Performing Art

Performing Arts Mission Statement

Performing Arts Department mission is to provide students, regardless of experience, the opportunity to cultivate their passions and develop the skills to become lifelong learners, confident collaborators and authentic Artists in Singing, Instrumental Music, Tech Theater, and Acting. We define an Artist as someone with strong skills, deep curiosity, passion, self-awareness, confidence without narcissism, self-motivation and generosity of spirit toward those around them. In a supportive and positive environment, we encourage students to reach their highest potential by role-modeling professionalism, imparting tangible tools, and exposing students to a wide range of works and genres from around the world. Among the life skills students explore are empathy, discipline, joy in discovery, communication, commitment, time management, listening, self-awareness, self-confidence, leadership, craft, and critical thinking. Performing Arts specific skills include releasing vocal and physical power, emotional connection, expression, pitch, rhythm, tone, script and score analysis, stagecraft and design, character creation, and fundamentals of directing. Our students thrive from a love of what they are doing and the clear knowledge they are tangibly progressing in their artistry.

Performing Arts Curriculum Trajectory

Our program gives students an initial foundation of shared professional vocabulary, techniques and expectations through which students develop the tools to become innovative thinkers, independent artists and collaborative performers. These concepts include empathy, discipline, communication, commitment, time management, listening, self-awareness, self-confidence and that growth comes through repetition and practice.

As they transition to more challenging work within a single class, by being part of an ensemble over several years, or through multiple main-stage productions, students continue to enlarge their world-view and grow their creative skills as they take on leadership roles within their discipline and community of fellow Artists. After applying their skills to class projects as well as public performance, students will have stimulated their intellectual curiosity, gained confidence in their performing abilities, created work they can take pride in, and developed a strong sense of their personal artistry.

Advanced Topics: Chamber Singers

Course Length: Year (Meets Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7:50am-8:50am)
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Audition with Instructor

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15-30 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills Performing Arts Requirement

Advanced Topics Chamber Singers is a yearlong auditioned performing choral ensemble that exposes students to many different styles of choral literature through performance of advanced levels of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Jazz. Musical Theater and Popular styles. In addition to basic vocal technique, students will learn more advanced music theory, musical interpretation, visual expression, sight-singing, and performance technique. Teamwork, personal growth, and creative thinking are developed through rehearsal, performance and self-reflection. This is an intensive performance-based class and outside of the school day performances will be required.
Beat Lab: Music Production

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Estimated hours of homework per class period: None
Prerequisites: None
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills the Performing Arts Requirement

Get ready to turn your ideas into music! In Beat Lab, you’ll learn how to create original beats and produce full songs using the same tools today’s artists use. You’ll explore beat making, sampling, sound design, and mixing while building your own tracks and even collaborating with classmates. Whether you’re into hip-hop, pop, EDM, or creating your own unique sound, this class is all about creativity, experimentation, and hands-on projects. No experience needed, just bring your creativity and get ready to make something amazing.
Choir I

Course Length: Semester (Meets during the school day)
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15-30 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Satisfies 1/2 Performing Arts Requirement

Choir is a semester-long course designed to introduce students to choral ensemble singing. Good breathing and vocal technique, vowel placement, projection, and a basic understanding of musical elements will be addressed through performance of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Jazz and Popular styles. Teamwork, personal growth, and creative thinking are developed through rehearsal and performance. This is a performance-based class and outside of the school day performances will be required.
Choir II

Course Length: Semester (Meets during the school day)
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15-30 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Satisfies 1/2 Performing Arts Requirement

Choir II is a semester-long course designed to introduce students to choral ensemble singing. Good breathing and vocal technique, vowel placement, projection, and a basic understanding of musical elements will be addressed through performance of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Jazz and Popular styles. Teamwork, personal growth, and creative thinking are developed through rehearsal and performance. This is a performance-based class and outside of the school day performances will be required.
Directing, Playwriting, Sword Fighting & Scenes

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 10 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills half of Performing Arts Requirement

This class is designed to excite and develop students as directors, playwrights, and actors, giving them immense confidence in their creativity, and how to apply their ideas while collaborating with others. Everything learned in the class applies to film and television as well as stage. All students will learn stage combat with broadswords and work on scenes and monologues with amazing language and characters. In rotating groups, they will work in teams as directors working with student actors on scenes by professional playwrights. They will learn how to help actors give great performances and craft every part of a play including sets, lights, sound, and costume to serve a scene or a show. As playwrights, they will write and develop original scenes and monologues, and develop those pieces with actors in workshops. The class aims to make learning directing, playwriting and acting an enjoyable experience, while stretching students to create things they did not know they were capable of. Much of the work is done in class with some playwriting development of projects at home. This course does not have any public performance.
Guitar I

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15 minutes or less
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills ½ of Performing Arts Requirement

This semester-long class will serve players at the beginning level on the guitar. These players will be working on appropriate skills and challenging material for a strong and enjoyable experience. Students will learn guitar technique, picking, strumming, note reading, tablature, and music literacy.
Guitar II

