INSTRUCTOR BIOS

PAST EVENTS/REVIEWS

GUEST SPEAKERS

SAMPLE CURRICULA

SITES AND PUBLICATIONS RECOMMENDED BY TRaC

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

INSTRUCTOR TESTIMONIALS

TEACHER TESTIMONIALS

How do I qualify for TRaC?
All high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with a passion for writing and the arts are eligible for TRaC. The most important qualification, however, is an open mind.

What if I'm not a sophomore yet?
If you are a high school freshman, you may certainly apply, but understand that priority is given to older students. Strong freshman applicants have been accepted in the past. If you're not quite in high school yet, join our Freelancers Corps and start writing independently for High 5! We'll publish your reviews and you'll be a shoe-in to TRaC when you become eligible.

Where do TRaC applicants come from?
Students come to TRaC from all five boroughs in NYC, from New Jersey, Long Island and Westchester County. Over the summer, they've come from as far as North Carolina and Florida. There's always a mix of people from public schools, private schools, vocational schools, alternative schools and few who are home schooled.

How many people are accepted into TRaC?
About 70. We keep the class size small (14 people max per class) so everyone can be involved, have their voice heard, and receive individual attention from the instructors.

Does TRaC cost anything?
TRaC is COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE! You'll need some pocket cash pay for your transportation and snacks, but that's about it.

How often -- and where -- do the Teen Reviewers meet?
TRaC classes meet for eight workshops, once a week from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. In addition, once every other week TRaC students go on an evening or weekend outing to an arts event at venues located throughout NYC (a minimum of five shows!). Workshop meetings are held in midtown and downtown Manhattan locations. To make it possible for everyone to attend, shows are primarily in Manhattan, though there may be one Brooklyn or Queens.

When does TRaC start?
Spring sessions begin in mid-March; Fall sessions begin in mid-October. Summer sessions occur in July and August.

Which TRaC is right for me?
Well, that depends on you! Many times painters will take Visual Arts TRaC and musicians will take Music TRaC, as you'd expect. However, some of the most rewarding experiences (as we've heard from TRaC grads) have occurred when people venture into uncharted territory. We encourage people to experiment. Try the class you know the least about. No matter what you choose, you are guaranteed to go somewhere and see something you've never seen before.

I don't know much about theater at all. Can I sign up for Theater TRaC?
Definitely. There is always a diverse level of experience in every class. People who've never attended a downtown dance performance sitting next to a peer with an extensive modern, tap and salsa background. We believe when people with all kinds of experience, new or extensive, see work together, there's so much that can come out it. So, don't be afraid if you've never been to an art gallery. After TRaC, you will have!

I have a lot of school work and a tight schedule. Do I have time for TRaC?
TRaC is definitely a time commitment and you need to figure out if you can make it work for you. Here's what you can expect: Weekly workshop meetings last two hours. The five art outings are approximately two and a half hour commitments, depending on the performance or exhibition. We typically schedule the outings to fall on the same day as class or on a weekend so they don't conflict with other things in your weekly schedule. You will be asked to write approximately 350 - 500 words about each of the performances. (To give you an idea, this paragraph is just about 200 words, so it's really not that much!) Other weeks you may be revising your work, or helping out someone else with theirs. There isn't writing due every week, and truth be told, we've never had anyone tell us that there was more writing than they could keep up with. We've had students juggling senior applications, SAT prep, varsity sports, newspaper, music lessons and multiple after-school programs work TRaC in just fine.

What are examples of the kinds of events TRaC goes to?
Students have attended and reviewed performances from Broadway to BAM (the Brooklyn Academy of Music), Carnegie Hall to Symphony Space, The New Museum to PS 122, and exhibits from The Earth Room to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Deitch Projects. Participants have also had technical tours of New York Theatre Workshop, New York City Ballet, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Dance Theater Workshop, as well as pre- and post-performance interview opportunities with many performers, curators, writers, managers and divas. Guest speakers have included New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley, clarinetist Don Byron, dancer/choreographer Cynthia Oliver, New York Times cultural critic Margo Jefferson, Time Out NY dance editor Gia Kourlas, artist/Brooklyn Rail editor Phong Bui, documentary filmmaker Kelly Anderson, and Newsday theatre critic Linda Winer, among many others.

What happens to the reviews we write?
Selected TRaC and Freelancer reviews are featured in our weekly newsletter to offer other High 5 users insights and suggestions about some of our offerings. We will officially be launching an online newspaper, THE HIGH 5 REVIEW, in May 2010, where all reviews will be posted with author bios. Starting in the Spring 2010 TRaC program, writers will be regularly uploading their work to the HIGH 5 REVIEW (beta version.) Take a sneak peak at it here: THE HIGH 5 REVIEW (beta).

What do we get for finishing TRaC?
Are you saying free shows, awesome people, good dialog and published writing isn't enough?? Okay, then. Every TRaC graduate is invited to the TRaC Finale, a celebratory event attended by all the TRaC classes. TRaC grads also receive a certificate and free High 5 tickets until your 19th birthday. After that, you'll have to start bringing someone between else between 13 and 18 to be your guest and get you your tickets! You pass on what you have learned. It's the way this great adventure called art (life) keeps evolving....

Does TRaC help build my resume for college?
Of course! First of all, TRaC is a selective program that only admits 140 students during the fall and spring. You will receive a certificate, which can be submitted with your college applications, along with all of your published work. Colleges are always looking for students who take initiative and have expanded interests beyond the usual same old extracurricular clubs and sports. We know for a fact that many students have cited their TRaC experience in their college essays, in applications for other arts programs and internships, which illustrates the strong impact TRaC has had on those who do it.

Will this help me become a professional critic?
There no guarantees, but graduates of High 5's TRaC program have gone on to write for and edit their college newspapers. Some enterprising graduates have found work as professional freelancers for New York City newspapers, as columnists for local papers and content providers for various arts related websites.

What's the difference between joining TRaC and being a Freelancer?
TRaC is a structured after school program that high school students must apply for: groups of 14 young people are lead by an instructor through the New York arts scene and work together to uncover its secrets. Writers in the Freelancer Corps work independently: Freelancers choose and review their own events independently for publication on our website. If you're interested in become a High 5 Freelancer, please visit the HIGH 5 REVIEW to learn more. Anyone 13 - 18 years old can join!

Okay, I'm ready. How do I apply for TRaC?
Download an application form and get everything in by the deadline. Read over the application carefully, and order your TRaC preferences. We'll try to get you your first or second choice. You will need to submit a Statement of Interest, a short writing sample, contact info for a recommending teacher and a program agreement signed by both you and your parent/guardian. All potential candidates will also come in for a short interview with the TRaC Director. You can mail your application, drop it off in person, or contact us for a fax number. If for some reason we are unable to accommodate you in a TRaC class this season, you'll be offered first dibs on a TRaC class in the upcoming season. We try aim to accommodate everyone who wants to be here. Remember, the earlier you apply, the better your odds of getting your first choice!

Wait! I have many more questions. Where can I ask them??
Funny you should ask. In the Fall and Spring we invite TRaC graduates and instructors to speak about their past experiences at the TRaC Open House. Check out the TRaC Homepage to see if an Open House is coming up in the near future and RSVP. If you need immediate help, feel free to contact Eric Ost, TRaC Program Director, at 212-453-9485 or eost@high5tix.org

• Session 1 - July 29th and August 3rd
• Session 2 - August 5th and 10th
• Session 3A - August 12th and 17th
• Session 3B - August 12th and 17th
• Session 4 - August 19th and 24th