resilience

Waldorf Education Provides A Foundation for Success

Many employers seek specific skills in their potential employees, such as leadership, effective communication, adaptability, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Waldorf education stands out in preparing children with these crucial skills through a hands-on, experiential curriculum that covers a wide range of academics and arts. This approach helps students become confident, creative, adaptable, and able to connect well with others. Waldorf education doesn’t solely prepare graduates for higher education, it equips them for success in any career they choose.

In a recent editorial from LinkedIn this year, Top 11 Skills Employers Look for in Job Candidates, they identified the following areas that employers are looking for:

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Teamwork skills

Interpersonal skills

Learning/adaptability skills

Self-management skills

Organizational skills

Computer skills

Problem-solving skills

Open-mindedness

Strong work ethic

It’s noteworthy what is listed and what is not. While society makes it easy to focus on what advanced-level academic work is being introduced to students at what age, or what standardized test and IQ scores are, many believe there is a different approach that more fully prepares the next generation for an unknown future. Waldorf education makes the argument that when we emphasize creative, critical thinking, honor the developmental phases of students, and integrate nature, art, and teamwork into school, students can become their fullest selves and lead whole, fulfilling lives. RWS students learn handwork, woodwork, bicycling, study multiple world languages, paint, play sports, act in plays, and go camping. These are all intentional life lessons. They will develop important resilience and resourcefulness that will further their personal and professional lives. Our hope is they may even help our world to be a better place.

One RWS Alum, now an environmental science grad from University of Richmond said, “I think Waldorf made me really interested in learning and made it something I really enjoyed. At Waldorf, communication with teachers was a big thing. I really learned how to talk with them and ask questions. Problem solving was another huge concept I learned, as well as hands-on work. I learned a lot of great study habits that helped me. And also leadership skills.”

It’s natural to wonder how successful Waldorf school graduates are in higher education and beyond. A Research Bulletin entitled Standing Out Without Standing Alone: Profile of Waldorf School Graduates encapsulates the results of the comprehensive Survey of Waldorf Graduates, Phase II. The survey describes what Waldorf school graduates most love to study, which professions they select, what they think of their Waldorf education, and what they value as adults.

The survey suggests that a majority of Waldorf school graduates share the following characteristics:

They value the opportunity to think for themselves and to translate their new ideas into practice.
They practice life-long learning and have a highly developed sense for aesthetics.
They value lasting human relationships.
They seek out opportunities to be of help to other people.
They sense that they are guided by an inner moral compass that helps them navigate the trials and challenges of their professional and private lives.
They carry high ethical principles into their chosen professions.

As families explore different private, public, and charter schools to find the best environment for their children, parents are asked to consider what traits and capacities a school provides to best prepare their child for their future. As a Waldorf school, we take a holistic approach and consider the whole human being when setting our curriculum and the learning environment. This helps our students understand the meaning and purpose behind what they learn. It nurtures creativity, confidence, and builds capabilities to find meaning and purpose in life. Waldorf education’s focus on social-emotional development supports these areas, and spans the entire program, from Early Childhood through 8th grade. Our emphasis on group learning, long-term relationship building, and unstructured play opportunities gives students the opportunity to practice essential interpersonal skills that will serve them well beyond graduation from RWS.

Want to Learn More?

We would love for you to explore the Waldorf approach! Sign up for a tour, or watch our school video where students talk about life at Richmond Waldorf School. Get to know us and see if RWS is right for your child.

Experience Waldorf - Schedule a Visit

At Richmond Waldorf School, we recognize that our student’s physical, social, and emotional well-being are a key part of their ability to learn and thrive. We look forward to meeting you and sharing more information about Waldorf education.

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

Richmond Waldorf School is a non-profit, private school in Richmond, Virginia offering Waldorf education for grades Pre-K – 8th grade.

many ways to learn math at Richmond Waldorf School

Learning is Multi-Sensory. Teaching Should Be Too.

Children learn in many different ways. That’s why it is so important for teachers to bring concepts through multiple senses. In Waldorf schools we teach science through stories as well as outdoors in nature and in the lab. We move, build, and even bake and eat our math. We teach literature through theater. We sing our history and languages. We teach this way so that our curriculum reaches more children, more deeply, in a way that they love and remember.

