Through a wide range of experiences in drama, music, and visual art, students develop the physical, aesthetic, and critical thinking skills that enable them to see and respond to the world with empathy and discernment. We recognize that in Middle School students are self-reflective, and we cultivate artistic behaviors with which they can express their ideas.

We recognize that in Middle School students are self-reflective, and we cultivate artistic behaviors with which they can express their ideas. We value performance and exhibition and provide opportunities to present student work to a wider audience. 

All sixth and seventh graders take drama and visual art in a semester rotation. Music meets twice a week throughout the year in performance ensembles. In eighth grade, students choose from two semester-long electives. They may also choose to stay in their music performance ensemble. 

Drama — Sixth and Seventh Grades

The primary goal of the drama program in Middle School is to help students understand themselves and the world they live in, and to develop self-expression, self-discipline, and self-confidence through an active physical, emotional, and intellectual identification with a fictitious situation. An equally important aim is for students to understand the theater as a serious intellectual pursuit that requires rigorous work and attention and is, at its core, communal in nature. The most developmentally appropriate form of drama class for young adolescents is one that teaches through the aesthetic experience, not for it. To that end, all sixth and seventh grade classes are training rather than performance based. 

Sixth Grade Drama

In this introductory course, students increase their confidence, discipline, and observational skills through group warm-ups in movement, mime, speech, and focus at the beginning of every class. Class improvisations and scene assignments provide opportunities for skill development in character, plot, and conflict resolution. Through the process of “learning how to rehearse” in their small scene work, students are encouraged to explore a variety of interpersonal relationships and real and imaginary environments and emotions. These scenes are then evaluated by other members of the class as a means of developing good critical analysis skills. 

Seventh Grade Drama

Seventh grade drama builds on the skills acquired in the sixth grade course, with an added emphasis on character development through original student dramatic writing, professionally written scenes, and “scene starters.” Students are expected to take greater responsibility for all aspects of dramatic improvisation than in the sixth grade year, and every student is assigned a day in which to lead the class through a warm-up game of their choice. Group projects include a “Composition Assignment,” in which teams are given a list of props, sounds, actions, and texts to include in their devised scenes, and a four-week character development and original soliloquy project.

Visual Arts — Sixth and Seventh Grades

During the Middle School years, when identity formation is evolving, the visual arts provide an arena for imaginative exploration, risk-taking, and self-awareness. We nurture technical and conceptual understandings that allow students to better visually communicate emerging insights about themselves and their relationship to the world. The Middle School program balances skill development and intellectual challenge, while honoring the students’ points of view and interests. 

Sixth Grade 3-Dimensional Studies

In sixth grade art the focus is on 3-dimensional work. Students engage in making personally meaningful artwork and practicing the following Art Studio Habits of Mind: develop craft, engage and persist, envision, express, observe, reflect, and stretch and explore. Students explore and develop their craft with a variety of sculptural materials and methods while exploring their own imaginative and self-expressive directions. Throughout the semester, students engage in projects including shoe design, wearable sculpture, and ceramics. In addition to learning concepts and skills for visual art making, students learn how to brainstorm, create ideas, make plans, make adjustments, and see a project through to the end. Towards the end of the semester, students envision their own final project, which can be completed in any medium. 

Seventh Grade 2-Dimensional Studies

In the seventh grade, the focus is on 2-dimensional work. Students engage in making personally meaningful artwork and practicing the following Art Studio Habits of Mind: develop craft, engage and persist, envision, express, observe, reflect, and stretch and explore. A variety of media areas are covered including drawing, painting, printmaking, and collage. In addition, students work with found material, altered books, painting on non-traditional surfaces, and engage in design work. Students gain skills in each medium while working both realistically and abstractly. An emphasis is placed on the role of drawing; students work both observationally and conceptually. During the term, students look at a variety of sources of inspiration that artists utilize and allow them to serve as points of departure for classwork. The role of personal interpretation and individual point of view in art is continuously emphasized during this seventh grade course of study. Towards the end of the semester, students envision their own final project, which can be completed in any medium. 

Music — Sixth and Seventh Grades

The overall goals of the Middle School music program are to help students become more knowledgeable about the world of music and to become more skilled performers and listeners. Students are given opportunities to experience the challenge and joy of making music with others. Playing music and singing together helps students build a repertoire, which in turn provides a context for specific musical concepts. Playing music from diverse genres, incorporating student interests, and providing opportunities to improvise and create are a priority. Through their ensembles, Middle Schoolers develop skill with their instruments and with music theory and notation. All groups have the opportunity to perform during the school year.  

