SMLS » Senior School » Programming » Arts
Arts
Music
Music Students have opportunities to be involved in all aspects of musical performance, both on stage and behind the scenes in sound and lighting design, costuming, make-up, and set design and construction. They can audition for a variety of ensembles, including instrumental and vocal groups. SMLS regularly competes in the Independent Schools Music Festival and the Independent Schools Drama Festival.
The use of concert band instruments at St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School begins in Grade 5, with students rotating through three different instruments before choosing a permanent one. From Grade 6 to S5, students develop their performance skills on their instrument of choice, and learn music theory and history.
Co-curricular opportunities include the Junior Concert Band, Senior Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Senior Vocal Ensemble.
Technology is integrated into music studies in a number of ways. Students are taught to create original music using GarageBand software for various projects. For instance, in the S5 Jazz Combo Unit, GarageBand 13 is used to create a backing band for an original composition.
S1 Comprehensive Arts Program
The Comprehensive Arts program in S1 involves all students in drama, visual art and instrumental music, encouraging them to develop the ability to explore and express their ideas through these artistic forms. In this integrated program, students encounter theoretical and practical problems, which challenge them to find solutions and make creative decisions. Students discover the relationships between these art disciplines and experience the creative process through both traditional practices and new technologies.
Dramatic Arts
Our drama experience provides opportunities for students to become creative problem-solvers, good communicators, and effective team players. It builds confidence and discipline, and encourages tolerance and empathy. It also provides a safe environment to explore their thoughts and emotions.
Our Dramatic Arts courses require students to explore dramatic forms and techniques, using their own ideas as well as ideas selected from a wide range of genres, texts, forms, and cultures. Student learning includes the use of the elements of time, place, role/character, dramatic situation/tension, and structure in creating, sustaining and communicating authentic drama. Students assume responsibility for decisions made in the creation and presentation of the drama, and analyze and reflect on the experience.
Drama students also have the opportunity to explore technical theatre, sound and lighting. In their final year, following extensive research and analysis of a variety of theatrical styles, students collaborate to write a series of pieces for the stage. Their drama experience culminates in a final student-written and student-directed production.
Visual Arts
Students of Visual Arts at SMLS experience a wide range of artistic activities in two and three dimensional media, including acrylic painting, watercolour, drawing, various forms of print-making, graphic design in digital media, and additive and subtractive methods of sculpture. Traditional methods and new media applications are taught at all levels.
A strong art history component develops the research and inquiry skills needed to discover art through the ages and across cultures.
Through the Advanced Placement Studio Art course and the pre-AP program, our students build an outstanding portfolio for college and university entrance.
Guest artists and speakers are invited regularly and excursions locally and far afield are offered in conjunction with the Global Studies program at SMLS.
Co-curricular activities include set design and scene painting, and open studio workshops in drawing, painting and printmaking, digital photography and new media.
Communications Technology
Students of Communications Technology examine communications systems, design and production processes in the area of electronic, live, recorded and graphic communications. Our girls have the opportunity to create, manage, and distribute complex electronic, graphic, recorded or audio-visual projects independently and in project teams. Students also study industry standards and regulations, along with health and safety issues, and explore various careers, and the impact of communications technology on society and the environment.