PERFORMING ARTS

In the Performing Arts Program we aim to nurture every student’s skills and interests to encompass the four main components: Music, Dance, Drama and Performing. Each grade attends a 60 minute session each week and is provided with the opportunity to perform at assembly and other events throughout the year. Creating and Making and Exploring and Responding within the Performing Arts develops students’ self-esteem and self-confidence both as learners and performers, whilst developing communication skills that can be utilised throughout their lives. The inclusion of Performing Arts positively impacts broader academic and personal wellbeing outcomes for our students. Each Performing Arts element is taught over a single term, with the opportunity provided for students to present their work at assembly.

MUSIC

The Music unit is inspired by the series of texts, ‘The Music Book’, which focuses the theoretical knowledge of the students across each level and results in a comprehensive formal musical education. There are ten key musical elements that are the focal point of this curriculum; beat, rhythm, pitch, melody, harmony, dynamics, tempo, form, tone colour and style which are taught through singing, playing of musical instruments, composing and improvising. Students experience playing a range of instruments; as well as various ways to use their own bodies and found objects as percussion instruments. This curriculum is supplemented by the students own personal musical interests to create an engaging, inspiring and fun musical classroom. This includes the use of iPad for the senior school to explore Garage Band and singing apps, as well as the introduction of rapping and body percussion for the younger students.

DANCE

The inclusion of Dance in the Performing Arts classroom is based on the four essentials, Explore, Choreograph, Perform and Appreciate. Students work on identifying beat and rhythm and exploring these elements through shape creation, upper and lower body isolated movements and interpretive movement. Students are introduced to a variety of dance styles and choose one to focus on for their end of term dance. Students have the opportunity to choreograph and design their own pieces as well as participate in a whole school Flash Mob dance.

DRAMA

Drama is an integral part of the Performing Arts Course at GEPS with games and activities designed to permit the students to explore the field of acting in a safe environment that encourages students to take creative risks, allowing the students an insight into the world of drama in an interesting and informative manner. Students study the elements of drama and practise them through role plays, improvisations, dramatic play and scripted dramas. They view recorded and live drama performances and use their gained knowledge throughout the term to interpret and respond to these performances.

PERFORMANCE

In the Performance unit, students are usually working on their piece for the end of year Christmas Concert (annually) or the school production, this occurs every second year. The performance unit allows the children to draw on all of their knowledge and skills developed in Performing Arts through the year and present their work in ‘real life’ for an audience.

The variety in performing Arts at GEPS will enable your child to grow, improve their collaborative skills, and self-expression, as well as a scaffolded approach to learning the four elements of Performing Arts. Most importantly we offer the children the chance to participate, no matter their skill. All our students have to do is try, and keep trying even when it is difficult. We encourage them to take the stage and hold their head up high, no matter what their role. It’s not about being the star, it’s about continuing to your whole self until the last curtain falls. That is a life lesson they will take with them forever.