In addition, sixth and seventh graders may elect to audition for the Advanced Ensembles (also Chorus, Chamber Band, and Strings) that meet once a week before or after school.

Curricular Ensembles

In sixth and seventh grade, students are required to participate in one music ensemble during the year. In eighth grade, students can elect to continue in ensembles, although they are not required to do so. Students choose between chorus, band, and strings. Ensembles meet twice a week for 50 minutes. Course descriptions are below: 

Middle School Chorus (Middle Cs)
The Middle School non-auditioned chorus sings music from around the world, arrangements of show tunes and popular tunes, and composed art music. The choral curriculum includes study of music theory, sight singing, vocal technique, rehearsal and performance practice, and the international phonetic alphabet. The Middle School chorus has opportunities to perform at concerts and events throughout the year. 

Concert Band
Concert Band is comprised of beginning to intermediate woodwind, brass, and percussion players with 1-4 years of experience playing their chosen instrument. The group develops instrumental ensemble skills through practice and performance of folk music, traditional band repertoire, jazz, and contemporary pieces. Concert Band performs at assemblies and seasonal concerts. 

String Ensemble
String Ensemble explores a variety of classic and contemporary string orchestra and chamber music repertoire. Students expand their interpretive and technical skills, learn alternative styles, and develop ensemble skills through coaching and rehearsals. String Ensemble performs at assemblies and seasonal concerts. In order to participate in String Ensemble, students must have at least a year of experience on violin, viola, cello, or double bass. 

Eighth Grade Arts — First Semester Elective Courses

Students have three trimester-long arts electives in eighth grade (fall, winter, and spring). Many arts electives are based on student interest and surveys. Past electives for the winter and spring have included Playwriting, Radio Drama, Clown, Choreography Lab, Performance Ensemble, Art and Nature, Paint Lab, Sketchbook, and Animation. 

costume design

Students will explore an overview of costume design. They will be introduced to the design process and explore each aspect of the process: analysis, design collaboration, research, production/build, and production/run. Students will explore sketching (free hand and technology assist). They will explore and gain a working knowledge of sewing tools (sewing machine, serger, iron, steamer, and hand sewing tools.) Students will also collaborate with the current production team to support costume production for the school theatrical production. All levels of experience are welcome! 

Dancing and Moving with the Lower School! 

This course will focus on equipping eighth grade students to guide and teach dance and movement classes and experiences for students in the Lower School. Working in the dance studio and outdoors, we will explore a variety of movement, dance and dance/theater-based exercises and styles and consider how best to present, teach, and explore movement to groups of Kindergarten through Fifth grade students. We will use class time to prepare and then host classes for Lower School students and their teachers, with the possibility of taking movement directly into their classrooms, too. This class is open to all and will offer opportunities for stress-management, lots of different kinds of movement, and fun and connection with Lower School students and teachers! 

Object Design and Maker Skills 

In this class we will learn about materials, tools, and techniques and then use what we learn to design and make functional and beautiful objects. We will ground ourselves in woodworking, learning about the structure of wood, how it works, how it can be glued and fastened, and how it can be formed into so many different and important objects in our life. We will meet in the 3D (woodworking) studio to make use of workbenches and (primarily) hand tools. We will learn to safely and efficiently use a range of woodworking tools, building strength, sensitivity and ability to work with our hands. We will learn how to read, understand, and make our own technical drawings and learn how to design something. Projects may include making an object of daily use such as a spoon, designing and making a model piece of furniture, as well as other projects that will build our maker skillset. Working towards the end of the trimester students will choose an artful object to focus on, not limited to wood to make. This could include wearables, such as a leather belt or another garment, or something else that you come up with. No experience with woodworking is required, but a desire and willingness to learn to safely build and apply these skills will be necessary. 

Strings ‘n’ Things

Work on your strumming and plucking skills and learn more about “pop notation” and reading chord charts. Create arrangements of classic and modern tunes, and form a small group or learn songs solo. Open to all levels of experience. Be ready to develop your chops and get time to practice your craft. We will be doing a lot of playing and hands-on learning. Instruments used in this class: Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, and possibly mandolin or violin.

Visual storytelling

In this class, students will learn about the basics of filmmaking, taking time to develop new relationships with the camera and approaching it as our primary tool for capturing the world around us. We will spend class time journaling, watching short films, and thinking about how our own experiences and perspectives can influence how we work within the frame. We will explore the landscape outside of the classroom with a consideration towards natural light, color, texture, composition, and form. There will be short film assignments that focus on basic cinematography and editing skills. We will be shooting with DSLR cameras and editing with Adobe Premiere Pro. All levels of experience are welcome!