There are many things to consider when finding the right school for your child. Finding a learning environment that emphasizes multimodal learning and an experiential approach to teaching is often what draws a family to Waldorf education. It’s no secret that we believe that children need to engage their whole body to learn academics. This is why art and movement are integrated into core academic subjects, as well as taught as stand-alone topics. When we acknowledge and incorporate multi-sensory experiences into the curriculum, student engagement soars.

$waldorf math chalkboard art$

As an article in Edutopia.org, “How Multisensory Activities Enhance Reading Skills”, explains, “reading lessons can involve more than just our eyes and ears.” Further, the author explains that research reinforces the idea that multisensory learning supports all students, and “the key is to use more than one sense at a time in order to cement the concept.” As an example, in a Waldorf math lesson, you’ll see second graders working on their multiplication times tables through a variety of ways. You’ll hear students singing their 4 times tables to the tune of Frere Jacques. They’ll draw a 10-pointed star with numbers 0 to 10 at each point, and learn their 3 times tables by following the line. Hand clapping games are a common tool to bring the physical body into the intellectual concept. Their teacher may tell a story that further reinforces the relationship between these numbers. Through these exercises, concepts are being reinforced across modalities. With this, we have a much greater chance of supporting different learning styles to learn new skills, to think critically, and to use their creativity.

In Waldorf education, the multi-sensory approach to academics is part and parcel of our philosophy. Handwork classes begin in 1st grade, where students will learn to knit on needles, count their stitches, and follow a pattern. Cooking is regularly incorporated into world language classes to learn about different cultures. Furthermore, all students from PreK to 8th grade have biking classes. Class plays are an integral piece of the curriculum, bringing students together in a performance that is often connected to their core curriculum. There are many other examples of how all five senses are considered and honored at Richmond Waldorf School. We’d love to share more with an in-person visit.

As students move into the upper elementary and middle school, the multi-sensory learning continues to unfold in increasing complexity. Laboratory sciences with engaging experiments and demonstrations are commonplace to begin a new topic. Students may be asked to recount the demonstration by drawing an illustration of the experiment they witnessed. In addition to the integrated curriculum, Waldorf teachers bring subjects to life through field trips, being in and observing nature, and through a personal relationship with their students. We want to help students cultivate an interest in the world and its people through storytelling and multi-sensory experiences.

Want to Learn More?

Experience Waldorf - Schedule a Visit

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

Richmond Waldorf School is a non-profit, private school in Richmond, Virginia offering Waldorf education for grades Pre-K – 8th grade.

Waldorf Education in the Age of AI

How would you design an education system that helps students flourish in the face of changes to the nature of work, brought on by Artificial Intelligence (AI)? The rise of ChatGPT and other AI large-language models have brought this question to the forefront of parents and educators’ minds. Waldorf education is uniquely focused on developing children’s creativity, cultural competency, imagination, and original thinking. We believe that we set our students up for future success by teaching students how to articulate their own diverse viewpoints and understanding of the material. In a future where AI-generated content relies on recombining existing work, our graduates’ abilities to think critically, divergently, and creatively will serve them well.

It’s no question that the rise in AI is creating all sorts of opportunities and pitfalls to navigate. The use of AI is increasing as people find ways to work more efficiently and multi-task at a greater level. We’re also starting to see how AI can hinder the education process as teachers consider how to mitigate plagiarism and ensure students are sharing their own voice and ideas in assignments, essays, etc. We know that over the next several years, the development of AI will continue to grow, as will the challenges and risks that surround this new technology.

Last December, the Atlantic magazine published the article “ChatGPT Is Dumber Than You Think”. Within this, they reflect that AI sites such as ChatGPT “lack the ability to truly understand the complexity of human language and conversation. It is simply trained to generate words based on a given input, but it does not have the ability to truly comprehend the meaning behind those words.” They further argue that “the ability to connect with others is a fundamental aspect of being human,” and consider whether we might be losing essential human connection as we lean more and more into the world of AI.

What does a future run by AI look like? We do not know. What we do know is that the future generation of workers will be facing new challenges, with new technologies, and a world that we cannot predict. Waldorf is a system of education that directly challenges AI. With strong emotional intelligence, resourcefulness, and an ability to connect with others, Waldorf students have the tools they need to learn new skills, overcome uncertainties with self-sufficiency, and possess an inclusive mindset that will help them find a meaningful, purposeful life. Waldorf grads pursue diverse careers, and maintain a rich extracurricular life with hobbies and meaningful activities in and outside of their work life.

