With the arts disciplines offered at the Academy, students receive professional training in their areas of concentration and acquire a broad understanding of the history and criticism of the arts through interdisciplinary study, opportunities to experience and participate in professional arts events, and interaction with a diverse group of artists.
A visiting artist program brings outstanding artists to the Academy for master classes and presentations. These professional contacts enrich the curriculum as well as provide a realistic perspective on artistic careers.
In addition to courses in their concentration area, all Academy students must take courses outside of their respective disciplines. These courses include such offerings as musical theater, African dance and drumming, tap, jazz history, jazz improvisation, piano, opera, monologues and audition techniques, playwriting, autobiography, and art history.
Students in the following arts concentrations follow the curriculum of the department to which they have been accepted. Class assignments are made by the department head and are based on the student’s level of talent development. Double majors, or those who have majored in more than one department, must meet a sensible proportion of the requirements in both departments.
Creative Writing
Students develop a fluid relationship between their response to the world and the expression of that response in the written form that best unfolds their material – poetry, fiction, non-fiction, autobiography and humor. Writing workshops, literature courses, tutorials, poetry and prose readings, and the publication of students’ work provide the basis for the creative writing courses.
Depending on the number of years students attend the Academy, they may take such classes as Writing Workshop, a Tutorial, Creative Writing Techniques, a Literature course, History and Development of Language and Form, Acting, Diction, an Externship in Publishing or Teaching, and a Chapbook Tutorial.
In addition, Creative Writing students are encouraged to take courses outside of their respective disciplines, such as Musical Theater, African Dance and Drumming, Tap, Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation, Piano, Opera, Monologues and Audition Techniques, and Playwriting.
Dance
The mission of the Dance department is to create a climate of professionalism which encourages all students to expand their technical knowledge and creative abilities as dancers; to create an environment which supports effort, hard work and risk taking so that each student confidently uses their talents to reach their full and unique potential and to foster respect for the art form and for the diversity and passions of the individuals within it.
Rigorous daily technique classes are designed to develop versatile and knowledgeable dancers. Students study Ballet, Modern, Dance History, Dance Composition, Music for Dancers, Dance Improvisation, Jazz Dance and Dance Skills. Elective class offerings are Tap, Dance for the Camera, Pilates, Conditioning and Fitness, Intercultural Social Dance, and Yoga.
Students follow the curriculum prescribed by the Dance Department. Class assignments are made by the department chairperson and are based on the student’s age and stage of mental, physical and technical development. Although there are four levels of technical study, spending one year in any one level does not guarantee a move up to the next level the following year. Students may be required to take a department specific elective course.
- One Year: A student who attends one year will take: Ballet, Modern, Dance History and Improvisation.
- Two Years: A student who attends two years will take, in addition to the requirements of one year: Ballet, Modern, Dance Composition and Dance Skills.
- Three Years: A student who attends three years will take, in addition to the requirements of two years: increasingly advanced levels of Ballet, Modern, Dance Composition and Jazz Dance.
- Four Years: A student who attends four years will take, in addition to the requirements of three years: increasingly advanced levels of Ballet, Modern, Senior Composition, Senior Rotation (a bi-weekly college application process meeting).
Instrumental Music and Voice
Students learn to play in small ensembles that include jazz, classical piano, string, woodwinds, guitar and chamber ensembles. The music curriculum emphasizes music theory, keyboard, sight reading and ear training.
Depending on the number of years students attend the Academy, they may take such classes as Major Ensemble, Music Theory or Composition, Piano, Music History, weekly 15-minute private coaching (for voice students), a voice class for non-vocalists, Movement, Acting, Opera/Art Songs and Jazz History.
Theater
Course work includes acting. movement, voice, diction, commedia dell’arte, puppetry, textual analysis, Suzuki, musical theater (from an acting focus), acting for the camera, Shakespeare and Classical Scene Study.
Each student who enters is placed in an age-appropriate Acting I class and then progresses each year through Acting II, Acting III, Acting IV. Students take other classes as well, such as Textual Analysis, Movement for Actors, Voice and Diction, Musical Theater, Monologues, Theater History, Acting for the Camera, Commedia dell’Arte, Puppetry, Playwriting, Physical Theater/Dance Improvisation and Radio Drama. The curriculum is cumulative, and is designed to give students the knowledge and training to use theater as their voice.
Musical Theater
The Musical Theater Concentration's primary objective is to help students develop skills in the three areas of dance, acting and voice. Students will begin with the basics in all three disciplines (e.g. ballet and body fundamentals, vocal techniques and sight reading, fundamental acting techniques and monologues) and progress to intermediate and advanced levels. Training will also include audition strategies and experience. The curriculum content is based on a chronological and historical sequence of the development of the musical theater in America.
Technical Theater
This major is intended for individuals with a sincere desire to explore any aspect of theater design and production; areas covered in classes include drawing, sound, lighting, carpentry, costume design and construction, set design, art history, textual analysis, technical production and stage management. Students get instruction and hands on experience in all these areas; as seniors, they can choose an area of focus, and often are able to design and construct one aspect of a Black Box production.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Department teaches the fundamentals of art in a variety of disciplines including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and sculpture and the Art of the Book. We teach and stress visual thinking and creative problem solving. We emphasize observational drawing skills for college portfolio preparation as well as experimental work in all media.
Through our Art History program we provide a context for the students’ work. Through gallery and museum tours and visiting artists we introduce the students to the work of artists both past and present. Students in their individual classes are asked to research and report on an artist of their choice. We encourage collaborative work both within the department and throughout the school. We encourage and support students in risk taking as they move through the curriculum. We prepare them for independent study projects and require that in their fourth year they take Senior Studio which allows them to develop an independent project and culminates in a Senior Art Show. Seniors are asked to donate a piece of art work for our permanent collection. We display student artwork in the school, through out the community, nationally and internationally. InterArts
Student in the InterArts Department work in multiple artistic disciplines to explore the exciting possibilities that combining art forms can offer. The program involves guest artists, outreach, and examination of the arts as a catalyst for social change. This department is for students with multiple talents and interests. |
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