Arts
Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts
Mission: Trinity Hall’s Arts Team fosters an environment where students embark on an adventure of intense exploration. The students get to choose how they want to broaden their artistic voice with several offerings in the Visual and Performing Arts. Trinity Hall strives to offer unique programs that embrace traditional arts selections and enhance the traditional with unique experiences in music, dance, drama and the digital arts. A student who participates in the Arts program at Trinity Hall will build artistic confidence that will serve her well in all of her future academic endeavors.
Core Beliefs: The Trinity Hall Arts Team adopts the following core beliefs:
- Art distinguishes us as human beings.
- Physical and emotional engagement in the arts enriches performance in everyday life.
- Creativity flows from a dynamic between rigor, intellect and intuition when participating in arts education.
- Experiencing the creative process as fostered by an arts education will allow creativity to flow readily in traditional subject areas.
- Cross-cultural understanding of artistic principles plays a central role in contemporary learning.
- The diversity of cultures, genres, periods, styles and viewpoints presented in the arts accentuates the global vision of the 21st-century student.
- Communication skills are best developed through the arts.
Drama:
GRADE 9: Theater I
In this course the students will have an introduction to performance through improvisation. Our work will be based on the teachings of Viola Spolin, the founder of the improvisational movement in the U.S. Spolin developed acting exercises that unleash creativity, focused “play,” confidence, and self-expression. Throughout the trimester we will explore different aspects of characterization and storytelling, and finally move into public speaking. Teaching students to “think on their feet” with confidence is an ability that will not only aid them in performance, but in most aspects of their educational career.
GRADE 10: Theater II
In this course students will build on the skills they developed in Theater I and then proceed to deepen their theatrical knowledge to include scene work. We will begin with writing scenes that are born out of improvisation and then move on to the written word of several playwrights. The students will explore characterization and use the methods of renowned acting teachers such as UtaHagen, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, and Michael Chekov to learn different ways to approach performance.
GRADE 11/12: Theater III
GRADE 11/12: Theater Seminar
The focus of this course is scene study and character analysis. Students will read a full-length play and apply the acting methods of Stanislavski, Meisner, Spolin and Uta Hagen. Exercises will involve both performing and written work throughout the trimester. The result is an understanding of how an actor prepares for a challenging role as well as a deepened understanding of the meaning behind the play.
GRADE 11/12: Monologue
In this course students will rehearse, stage and present a monologue as well as write a short creative or autobiographical piece. Through improvisational games, memorization exercises and analysis, students will perform a chosen piece by the end of the course. Monologue Workshop is beneficial for students who are preparing for auditions, debate, public speaking and classroom presentation.
GRADE 11/12: Theater Design
In this course students will perceive, visualize and realize practical theatrical design. Students develop ideas, skills and concepts that emerge through a process of character analysis based on the script, creativity and directorial concept. Period research is encouraged and explored through practical exercises. Students will read a play and then come up with their own unique costume and scenic design.
Visual Arts:
GRADE 9: Foundations of Drawing
This is an introductory course providing students with art experiences through the initiation and practice of various drawing and painting media. Students begin to make connections with the history of the practice of art and the power behind their own unique creative process. Through project work, art medium application and technique will be explored and intensely practiced. Students will have the opportunity to strengthen their creative expression through a variety of art experiences that sharpen their awareness and perception.
GRADE 10: Photography and Graphic Design
In this course we will examine the basic definition, language, and principles of graphic design and how these concepts are executed; in order to solve digital design problems creatively. We will explore what makes “good design” and what tools we can use to enhance our digital projects. Some basic concepts of the camera along with some digital applications will be explored and their use discussed.
GRADE 11/12: Studio Arts I or II
This course is designed to introduce the students to the beauty of artistic exploration and expression. The student will be introduced to lessons and class demonstrations highlighting artistic technique in portraiture, figure drawing and form, capturing motion and movement and color theory. By the end of this course, students will have nurtured their artistic talent and created a beautiful body of artwork to share and showcase. Interested students may continue for additional trimesters.