Waldorf and the Human Experience

Waldorf education is known for our emphasis on relationships, practical arts, and a creative, experiential approach to learning. Going deeper than this, when the first Waldorf school was created in 1919, the initial impulse was to create a new way of learning that would enable a new way of connection amongst humans of different backgrounds and abilities. This ideal continues to evolve today, as we consider how the human spirit is a vehicle for change. Waldorf education is a living model, encouraging freedom of teachers to consider how to prepare their students to fulfill their potential and find meaning in their lives. Rudolph Steiner said that the work of educators is to “Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love, and send them forth in freedom.”

We believe that our job as educators is to awaken social responsibility, service to community, and stewardship of the earth. We do this through a developmentally appropriate curriculum and through teacher development that encourages human connection, long term relationships, and by modeling honest striving in the world to the students. Waldorf teachers understand that lessons that encourage sensory integration, play, time in nature, and the arts deepen students’ experiences and help them to reach their full potential. By offering unique lessons such as handwork, form drawing, biking, and world languages, students at Richmond Waldorf School are immersed in the world around them and learn how to navigate all sorts of relationships. This type of education is essential, especially in a modern world of ever-evolving technology that brings information and humanity to our fingers, yet leaves society feeling increasingly disconnected and lonely.

Preparing Future Leaders

Human experience is paramount to Waldorf education. In a world of Artificial Intelligence, Waldorf educators hold firm that hands-on, relationship-based learning encourages free thinking which is essential for a society that is peaceful, productive, and purposeful. We thoughtfully consider when and how technology and media should be brought into the classroom, and bring a classical approach to teaching that uses more traditional resources and methods.

As educators, we feel it is imperative to bring forth the next generation of adults in a way that teaches them about who they are and how they can contribute to society in meaningful ways. Every aspect of our curriculum – from the play-based preschool programming to the robust laboratory sciences and adventurous field trips – instills the mindset in students that they can make a difference. Every student and every person has a voice, a perspective, a talent, and a calling for a life full of meaning and purpose. At Richmond Waldorf school, we embrace every opportunity to develop curious, confident, and capable individuals who can bring forth healthy change in the world.

Want to Learn More?

Experience Waldorf - Schedule a Visit

At Richmond Waldorf School, we recognize that our student’s physical, social and emotional well-being are a key part of their ability to learn and thrive. We look forward to meeting you and sharing more information about Waldorf education.

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

Richmond Waldorf School is a non-profit, private school in Richmond, Virginia offering Waldorf education for grades Pre-K – 8th grade.

How Waldorf Students Stand Out

With an increasingly competitive college admissions process, grades and test scores are no longer the final deciding factors for students to be accepted into the colleges of their choice. Applicants need to find ways to distinguish themselves from the crowd. Waldorf students stand out in many ways from their peers. These Waldorf graduates bring a unique perspective, set of experiences, and skill set. The Waldorf approach, which incorporates the arts, outdoor education and hands-on learning into academics, helps our graduates stand out as individuals. They are curious, creative, confident, and experienced in working with their peers, their hands, and their minds. Their ability to listen, articulate their ideas, advocate for themselves and others, and work both independently and collaboratively helps them thrive in college and beyond. That is why colleges and universities across the country have recognized the degree to which Waldorf graduates enhance their student bodies.

The Rudolph Steiner School did a study that found that a composite profile of the recent Waldorf graduate tells us that they (practically all) attend college, for which they feel strongly prepared (95%), are accepted to the top three colleges or universities of their choice (90%), complete their initial degree (92%), and often choose thereafter to continue to graduate or professional training schools. They also feel that their Waldorf education prepared them to be creative and innovative, open minded, empathic, and to take on leadership roles.

At Richmond Waldorf School we see how our alumni find meaning in their own unique paths. RWS Class of 2020 alum, Aiden, shared, “My general field of interest in STEM and particularly programming and computer science. So, this year I’m taking classes like AP Computer Science Principles. I’m also involved in my school’s programming club and I’m on my school’s robotics team. This is an area I want to focus on and continue taking classes and courses related to development as I move out of high school.” Aiden, now a senior at a prestigious high school, continues to play violin in the school orchestra while exploring his interests in STEM and computer science.

