Music, Visual Arts, and Theater Thrive at Dwight Global Online School

Enrolling in online arts classes enriches Dwight Global Online students’ learning with worldwide cultural connections, special outlets for self-expression, and exposure to professional teachers who are also working artists.

At Dwight Global, students can take advantage of the arts no matter their skill level,” said Visual Arts Teacher Jenifer Kent. “Students may go directly to advanced courses like AP Art & Design, and others take ‘Visual and Performing Arts,’ a year-long course in three sections taught by myself, Lucas Simone for music, and Tory Letourneau-Bentz for theater.

Ms. Kent said visual art students begin with learning proportion, value, perspective, and portraiture, and receive one-on-one feedback. Students also participate in virtual field trips at museums worldwide.

Online learning is wonderful for the practice of visual arts, which is largely solitary. Artists come together for exhibitions, and to share art, which we do daily,” she said.

Mr. Simone’s classes range from introductory classes to IB DP and AP-level music theory and composition classes. Music production, performance, and technology knowledge go hand in hand, Simone said, and students study all genres of music all over the world.

Students must perform each term and record two different pieces, which culminates in creating a portfolio and presentations. We are focused not just on the outcome, but on the creative process, and learning what works most comfortably as individual musicians," said Mr. Simone.

Music students participate in in-person, cross-campus collaborations such as Dwight’s annual Global Concert, to showcase their musical talents, cultures, and traditions.

Theater and performing arts are a popular opportunity for students.

We rehearse in class, and conduct ensemble games where students have to communicate using facial expressions, for example. There is a tremendous amount of community building and student initiated movement-based rapport,” said Ms. Letourneau-Bentz.

“In Middle School, we work with physical theater traditions, and every few weeks students select a global theater event and research one that resonates with them. Some explored styles and techniques include puppetry traditions such as Bunraku and Chinese Shadow Plays, Commedia dell’arte, and Black Acting Methods. We also discuss, ‘What is comedy, what makes something funny, is there such a thing as universal humor?’”

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: SAL NARASIMHAN ’26

Sophomore Sai Narasimhan says if it weren’t for the flexibility of his online school, he may never have discovered the depth of his musical talent. In addition, says Sal, “It introduced me to friends who share my desire to dive deep into something outside of school.”

Sai is also a student at the Musik Akademie Basel, one of the oldest music academies in Europe. Sai was accepted into the academy’s Talent Development Program, where he studies classical piano and music theory.

“I have always loved all types of music,” said Sai. “So in addition to classical music, I have been studying jazz — both guitar and vocals. I am excited to perform in ensembles with other students who love music, too.”

Academically, Sai says he loves the sciences and would like to study biology and conservation at a liberal arts college in the United States, where he spends his summers.