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Theatre & Performing Arts

In Theatre, students will build upon previously learned skills to portray more compelling characters and complex scenes. Students will use various creative drama techniques to build an ensemble, stimulate imagination, practice movement, and role-play with an emphasis on stage presence. We will focus academically on the refinement of student interactions with theatre history, vocabulary and techniques.

Students will be asked to complete exercises that require emotional introspection and the creation of a safe explorative space for their peers. As they explore this space as a cohesive group, they will integrate the academic core of drama education with its emotional elements. Students will be asked to participate in multiple factions of the performing arts. On an individual level, students will be asked to comfortably inhabit solo performing spaces by developing monologues. As a group, students will work towards putting together a production.

Fine Arts

The goals in every art class include access to one’s own creativity, skills development, and innovative design and craftsmanship. Group and individual projects are designed to foster delight, serious observation, and introspection.

Students learn by accessing the creative process and understanding its connection to art, as well as understanding and implementing the creative process in their own work. Projects include: drawing, printmaking, photography, multi-media collage, artist books, painting, and sculpture, among others. All students learn how to participate in constructive, compassionate critiques and are introduced to historical and contemporary art and artists in various cultures. Artists will learn how to convey emotionality, story, and a personal point of view.

Music

In music class, students will listen to and create music to explore their own musicality. The class will allow multiple approaches to music making and appreciation. As a class, we will become a musical ensemble utilizing the interests, knowledge, and skills of each member of the class to put together a unique combination of instruments and voices. We will practice close listening and collaboration as we rehearse together; students will help to arrange songs for performance by our ensemble.

We will discuss NMSA audition requirements during music class, and students will also have the opportunity to prepare for auditions with support from their classmates. We will discuss building basic musicality and musical vocabulary by learning scales, chords, and common techniques on instruments.

Wearable Art

In this class, students will explore how to embellish their regular clothes to make it more
fun or fitting to the occasions, how to make art pieces that could be worn as a part of the
costume (mask or accessories) or how to make a whole costume.

The technique covered will include tie dye, embroidery, patchwork, airdry clay work,
cardboard shaping, bedazzling etc. Students can request what they want to learn to
accomplish the look they have in mind. Please note that this is not a sewing class to make clothes.

Language

Students have a choice between two language courses: Spanish or Japanese. Please talk together as a family when making this choice. In the middle school schedule, you will have this language approximately 3 times a week; we have found that focusing on one language over two years, allows students to become more proficient by the end of 8th grade.