GRADE 11/12: Advanced Graphic Design
In this advanced art elective, students will continue to explore and expand upon skills already learned in basic graphic design and photography. Using the computer and camera as art and design tools; through project work, students will collaborate and work in design teams to meet multiple design goals. By the conclusion of this course, students will have an impressive body of digital work that displays a working knowledge of graphic design, computer software, color application, camera use, and 2-D design.
GRADE 11/12: Advanced Photography
Advanced digital photography will explore the practical experience of art photography and film. Students will gain proficiency with a DSLR camera and its functions in order to capture great artistic photography. A brief history of film and its connection to photography will be explored. Students will collaborate in teams to develop a short artistic film. At the end of the course, students will have a beautiful collection of “gallery worthy” photography to showcase.
*Prerequisite: Photography and Graphic Design encouraged
GRADE 11/12: Industrial Design
In this course students will gain a working language surrounding product design concept generation and fabrication. Students will spend considerable time on project work that focuses on design thinking methodology and application. Individual creative process, team project management, and collaborative skill are strengthened through design exercises and active teamwork. Students will gain comfortability around the tools most commonly found in a design work space and use these tools to fabricate final products. Industrial design is beneficial for students who are interested in the design process, the business of design, entrepreneurship, and how a human-centered design approach can improve the way people live and function in the world today.
GRADE 12: AP 2D Art and Design
From the College Board: AP 2-D Art and Design is an introductory college-level two-dimensional design course. Students refine and apply 2-D skills to ideas they develop throughout the course.
*Prerequisite: At least one trimester of Studio Arts
Music:
GRADE 9: Music I
Students will gain skills in performance and theory and develop their musicianship as they learn and study a wide variety of musical literature. Genres include musical theater, pop, liturgical, patriotic and a cappella. The following performance skills for ensemble/choral singing will be stressed: warm up technique, proper breathing, vocal production, blend and balance, expansion of range, ear training and sight-reading. Theory skills will include note names, note and rest values, basic rhythm, dynamic markings and general musical vocabulary. Students will have the opportunity to participate in performance opportunities.
GRADE 10: Music II
Students will further explore topics in music theory and history, and gain an increased understanding of diverse musical styles. Building on fundamentals gained in Music I, theory units on intervals, basic counterpoint, harmony, and voice leading will prepare students for composition and songwriting activities. Music notation software is introduced to facilitate the compositional process. Relevant topics from music history supplement and provide examples for topics in music theory. Throughout the trimester, students will be encouraged to perform their compositions for the class or present them digitally.
GRADE 11/12: Music Theory
Music Theory is the study of how music works. Students in Music Theory class will learn the basics of harmony and part-writing through singing and composing activities. Students will also be introduced to the music notation software Flat, which allows them to write music and hear it played back instantly by virtual instruments. By the end of the trimester, each student will compose an original song or piece to present in class either in live performance or played electronically. The AP Music Theory Course is a full-year course that prepares students for the AP exam.
*Recommendation: Take in Grade 11 if interested in taking AP Music Theory in Grade 12.
GRADE 11/12: AP Music Theory
From the College Board: AP Music Theory is an introductory college-level music theory course. Students cultivate their understanding of music theory through analyzing performed and notated music as they explore concepts like pitch, rhythm, form, and musical design.
*Prerequisite: Music Theory or approval of the Arts Team
GRADE 12: Advanced Music Composition
Dance:
GRADE 10: Dance
In this course the students will execute the studied basic steps of contemporary dance, in the style of Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, and Isadora Duncan, and display correct position alignment, both in static and dynamic movements. They will perform basic combinations of contemporary dance, executing movements and articulating terminology and basic principles used in the study of modern dance technique as well as some jazz-infused accents.
GRADE 11/12: Dance II
In this course the students will continue with previous learning from Dance I. Students will explore a variety of dance forms and choreographers to learn to express their artistic vision through movement. They will perform basic combinations of contemporary dance, executing movements and articulating terminology and basic principles used in the study of a variety of dance techniques.