbre."
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- Written by: Karen Smith-Will
- Category: The Consulting Arts
A college portfolio has slightly different components from university to university. It usually comprises 10 to 12 original artworks that best illustrate an artist's capabilities. Students typically store those artworks in a large black, zippered portfolio that keeps them safe while traveling. A student might also include a sketchbook featuring their current work.
Photos of all of these elements together are often uploaded into a digital portfolio. Each university has different platforms to which these artworks can be uploaded.
I've only experienced this via the program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. The way it is performed there, is registered high school students come on a single day to a venue (in VCU's case, at least two buildings). It is set up more or less like a conference, with tables containing representatives from the various colleges.
Contests
For years I managed this program in my county. Students create Visual Arts and Photography entries with an annual theme; “What My Culture Means to Me” is the theme for 2026-2027.
Note: There is another program called a PTO, and high schools with this program are not eligible for this art program
I've been to the awards ceremony for this program. Individuals who have a rare disease (or a family member with one) are eligible for this art contest.
Our daughter and some of my students have participated and won awards in this long-standing contest.
Our son and others in our community have participated in this competition. It results in art being displayed in certain public places.
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- Written by: Karen Smith-Will
- Category: The Consulting Arts
2025_11_19 Facebook is back!
I'll probably never know why, but at least it's resolved.
2025_11_18 Surprise for the day:
🆕 Until you hear otherwise, please text or call with any concerns or needs.
I've been ❄️frozen❄️ out of Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.
My account is in #FacebookJail and have no idea why. They say they will resolve it or cancel my account within 48 hours.
I'm fairly sure I haven't done anything against their standards, so it's entirely possible that a person either accidentally or with ill intent said I wasn't who I said I was.
P.S. The 1st frost ❄️on the windshield was a surprise today, too!
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- Written by: Karen Smith-Will
- Category: The Consulting Arts
"It was written as I meant to write it, and that is the greatest joy an author can have...sometimes I think that is the moment one feels closest to God, because you have been allowed to feel a little of the joy of pure creation."
--Agatha Christie
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- Written by: Karen Smith-Will
- Category: The Consulting Arts
Back in 2021, after a Maggie L. Walker Governor's school raffle, Evan took a couple piano lessons to test it out...and he never stopped.
We're excited about all his musical projects, including his first tour in 2023.