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Performing Arts
At the Lower School, we believe that the creative approach to drama builds on children's natural inclination to act, to improvise, and to express what they are learning about the world. Students have the opportunity to explore their creativity as well as to develop their skills in observation, attention, imagination, awareness, and narrative ability. Projects include original plays, dramatic adaptations of myths or folk and fairy tales, puppet plays, films, or scripted plays. Emphasis is placed on the cooperative process of creating and working toward a goal.
In the Middle and Upper Schools, students are encourage to get involved, to take risks, and to discover what drama is all about. Dramatic works are studied as scripts to be brought to life by actors and designers. In addition to contemporary theatre, major works written since 1940 are studied. In the last semester of Grade 12, students choose to either to direct a main stage play or to prepare a series of scenes and monologues for public presentation.
CURRICULUM
Lower School Drama & Music
At the Lower School, the creative approach to drama builds on children's natural inclination to act, to improvise and to express what they are learning about the world. Theater exercises such as improvisation are the core of the creative dramatics experience. Projects may include original plays, dramatic adaptations of myths or folk and fairy tales, puppet plays, scripted plays and plays that grow out of improvised skits. Emphasis is placed on the cooperative process of creating and working toward a goal.
The music program at the Lower School encourages children to find the musician within themselves. Students become knowledgeable about beat, rhythm and notation through activities such as clapping, tapping and stepping. Good vocal habits are developed through the singing of folk and composed songs, rounds and singing games. Students learn from a variety of musical styles including those from folk and ethnic cultures, as well as composed music from Western traditions. Percussion instruments are used at all levels for accompaniment and to reinforce the concepts of beat and rhythm. All students learn to play the soprano recorder in Fourth Grade. Ensembles include chorus and orchestra for students in grades 3 through 6. The young children also share songs in weekly and special assemblies.
Middle School Drama & Music
Improvisation and theater games form the basis of Seventh Grade drama. Students progress to more formal scene study, with interpreting, memorizing and performing monologues and dialogues drawn from dramatic literature, poetry and first person accounts.
In general music classes, students are challenged to question and explore their musical experiences and attitudes as to the role of music in society. Curricular goals include music notation, basic harmonic theory and composition, and score reading. Special emphasis is placed on the singing voice by learning vocal physiology, good vocal hygiene and proper posture.
In Grade 8 Students participate in concentrated immersion in two semester-long arts courses of their choice, which meet three times a week, including one doubleblock. Students choose visual arts for one semester and performing arts for one semester. Exposure to a wide variety of artistic expression makes it easier for students to discover an area in which they can succeed. In the performing area, students choose from vocal ensemble, music composition, the musical or play, and jazz history.
In the Middle School, students may participate in chorus or in chamber ensembles; students in Grade Eight may participate in the jazz band. All participation is on the basis of audition.
Upper School Drama & Music
Students in Grade Nine take one semester of visual arts and one semester of performing arts. The performing arts choices include Drama, Dance, Video/Film, Orchestra, Chamber Music, Choral Music, and Jazz Band. Mid
Jazz Ensemble is a performing group of 8 - 10 members that meets three times a week, for two semesters. The emphasis is on improvisational techniques and group playing. Musical selections vary, but mostly comprise compositions by jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, and others. There is at least one performance per semester.
Chamber Music (Grades 10-12; for academic credit) is for advanced instrumentalists may elect to receive academic credit for their participation in music groups at BB&N. For string, woodwind and brass players, this includes four sessions per week of chamber music or two sessions of chamber music and two sessions of orchestra per week. For pianists, academic credit may be earned in grades 10-12 for playing in chamber groups and/or chorus for a total of four times per week. Prerequisite: audition and departmental approval.
The Chamber Music (Grades 10-12) course is designed for students who wish to satisfy the arts requirement but do not want to commit the time required for full academic credit; course consists of two chamber sessions per week. Prerequisite: audition and departmental approval.
Chorus (Grades 9-12) is a performing group of over 30 members that meets three times per week, with two of the meetings reserved for sectional rehearsals. Subjects include basic vocal technique, breathing, performance and basic music-reading skills. Music selections are varied and include American music, jazz and classical choral works. The group performs at the Winter and Spring Concerts, as well as at more informal events throughout the community.
Drama/Theatre (Grades 11 and 12) in the first semester, the central theme is theatre performance. Dramatic works are studied as scripts to be brought to life by actors and designers. Monologue and scene work from the plays is supplemented by exercises to develop vocal and physical technique. In the second semester the central theme is contemporary theatre. Major dramatic works written since 1940 are studied, with particular attention to the Theatre of Cruelty, Epic Theatre, Theatre of the Absurd and American theatre since 1970. Students continue with vocal and movement training and scene work.
In Advanced Drama/Theatre (Grade 12) the first semester is a continuation of the acting work/script analysis of Drama/Theatre, with an emphasis on period acting and the challenges of style. In the second semester students choose either to direct a mainstage play in the spring semester or to prepare a series of scenes and monologues for public presentation. Drama/Theatre is a prerequisite for this course.
Film and Video (Grades 10-12): Through discussion, observation, research and creation, this course focuses on the student developing an appreciation for the complexities of the multi-media art forms of film and video. Using both digital and non-digital equipment, students develop an understanding of both the technological and the artistic elements that compose a film or video. Class projects are collaboratively organized and use digital audio and video to create short stories, documentary, commercial and narrative pieces.
Orchestra (Grades 9-12): The Upper School Orchestra is an ensemble for string, woodwind and brass players. Consisting of approximately 25 players from grades 9-12, the group rehearses two to three times per week. Recent performances of complete works have included: J.S. Bach, Brandenburg Concertos No. 3 and 4; Mozart, Overture to Don Giovanni; Mozart, Symphony No. 25; Haydn, Symphony No. 94; Beethoven, Symphony No. 1; Schubert, Symphony No. 5; and Bartok, Roumanian Dances. The group gives three concerts per year and also participates in the musicals. Prerequisite: audition and departmental approval. Note: orchestra is not open to pianists.
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