McGillis School

Arts

Music

The Lower School music program is designed to be a sequential learning curriculum, while providing opportunity for students who join the program later to successfully matriculate through peer tutoring and review. In Kindergarten, students begin to discover music through exploration and creation. The Kodaly hand signs are used in first grade to explore melody and contour. African drums are used in second grade as a means of studying rhythm. In third grade, students learn to play the recorder to be introduced to the world of instrumental music. Fourth grade is the year when students explore the world of vocal music. Fifth grade is the year of synthesis for all music taught in the Lower School. Students also learn to play the ukulele in fifth grade. The music world is full of opportunities for all people, whether they are performers or audience members, musicologists or composers, vocalists or instrumentalists. The Lower School music curriculum strives to give all diverse musical personalities a place to connect, explore, discover, and thrive.

The Middle School music program is a component of the Middle School Outdoor Education and Arts (OEA) program. Depending on the trimester, a student may find topics ranging from string, woodwind, and brass instruments to vocal, choral, jazz, and rock ensembles, to recorded music and composition. Music theory and history is always present. Middle School music is a period of transition from the foundation of our Lower School music program to the more refined specialization found in high school, college and beyond. Middle School music has the purpose of maintaining a student’s enthusiasm for music, while helping children refine their passion for specific musical disciplines.

Visual Arts

The Lower School visual arts program provides students with developmental art that provides experience with using a wide range of two and three-dimensional art mediums and techniques such as painting, drawing, sculpting, printmaking, and ceramics. While students begin to consciously use the art elements of line, shape/form, color, value (light and dark), texture, and space they also learn about the lives and work of important artists and the art of other cultures. Art projects are often integrated thematically with the core curriculum. In addition, students begin to develop skill in observational drawing, make personal choices, and are encouraged to be creative. Showing respect for one another’s work and being persistent in completing each project are emphasized throughout the program. Finally, the students’ artwork is exhibited throughout the school during the year and also in a school-wide Spring Art Show.

The Middle School visual arts program is a component of the Middle School Outdoor Education and Arts (OEA) program. Students are given the opportunity to deepen their exploration of the elements of art. They refine the use of line, shape, color, value, form, texture and space in their work. Students work both two and three-dimensionally as they create with a variety of mediums. They learn about the lives and work of important artists and the art of other cultures throughout different periods in art history. Students are encouraged to not just reflect on the finished product, but also on the process. When possible, field trips are used to enhance the in-class curriculum so that students are taught to appreciate art in its many forms. Student work is displayed throughout the school during the year and at the school-wide Art Show in the spring.

Performing Arts

The Lower School drama program provides an excellent opportunity for students to express themselves in creative ways, to learn how to work together as a “team,” and to build self-confidence. During drama class, Lower School students become familiar with many aspects of theater production including: acting, character development, staging, singing, dancing, operating sound equipment, painting scenery, assisting in the creation of costumes, memorizing lines, and performing before a live audience. Students who choose an acting emphasis memorize their lines and prepare to perform by developing their character, while students who choose a technical emphasis learn skills that range from prop construction to operating sound equipment. Regardless of the emphasis, the goal is for students to gain an appreciation for the intricacies of stage production and the importance of each role. Often, the selected shows are integrated thematically with the core curriculum. Each show is produced for an audience of students, faculty, and parents.

The Middle School theater program is a component of the Middle School Outdoor Education and Arts (OEA) program. Students are provided with the opportunity to deepen their exploration of acting and singing through movement and song. During the school year, there are three different types of theater classes offered: a Shakespearean production, one act plays, and a musical theater production. Each class varies slightly to give students various opportunities to learn about different aspects of the performing arts. Theater classes focus on the fundamental acting skills of movement, character development, healthy vocal projection, dialogue interpretation, memorization, and positive stage presence. Acting games are used to increase distinctive theatrical attributes such as physical and facial expression, dramatic timing, creating a sense of reality, developing ideas and moods, and individual expression.  Improvisations, pantomimes, monologues, and short scenes are used to give students the opportunity to practice these growing skills. In singing productions, students learn about good posture, breathing, and vocalization techniques for healthy singing. Simple dance choreography is added to songs and musical pieces to enhance the performing experience. At the end of each trimester, the actors give a public performance of their work. 

 Outdoor Education & Arts (OEA)

The Middle School Outdoor Education and Arts (OEA) block is time dedicated to visual arts (painting and drawing, printmaking, ceramics and photography), performing arts (theater, music, and speech and debate), and Outdoor Education (emphasis on environmental stewardship and outdoor leadership). The performing art classes culminate each trimester with a live performance (a Shakespearean production, one act plays, and musical theater), the Outdoor Education classes take a multi-night backpacking trip each trimester, and all students contribute to the annual McGillis Art Show through work created in the visual arts classes. Students rotate through each of the three programs annually during their middle school experience with the focus placed on exposing students to a variety of artistic and outdoor opportunities.