Another RWS alum, Georgia Chase, graduated from RWS in 2016 and then attended Open High. She continued on to the University of Richmond as an environmental science major with a minor in anthropology. Georgia says, “My plan is to graduate and hopefully work in urban green spaces and work with environmental justice and environmental racism.” Georgia also reflected that now as a college student, “being able to communicate with your professors is extremely important. It can help you so much along the way. And I really think that Waldorf helped me to be confident in communicating and asking for help and asking for assistance.”

RWS Alum in the World

RWS alum, Stephanie Gernetz, graduated from University of Virginia in 2021 and moved to Indianapolis for an enticing job as a process automation engineer at Eli Lilly and Company. There she monitors the machinery that perfects penicillin and other medicines. From her first day of kindergarten to her eighth-grade graduation, Stephanie absorbed the settings and practices of the RWS “environmentally friendly” campus, then followed her residual instincts and interests to a major in environmental science, along with chemical engineering, at UVA.

An internship at Merck added a new interest in pharmaceuticals. Seeking a similar employer after college, she attended a conference for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and landed an in-person interview with Eli Lilly. Stephanie notes, “I felt confident in what I knew, and I was able to present myself with that confidence, which they saw.”

Some of that confidence comes from RWS. Stephanie says, “I believe Waldorf helped me grow to be a well-rounded individual…[which] helped me in my education, because if a scientist is only good with numbers and math, but can’t communicate or involve creativity and expression within their findings or projects, that sometimes does not make for the best STEM-oriented students.”

Our alumni make us so proud and remind us that with a developmentally appropriate curriculum, steeped in the arts and the world around us, students develop a deep understanding of themselves and how to make an impact in the world. Our students leave our program ready for their next adventure and with the quiet confidence to overcome challenges and excel in new experiences. This is why the Waldorf methodology continues to thrive.

RWS alum from 2016 graduates with honors from UVA School of Engineers.

Want to Learn More?

We would love for you to explore the Waldorf approach! Get to know us and see if RWS is right for your child.

Get to Know RWS - Inquiry Form

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

Richmond Waldorf School is a non-profit, private school in Richmond, Virginia offering Waldorf education for grades Pre-K – 8th grade.

Waldorf Education: A Thoughtful Approach to Homework

Meaningful, Age-appropriate, Connected

Too often, homework becomes meaningless busywork that stresses and overwhelms students and their families, crushes creativity, and has little impact on children’s future success. In Waldorf education, we take a thoughtful, age-appropriate, and balanced approach. Homework is not introduced until later and is always focused on meaningful assignments to foster creativity and developing a deeper understanding of the subject. Assignments will often include an artistic or project-based component that connects to the theme being studied.

Our approach to homework is rooted in sparking students’ imagination and creativity, helping them to learn to articulate their understanding and viewpoint, and cultivating a strong love of learning. We want our students to lead healthy, balanced lives that include time for rest, recreation, free play, and family time.

An article from the Atlantic Magazine, The Cult of Homework, details how America’s focus on homework is not grounded in research and that excessive homework is not helping to reach our educational goals.

At RWS, homework begins in 3rd or 4th grade with students working on reading and practicing their strings instrument. While this may sound late and light to some parents, especially those whose preschoolers may be coming home with packets of work, our tried and true educational philosophy demonstrates that having engaging and meaningful lessons at school is the most important thing to ensure students are progressing in their learning. Homework does have its place, and Waldorf education believes it needs to be developmentally appropriate and connect the concepts learned at school to a project or artistic experience at home.

As the students grow and become ready for more challenging assignments, we bring that experiential element into the homework assignments, too!

Middle schoolers worked together to create a pulley system to lift one another!

Applying Priciples in a Meaningful Way

At Richmond Waldorf School, we strive for meaning and purpose to be at the forefront of our curriculum and the work we ask of our students.

In 7th grade last year, the class studied physics. Electromagnetism was the final topic of the block, where the students revisited properties of magnets and explored how electricity and magnetism work together. Making simple motors was their final class project, showing that they could apply the principles they learned about magnetism and electricity in a meaningful way.

Instead of a block test, students created their own Rube Goldberg machines at home. It was incredible to see what they each accomplished, and they were able to demonstrate their work in class together, with popcorn! As we know, scientists must often try things over and over again before they get them right. This experience gave students the chance to explore the scientific process of discovery and innovation as they worked diligently on these projects. Not only were they able to complete the assignment, but they felt a sense of pride, accomplishment, and excitement for what they and their fellow classmates were able to do.

