The Arts Program
The Professional Children’s School Arts Program provides students with opportunities to participate in multiple forms of artistic expression. The goal is to supplement, enhance and expand on the rich experiences our students engage in outside of school. It is our hope that the students will come to discover and appreciate how exposure to diverse art forms serves to enrich their understanding of the human condition in general, and to deepen their approach to their chosen professions in particular. The overarching goal is to help students to find their voices and to develop the confidence and skill to express their unique perspectives.
Middle School and Upper School courses are offered in studio art, music and drama. Performance opportunities in both the Middle and Upper School include annual drama and music productions, choral and instrumental assemblies, the annual All School Night, and the PCS Spring Gala. There are opportunities to represent the school at community concerts and other occasions throughout the school year.
See below for more details on the arts curriculum and programming at PCS.
DRAMA
The essential core of the drama program at PCS is the development of the skills, self-awareness and courage to give expression to the complexities of the human struggle. Students learn to trust their formidable instincts in a safe and nurturing space. The skills taught draw heavily from the work of Uta Hagen and Sanford Meisner who developed “ways of working” designed to provide students with a reliable blueprint for believably entering into the given circumstances. Through the experience of theatre games, improvisation, scene study and live performance, students learn to hone their craft and to discover their unique voices as artists.
The Middle School students take a Drama class and have the opportunity to perform in a full musical production each year. The Upper School classes are Drama I (9&10 grade) and Drama II (11&12 grade). Drama I culminates in a scene presentation for an invited audience and Drama II concludes the year with a full production presented to the entire school community.
MUSIC
The Music program at PCS is designed to enhance the musical, creative and expressive qualities of all students. Musical opportunities are provided for all students to learn a wide range of skills of singing, playing and reading music, developing song repertoire, broadening listening skills and experiencing the interrelated nature of music with other cultures and content areas. Aside from music courses offered, students can perform in a variety of concerts/recitals as soloists or in collaboration throughout the year. At PCS they are encouraged to collaborate and explore with other student artists across all disciplines, resulting in vibrant performances, recordings, and exciting new works. Our beloved “All School Night” features many of these collaborations as well as the chance to celebrate our community and each other in performance.
Middle School students take Music and perform in PCS Music Assemblies, as well as a full musical theater production in the spring. In the Upper School, students can enroll in Poetics of Music, Introduction to Modernism, and Chorus. Poetics offers many elements including song writing, music history, music reading and fundamentals, as well as appreciation for world music. Chorus focuses on vocal techniques, a variety of languages and repertoire, and performs throughout the year at Music Assemblies and various vocal masterclass/recitals.
VISUAL ART
The Visual Art Program at PCS nurtures and develops artistic expression. With new and existing skill sets promoted via each art project, project framework is medium-specific. Technicality of mediums and suitable project themes are carefully considered, not only in accommodating students’ different learning needs and visual art experiences, but also in inviting them to create and share meaningful works with self-confidence. Artworks and art making processes by artists of different and/or relatable heritages and backgrounds are crucial resources in displaying project themes, inspiring students to create their own artworks and to deliberately exchange their stories, ideas, and feelings. In furthering the learning and appreciation of diverse artistic expressions, the program takes advantage of local and cultural opportunities, with students meeting with working artists and visiting museums or galleries where possible.