The Arts

Arts stimulate young imaginations, challenge perceptions and develop creative and analytical skills

Involvement in the arts fosters a deeper understanding of cultural and historical contexts, promoting an inquiring and empathetic worldview. It challenges and enriches personal identity, while also building awareness of aesthetics in a real-world context. This encourages a well-rounded and culturally aware perspective.

Our arts program consists of five key disciplines.

  • Visual Arts
  • Design
  • Dramatic Arts
  • Music 
  • Dance (combined with P.E.)

Music

In the Primary Years Programme (PYP), music is a vital part of the curriculum, allowing students to explore and appreciate various musical styles and traditions from different cultures. It provides a platform for creative expression and understanding of the global significance of music.

Incorporating interdisciplinary connections in lessons and activities allows students to apply their learning to real-world situations and develop a more comprehensive understanding of various subjects. This approach fosters deeper engagement and the ability to see the interconnectedness of different disciplines. Performance takes on a larger role in the PYP, with students showcasing their abilities and comprehension through solo, small group, and full class performances during their music time, as well as on stage during concerts for their peers and families.

In the MYP, students study music for one term each year. Through participating in band class under the instruction of a teacher who specializes in music, students have an opportunity to develop their ability to play an instrument and perform as part of an ensemble. Our music programme allows students to discover a broad range of music experiences including classifying and analysing sounds, composing, exploring body music, listening, playing instruments, singing, reading and writing music using traditional and nontraditional notation, performing, and recording. Students in the MYP and Senior School have the opportunity to take string instrument courses, which prepare them to join the senior orchestra program. This program allows students to develop advanced skills in playing string instruments and perform in a group setting.

PYP | Kindergarten to Grade 5

Kindergarten

  • Vocal and rhythm

Grade 1

  • Xylophones
  • Vocal and rhythm

Grade 2

  • Xylophones
  • Vocal and rhythm

Grade 3

  • Vocal and rhythm
  • Musical Drama and Performance

Grade 4

  • German Recorders
  • Vocal and rhythm
  • Musical Drama, Dance and Performance

Grade 5

  • Ukuleles
  • Vocal and rhythm
  • Musical Drama, with Dance and Performance
Middle School | Grades 6 to 9

Grade 6

  • Vocal and rhythm
  • Music Theory

Grade 7-9

  • Concert Band; with instrument electives in Flute, Clarinet, Trombone, Alto Saxophone, select positions available for Percussion, Piano and Guitar.
  • Music Theory
Senior School

Music at the senior level is taken as part of an elective course. Courses fluctuate each year depending on interest and enrollment.

Current Course Offerings in Music

Instrumental Music: Jazz Band 10

Design

Design embodies human-centered problem-solving through iterative processes like prototyping and experimentation. This allows for adaptation and innovation, leading to creative solutions that directly address the needs and experiences of individuals. In a systematic approach, students can conceptualize and evaluate ideas, transforming them into tangible inventions and solutions. Designers merge art, science, and technology to create new products using digital tools like 3D printers and CAD software. These tools enable designers to communicate, visualize, analyze, and produce ideas more efficiently than before.

Visual Arts

In the Primary Years Programme (PYP), art engagements are closely linked to Units of Inquiry and student experiences. Students are encouraged to create art and respond to it, exploring a wide range of artistic techniques and expressions such as architecture, drawing, printmaking, film, and digital media. Additionally, students have the opportunity to engage with visual arts beyond their own creations through visits to galleries and museums, as well as interactions with visiting artists. This exposure fosters an appreciation for diverse local and global artistic expressions.

In the MYP, students take a dedicated visual arts course for one term each year. Working with a teacher who specializes in visual arts, students develop a range of skills and techniques to express themselves creatively through a variety of visual media.

Dramatic Arts

In the theatre units, students engage in various aspects of dramatic performance, including theatre for change, theatre design, devised theatre, movement pieces, realism duo scenes, playwriting, and performance. Throughout the units, students are encouraged to explore their personal connections to dramatic performance and to enhance their skills on and off the stage and screen. This comprehensive approach allows for a well-rounded understanding of the theatrical arts.