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Guitar I or Instructor permission (Middle School Guitar is not a prerequisite for Guitar I)

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15 minutes or less
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills ½ of Performing Arts Requirement

This course is a continuation for guitar players that have either taken guitar at Priory in previous years or for students who have experience on the guitar. This course will serve intermediate guitar players by focusing on ensemble playing in both classical and contemporary styles. They will continue to develop their guitar technique through picking, strumming, note reading, tablature, and music literacy.
Improvisation, Acting, Characters & Combat

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 10 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills half of Performing Arts Requirement

This class is designed to give both the beginning actor and the advanced actor every conceivable tool they might need to take on a monologue, scene or play. Improvisation and character projects are used to introduce acting concepts and vocabulary and to unlock spontaneity, confident creativity and channel the imagination. Students will learn and develop improvisation skills, rehearse and perform scripted monologues and scenes by professional playwrights, and learn unarmed stage combat. The class aims to make learning acting and stretching oneself an enjoyable experience. Much of the work is done in class with some small writing projects related to character development. This course does not have any public performance.
Jazz Ensemble

Course Length: Year (Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:50-8:50am and Fridays at 2:50-3:50pm)
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Permission from Instructor

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15 - 30 minutes

Graduation Requirement: Fulfills Performing Arts Requirement

This ensemble consists of students playing at all levels on woodwinds, brass, and percussion. You will play with students who are equally interested in having a good time growing their skills and making great music. In this class, you will learn a variety of musical styles and genres including jazz, swing, and funk, and will learn to become more proficient on your instrument.
Music Composition and Songwriting

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15-30 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills Performing Arts Requirement

The objective of this course is for students to learn the fundamental concepts and better understand the inner workings of music. An abstract art form, music requires a theory which seeks to simplify harmonic and thematic language. Students will explore the basis of this theory through notes, intervals, rhythms, chords, scales, lyrics, forms, cadences, and four-part compositions. Students will investigate musical styles ranging from Popular music to modern orchestral music. Each week, students will put the theory to practice by composing original music that applies the concepts learned.
Music In Film

Course Length: Semester

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15-30 minutes

Prerequisites: None
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills ½ of Performing Arts Requirement

Film is a powerful device in communication and entertainment and the music that accompanies it can greatly impact the images on screen. This course will explore the use of music in film, beginning in the early days of so-called “silent film” to the latest blockbusters. Students will learn how music has been used to support the images and stories on the screen and learn about compositional techniques such as thematic development and leitmotifs, or musical themes tied to a character. Students will examine how classical, jazz, and popular music styles have influenced a myriad of subgenres and trends within the art form. Through this course, students will develop the ability to listen critically and judge the music of films that, because of its abstract nature, can go unnoticed.
Orchestra

Course Length: Year (Meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 7:50am-8:50am)

Open to Grades: 9-12

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15-30 minutes

Prerequisites: Audition with Instructor
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills Performing Arts Requirement

This ensemble consists of students playing at all levels on strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. You will play with students who are equally interested in having a good time growing their skills and making great music. In this class, you will learn a variety of musical styles and genres and will learn to become more proficient on your instrument.
Soundtracks: Music and Movies

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Estimated hours of homework per class period: None
Prerequisites: None
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills the Performing Arts Requirement

Lights, camera, sound! In this class, you’ll explore how music shapes the movies we love, from epic action scenes to emotional moments that hit hard. You’ll watch and analyze film clips, choose and test your own music for scenes, and discover how soundtracks change the entire mood of a story. Through fun, student-led presentations, you’ll learn about important films and break down what makes their music so powerful. No musical experience is required, just bring your ideas, your opinions, and your love of movies!
Speech

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 10 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills ½ of Performing Arts Requirement

This class is designed to make one of humanity’s greatest fears (public speaking) an exciting, painless and enjoyable process. In this class students will explore and become comfortable with the many aspects of public speeches and debate. From releasing sound freely, expressively and getting rid of unnecessary and inhibiting tension, to researching topics and organizing thoughts most effectively, to presenting at a podium or in a TED talk, all aspects are covered. Through a variety of fun and interesting speech topics, which students choose, and projects and games they will become more and more proficient in organizing their thoughts and passionate in expressing their arguments to others through public speech. There is also a Job Interview Workshop which can help prep for college interviews.
Tech Theatre & Design

Course Length: Semester

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15-30 minutes
Graduation Requirement: Fulfills Performing Arts Requirement

This is a hands-on, interactive course covering many aspects of theatre scenery construction, painting, and design. Students will learn how to safely and comfortably use power tools, ladders and lifts to construct scenery, paint sets, hook up microphones, and hang and focus stage lights. They will work on all three of the Main Stage shows in the PAC and on many of the concerts and events that occur during the year. They will study the elements of set, lighting and sound design, and learn how to analyze a script and develop a design. Semester 1 will focus on scenic construction, set design, and perspective drawing. Semester 2 will focus on scenic painting, sound design and lighting design and culminates in a special class “production.”