This is a perfect example for how we create meaningful, in-depth experiences that help students learn how to think creatively and critically to reach their goals. The concepts learned in class were connected to the projects at home in an exciting and age-appropriate way, fostering a love of learning and genuine excitement to complete the homework!

Middle schoolers share their physics assignments with the class.

Want to Learn More?

We would love for you to explore the Waldorf approach! Get to know us and see if RWS is right for your child.

Get to Know RWS - Inquiry Form

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

Richmond Waldorf School is a non-profit, private school in Richmond, Virginia offering Waldorf education for grades Pre-K – 8th grade.

Waldorf Education & the Adaptability Quotient: Educating for an Uncertain Future

Waldorf, Adaptability, & Creativity

With increasingly rapid changes in the nature of work, employers are interested not just in intelligence and social skills, but in an employee’s adaptability quotient–their ability to adjust to new challenges with flexibility, curiosity, courage, resilience, and problem-solving skills. In Waldorf education, we deepen rigorous academics by integrating art, outdoor education, music, theater, practical work, movement and hands-on learning. The depth and breadth of the Waldorf curriculum challenges students and develops crucial capacities that will help them adapt and thrive throughout their lives.

The premise of a Waldorf education is to provide a learning environment that promotes independent thinking, cultivates creativity, builds confidence, and develops practical skills. A holistic approach to education lays the foundation for a life full of meaning and purpose. We believe that when teaching core academic subjects, the most important thing for us to instill in our students is the ability to think critically and creatively, how to use their resources, and how to keep going. From the youngest children who spend two hours outdoors a day in the cold and rain, to the 8th grader who hikes along to the Appalachian trail carrying a heavy backpack for hours, the experiences challenge young people and affirm their ability to conquer a challenge. This is what Waldorf education is designed to do. Don’t we all want our children to face challenges head on, to work together as a team, and to find balance in their work and personal lives for a healthy, happy life?

What's the Adaptability Quotient?

The bbc article about “AQ”, or the Adaptability Quotient, affirms the types of qualitative skills that help people adapt. It talks about how, for years, we used IQ, or intelligence quotient, as the primary indicator for determining success in career and life. More recently, EQ, or the emotional intelligence, has been in the spotlight. This article states “Both IQ and EQ are considered important to our career success. But today, as technology redefines how we work, the skills we need to thrive in the job market are evolving too. Enter the adaptability quotient, or AQ, a subjective set of qualities loosely defined as the ability to pivot and flourish in an environment of fast and frequent change.

“IQ is the minimum you need to get a job, but AQ is how you will be successful over time,” says Natalie Fratto, a New York-based vice-president at Goldman Sachs who became interested in AQ when she was investing in tech start-ups. She has subsequently presented a popular TED talk on the subject.”

In the loving, safe environment of a Waldorf school, with long-term teachers who know them well, students can be pushed to their own individual limits, they can learn to rely on one another, and trust themselves.

For more information about the curriculum and how our educational philosophy instills adaptability and creativity, reach out to us!

Get to Know RWS

At Richmond Waldorf School, we recognize that our student’s physical, social and emotional well-being are a key part of their ability to learn and thrive. Our holistic approach to education prioritizes critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.

We would love you to explore if the Waldorf approach is right for your child! Join an information session or meet with our Enrollment Administrator to learn more about Richmond Waldorf School.

Choosing a school is a very important decision in a family’s life. Our admissions process is designed to give you as much information as you need to make an informed decision about enrolling your children. Whenever possible, we encourage all families to book a visit when considering Richmond Waldorf School. We want to meet you! It is just as important for us to know who you are and what you are looking for in a school, as it is for you to know who we are and what Waldorf education is about.

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

Pushing Academics into Preschool is Harmful

A brand new comprehensive study of preschool finds significant drawbacks to pushing academics too early. Researchers found that any initial academic gains were quickly erased, and children who attended academic focused Pre-K were actually behind their peers in elementary and middle school. Another troubling finding was that students who experienced early academic pressure showed dramatic increases in behavioral issues later on. In Waldorf education, we focus on what is developmentally appropriate for each age group, understanding that children especially need play, movement and art, which are all critical to social-emotional health and academic success. Asking children to take on tasks before they are developmentally ready for them can have lasting negative effects, and that is why we take a different approach to early childhood education.

