|
Music
Singing and recorder playing start in First Grade with the class teacher. Beginning in Third Grade, each child learns to play the violin or cello and participates in group lessons. From Fourth Grade on, all children play in a class orchestra. In Fifth Grade, wind instruments are added. Percussion instruments may be added in Eighth Grade.
The class teacher, together with the music teacher, provides each student with daily musical experiences.
In the High School there is a full orchestra, chamber orchestra, choir and chamber choir.
Handwork and Woodwork
Through the eight years of lower school, the children learn to knit, crochet, cross-stitch, felt, and sew in Handwork. The Woodwork curriculum begins in Fifth Grade and provides the opportunity to make finely crafted wooden bowls, spoons, games, and occasionally musical instruments. Clay modelling is added in Fifth Grade.
The Handwork and Woodwork curriculum is extensive. The work is done with an appreciation for the aesthetic quality of each piece, and encourages the student to work patiently and carefully through each project.
Eurythmy
Eurythmy is an art of movement developed by Rudolf Steiner that makes speech and music visible. It is taught from the early childhood years through high school. Through characteristic gestures, the sounds of language and music become visible as movement. Eurythmy requires group awareness, a kinaesthetic sense, individual co-ordination and social awareness. In our modern, hectic world, this is an art that encourages a measured pace and an awareness and sensitivity for others.
Painting and Drawing
Painting and Drawing is an integral part of the child’s experience from the early years through graduation from High School. The class teacher will guide the class through painting on a weekly basis, beginning with the color stories and wet-on-wet water color paintings in the early grades. The students gradually move through various painting mediums and often achieve finely-tuned abilities and varied creative expressions through painting.
Drawing is a daily practice, as each child makes their own illustrated Main Lesson Book. Lessons in drawing technique are added and expanded in each grade.
Modelling, Sculpture, Blacksmithing
Simple modelling, related to the curricular content, begins in the Lower School with the class teacher. By High School, this has developed into more formal courses in clay modelling and stone and wood sculpture. Blacksmithing is provide in the High School, and provides the students the opportunity to work with metal, fire and form.
Drama
Drama is an integral part the school experience. Every class performs at least one play per year. In the Lower School these plays are directed by the Class Teacher, but in the High School the Drama Department takes on the responsibility for the productions of the High School classes as well as the whole school performances and musicals.
|