Performing Arts
"The first demand any work of art makes upon us is surrender. Look. Listen. Receive. Get yourself out of the way. (There is no good asking first whether the work before you deserves surrender, for until you have surrendered you cannot possibly find out.)" -- C.S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism
A discussion of the arts focuses on how people understand creation and communicate their per¬ceptions, responses, and understanding of the world to themselves and to others. Since their first appearance thousands of years ago, the arts have been evolving continually, exhibiting the ability of human beings to intuit, symbolize, think, and express themselves through dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts. Each of the arts contains a distinct body of knowledge and skills that characterize the power of each to expand the perceptual, intellectual, cul¬tural, and spiritual dimensions of human experience.
Different from writing or speaking, art is a unique way of communicating experience, and proper training in art develops a healthy lifelong aesthetic. Art is important at PCH because it helps develop the ‘whole child’ (body, mind, soul, and spirit) and we believe that no other man-made activity comes so close to mirroring the creative nature of God. At the same time art helps us understand the beauty of creation and of the Creator.
Goals & Objectives
It is the mission of the PCH Visual & Performing Arts Department to introduce students to the history and craft of art, dance, film, music, and theatre so that they might develop an appreciation of the arts, nurture and express their God given talent, make connections with other disciplines, and become thoughtful, confident and responsible adults.
Students will be encouraged to take risks, listen, serve, and ultimately learn more about the creativity and nature of God as it is expressed in creation. At PCH students will be required to take two years of visual & performing arts. One year required in the visual arts and one year in the performing arts. In addition, students will be given opportunities to explore the VPA more deeply by majoring in a discipline through the schools Academy. The Academy will give students a chance to take courses after school and apply what they have learned on stage through the production process.
In addition, to VPA course work it the goal of the department to give students numerous opportunities to apply what they have learned through the production process. These range from art galleries, film festivals, concerts, to dance and theatre productions. At the end of each year the department will produce Java Drama a production that will celebrate all the arts. The production combines art, theatre, dance, film, and music and allows students to make connections across disciplines.
Different from writing or speaking, the Visual & Performing arts is a unique way of communicating experience, and the proper training in arts develops a healthy lifelong aesthetic. The arts are important at PCH because they help develop the ‘whole student’ (body, mind, soul, and spirit). In such a backdrop, the objectives of the PCH visual and performing arts department are to:
- Develop in students the language of aesthetics -- including various art forms and their individual, historical, and cultural context.
- Develop in students the skills necessary to comprehend and respond to art, design forms, the visual environment, and to the relationship between form and content.
- Heighten student’s personal perception and awareness of the world and their reactions and responses to it.
- Teach skills necessary to use and manipulate materials while encouraging experimentation.
- Build a tradition of craftsmanship in all the artistic disciplines.
- Encourage students to observe, analyze, think, make decisions, and solve problems in the exploration of personal expression.
- Develop a corporate dimension to the arts in a predominantly individualistic fine art culture.
- Develop opportunities for the PCH student to develop a breadth of learning across artistic disciplines.
- Develop opportunities for the PCH student to develop a depth of learning in a specific discipline.
- Develop an array of opportunities for the PCH student to apply concepts learned to production experiences.
MUSIC
Pacifica Chorale – Grades 9-12 (One Year)
This course is the foundation of mixed-voice singing at PCH, open to any student. Students enjoy learning all choral styles and the basics of music training. The Pacifica Chorale will perform several times throughout the year. No previous choral experience is necessary. As the performance literature changes from year to year, students are encouraged to sing in the Pacifica Chorale for as many years as possible.Orchestra - Grades 9-12 (One Year)
Open to all students playing instruments associated with Western European and/or Jazz traditions. Students must have prior playing experience. Styles of music will include orchestral, popular, and Jazz literature. Music theory, improvisation, and chamber music performance will also be included, as well as at least one public performance each quarter.Band (Concert/Symphonic) - Grades 9-12 (One Year)
The course is designed as performance ensemble, learning to be quality producers, and will emphasize music notation literacy, sight reading skills, and opportunities to perform. A wide rang of repertoire will be taught, covering genres such as classical, contemporary, jazz, and world music, which will involve critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students will work to prepare for concerts, festivals/competitions, and other performances as scheduled.Jazz Combo - Grades 9-12 (One Year)
For wind, brass, rhythm, keyboard players with at least one year of training, this ensemble performs both classic and modern jazz, and other musical styles. The instrumentalist will be challenged in performance skills and techniques (style, tone, improvisation, ensemble). The Jazz Band regularly performs at school functions and at concerts.Guitar – Grades 9-12 (One Year)
This course offers students with varying levels of musical experience in formal music setting the opportunity to earn elective credit. Students develop a foundation of music theory and practical technique applicable to all musical genres. The course is taught with a differentiated curriculum in order to facilitate the key musical concepts across a spectrum of ability and age levels. Students build a performance portfolio that requires a diversity of genres from ability-specific classical etudes to contemporary songs. Development in music reading skills is paramount to achieving course objectives. Practice in and outside of class, alone or with others, will facilitate technical growth. The course offers creativity expressed through composition and improvisation at all ability levels through various projects.THEATRE
Introduction to Acting – Grades 9-12 (One Semester)
Focusing on performance, Acting first teaches the basic precepts of improvisation: developing focus, give and take, and quick thinking, The student learns how to listen and think on their feet. Students will rehearse and perform memorized scenes working under the direction of the instructor.
Students are required to see two professional productions during the term.Intermediate Acting – Grades 10-12 (One Semester)
This course teaches the development of the actor’s sense of truthful behavior in imaginary circumstances through exercises, improvisations, and scene study. Emphasis will be placed on relaxation, concentration, involvement, contact, and sense memory. Students are required to see two professional productions during the term.Actor’s Workshop – Grades 11-12 (One Semester)
This course will develop specific areas of advanced acting technique through individual instruction on relaxation in performance, scene work, characterization, and script analysis. Students will continue working on their technique through scenes and monologues, as well as exercises. Students are required to see two professional productions during the term.Theatre Performance I-VII Grades 9-12 (One Semester)
All students working on PCH theatre productions will receive semester production credit. Student must log 90 hours of work to earn credit.