At Richmond Waldorf School, preschool and Kindergarten learning takes place in our Early Childhood program. Mixed-age classrooms give children opportunities to build social and emotional skills and to practice resiliency and empathy. At RWS, we develop physical capacities through active play and work, in addition to the critical “soft skills” that bring meaning and joy into the learning environment. A Waldorf preschool experience is unique, as we emphasize a developmentally-appropriate curriculum built on a foundation of practical work and play. The experiences of a Waldorf Kindergarten are shown to develop a strong sense of self, a desire to contribute to the group, and an enthusiasm for learning about the world.

To learn more about the recent study that shows how early academics can be harmful to developing children, follow the link below:

Early Developmental Competencies: Or Why Pre-K Does Not Have Lasting Effects

We are accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Join an information session or meet with our Enrollment Administrator to learn more about Richmond Waldorf School.

Get to Know RWS

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

Movement is Fundamental to How Children Learn

Scientific understanding of how the brain influences the body, and the body influences the brain, is shedding light on the role movement plays in learning and memory. Incorporating movement has a significant impact on what students remember as compared to taking in concepts just auditorily or visually. In Waldorf education we use movement as a teaching tool throughout our curriculum. Incorporating movement helps children with everything from learning their multiplication tables to understanding complex physics concepts.

At Richmond Waldorf School, movement is integrated into the academic subjects as we know that children learn best when they are engaging their fully body. From math, language arts, science and history, we incorporate group and individual movement, play performances, and more. Further, weekly biking classes, movement arts instruction, mindfulness and unstructured play are part and parcel to Richmond Waldorf School’s program through 8th grade.

To learn more about the science behind movement and learning, go to https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/58051/how-movement-and-gestures-can-improve-student-learning

We are accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Join an information session or meet with our Enrollment Administrator to learn more about Richmond Waldorf School.

Get to Know RWS

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

How Teacher Looping Eases Learning Disruption

New studies show that a teacher educating the same group of students in multiple subjects over multiple years (looping) has lasting benefits. Students who stay with the same teacher see both academic improvement as well as reductions in absences and behavioral issues. Teaching a child for multiple years allows teachers to better understand each student’s learning style, to work with families to help support students, and to challenge them to do their best work. That’s why in Waldorf education, teachers stay with their class for multiple years, building a safe and supportive learning environment and strong relationships. This multi-year student-teacher relationship helps each student to unfold their unique potential.

At Richmond Waldorf School, there is always a new 1st grade teacher. Why? Because the Class Teacher loops with their class for many years, often all the way from 1st through 8th grade. The relationship between teachers and their students and parents are essential to fully engage our students in their learning. We get to know how our students learn, understand their strengths and challenges, and model how to navigate long-term relationships.

To read more about how teacher looping points to greater learning in the classroom, check out this article from HechingerReport.org:

Two studies point to the power of teacher-student relationships to boost learning

We are accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Join an information session or meet with our Enrollment Administrator to learn more about Richmond Waldorf School.

Get to Know RWS

Valerie Hogan
Enrollment & Marketing Administrator
| 804-377-8024 ext 3

The Greatest Scientists are Artists Too

Louis Pastuer was a painter. Albert Einstein and Francis Arnold were both accomplished musicians. New research shows that award winning scientists, and especially Nobel Prize winners, are far more likely to have artistic hobbies than the general public.

Many of them, including Einstein, cite the role of the arts in their breakthroughs. Creativity and perseverance are at the heart of both scientific discovery and artistic expression.

That is why music, drama, visual and practical arts are key components in Waldorf education and are integrated throughout our curriculum here at Richmond Waldorf School.

At Richmond Waldorf, students begin music education in the 1st grade, with the entire student body learning and performing as an orchestra in their middle school years. Additionally, the performing arts are woven into the Grades curriculum, culminating with each class presenting a play that relates to and enhances their studies. Visual, performing and practical arts are integrated into everything our students do here at Richmond Waldorf School, strengthening creativity and perseverance in all of their academic endeavors.

To learn more about the interconnectedness of art and academics, specifically science, check out this article “The Symphony of Science” originally published by Nobelprize.org.

Article below was originally published in March 2019 via NobelPrize.org

What does music mean to you? Do you use it to help relieve stress, anxiety and fall asleep to? For many, the value of music is endless and scientists and Nobel Laureates are no exception. From seeing problems in a new way to fostering discipline, expressing creativity to working as a team, music has helped many laureates in both work and life.

