Performing Arts Courses

MIDDLE SCHOOL the college school

Performing Arts

Middle School Performing Arts courses allow students to choose to develop both musical and theatrical talents. These courses generally involve larger performances (plays attended by the rest of the school, musical accompaniment at school events, and so on).

Classic Theater

In this class, we approach teaching classic plays by casting, rehearsing, and performing a well-known play. Acting and being involved in a play helps students to work together, sharpen communication skills, and more fully understand the creative process, literature and social studies. Students are given an assignment sheet with final rehearsal and performance dates.

Performing Shakespeare

In this class, we approach Shakespeare by casting, rehearsing, and performing a play written by the Bard. After all, Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed, and it is by acting in one of his plays that students will best appreciate it. The dedicated work of this creative and responsible group of students will help to make our play a great success and an awesome learning experience for everyone! Musical Ensemble

Play a role in a musical ensemble. Explore the elements and styles of music through singing and playing many kinds of instruments. The goals of this class are: 1) for the group to work on playing and improvising music as a group, allowing every student to join in and to find a comfortable musical part to play and/or sing, and 2) to select, find, and prepare music for performance at assemblies throughout the year. This course is offered in the spring trimester.

Performance Dates

Students signing up for Classic Theater, Musical Ensemble, and Performing Shakespeare should make sure they will be able to be present on the performance dates listed underneath the respective classes. Guitar Class

Learn to play the guitar, or sharpen your skills. This class is for all students interested in playing guitar, at any level of experience. The class will work and play occasionally as an entire class group, but most of the class time will be spent working in separate practice “pods” of 2-4 students, based on experience, skill level, and other factors. Students who have their own guitars should bring them to class. (It is strongly recommended that all students use an acoustic guitar along with a pick for practical and aesthetic reasons.)

Songwriting

Practice the art of songwriting. We will listen to samples, share favorites, analyze song structures, work on original lyrics (poetry), melodies, chord progressions, create arrangements, and with luck, record some finished song demos. This work will at times be done on your own, other times in a group, and regular presentations of works-inprogress will be made in class. You may be required to sing and/or play an instrument in order to help try out ideas. Bring your opinions and your flexibility. This will be an intense but fun class.