Music has often helped Nobel Laureates think and process scientific information in a new way. Physics Laureate Albert Einstein was influenced by his mother who taught him to play the violin at a very early age. He was especially fond of Mozart, Bach and Schubert. Einstein often highlighted and emphasised the importance of music to him. In his lifetime he owned around ten violins, all receiving the nickname ‘Lina’. For Einstein, music worked as a brainstorming technique to help him reflect on his theories and resolve difficulties he encountered. He often indicated that if he hadn’t worked as a scientist, he would have become a musician. Einstein’s scientific ideas were often firstly created in the shape of images and intuitions, and later converted into mathematics, logic and words. Music helped Einstein in this thought process and helped convert the images to logic.

Physics Laureate Werner Heisenberg was also highly interested in music and occasionally played together with Albert Einstein. From an early age, Heisenberg seemed destined to become a musician and concert pianist. It is said that he started reading sheet music at the age of four. However, as he grew older, his passion for science outgrew his love for music and he decided to become a scientist instead. Despite this, music remained a lifelong passion of his.

Fellow Physics Laureate Max Planck was similarly a very gifted physicist and musician. Planck sang as well as played the piano and organ. Einstein and Planck supposedly used to play together, finding not only a shared love for science but also music.

Besides helping them reflect on scientifically complex problems, music has helped Nobel Laureates learn discipline and the importance of a creative mind. For Thomas Südhof, awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, music gave him important inputs and ideas. Similar to previously mentioned laureates, Südhof mostly enjoys classical music. Südhof played the bassoon, and says that classical music and his music teacher has had a huge influence on him. Classical music requires a creative mind as well as enormous discipline. These two factors are said to have shaped Südhof’s development as a scientist. The repetitive and disciplinary task of practicing the same symphony over and over again slowly become a part of Südhof’s personality. The repetition helped him acquire knowledge and gave him the basics to start with. However, he also realised that in order for him to use that knowledge to create something new, he needed a creative mind. Südhof sees the parallels between music and science. In science, the two requirements of practicing a lot as well as having a creative mind are necessary in order to achieve something extraordinary.

Besides music’s ability to spark creativity and teach scientists disciplinary practice, Nobel Laureates compare and see similarities between science and music. In her Nobel Lecture, Chemistry Laureate Frances Arnold mentioned the similarity between Beethoven’s symphony and her work with the code of life. They both are beautiful and intricate, however it seems as if we still need to practice if we want to write the code of life as beautiful and intricate as Beethoven wrote his symphony. Frances Arnold played piano and guitar as a teenager and she is still very fond of music.

Furthermore, the dynamics between the members of a music band can be compared with the team effort found within a research group. Medicine Laureate James Allison points out this distinct similarity between music and science. According to Allison, it is necessary in both fields to build a team where each individual makes their own contribution to the overall work. However, it is important that the communication between the members work so smoothly that each individual also understands what needs to be done to accomplish breakthroughs. Each member is doing what they are supposed to. As James Allison states “every now and then my lab has been as well tuned – it feels like a really good band” – the concept of great team work leading to great success can be applied to both science and music.

Medicine Laureate Barbara McClintock played the tenor banjo in a jazz band in New York during her senior year at Cornell University. However, as with many other scientists, McClintock discovered that her love for science was greater than her love for music so she decided to immerse herself completely in her research work. Nonetheless, she was very fond of music, enjoying its rhythm and structure.

Two other Nobel Prize-awarded physicists Martin Chalfie and Frank Wilczek are keen musicians in their spare time. Chalfie’s dad taught him to play guitar from an early age, and Wilczek started playing piano, drums and accordion as a child. Similarly to Südhof, Wilzcek believes that music requires the disciplinary practice to acquire the basic patterns as well as the creativity to put these patterns together in novel ways. A reoccurring favourite amongst the scientists is the composer Bach. As Wilzcek summarises it: “Bach is a great manipulator of patterns”.

In Wilczek’s book ‘A Beautiful Question’, he discusses if the world embodies beautiful ideas. He then mentions the idea of a ‘music of the spheres’. It is an ancient philosophical term used by classical astronomers and it represented the supposed ‘music’ produced by the movements of the celestial spheres or heavenly bodies. Maybe these spheres of music are accessible to Nobel Prize-awarded scientists? That remains a mystery.

The symphony of science. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2022. Mon. 14 Feb 2022. <https://www.nobelprize.org/symphony-of-science/>

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