ARTS PHILOSOPHY

The purpose of Art Education at MacDuffie is to facilitate the student’s needs to express himself/herself, to help the student develop empathy for others, and ultimately to enhance the student’s life-long after he/she has completed formal education. We teach the skills and knowledge necessary to create and appreciate art. To create all art, visual and performing, the student must develop creative thinking, learn to work in a cooperative fashion, learn how to express creative ideas in verbal and nonverbal ways, and present a finished product. In order to appreciate visual and performing art, the student is exposed to performances and to actual works of art. He/she also studies art history and examines the relationship between art and culture.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM

The Middle School Arts Program reinforces the integrated Middle School Curriculum. Students not only use the skills developed in the other classes, but they learn to appreciate the relationships between visual and performing arts. Sixth graders study dance, music, and the visual arts. The seventh grade students study theater, visual arts, dance, and music.

In the eighth grade, students study visual arts, theater, and music.

1632 – Middle School Chorus

This chorus is a place for students in grades 6-8 to come together and sing. This beginning-level choir addresses such areas as vocal health, breathing, diction, pitch, tone, rhythm, harmony, phrasing, dynamics, blending, energy, posture, performance preparation, working with sheet music/musical notation, and expression through singing. A variety of musical styles are explored and performed. Students participate in both the Winter and Spring Concerts.

SIXTH GRADE

1600 – Dance 6

This course integrates the element of dance and the study of the cultures of other countries. The students study creative movement, improvisation, the history of Native American Dance, African Dance in America and American Folk Dance.

1610 – Visual Arts

The sixth graders learn to see the relationship between the part and the whole in their study of cartooning. With the study of sculpture, students create an imaginary animal. They classify it using knowledge from their science class and name it using vocabulary from their Latin class. While the subject matter for the drawing might change to integrate with the rest of their academic program, sixth graders improve their basic rendering skills and their shading techniques.

1626 – Music 6

The sixth-grade course will concentrate on learning about the history of American music, including Native American music, folk songs, blues, jazz, rock, and musical theatre. In addition to this focus, sixth graders will also begin gaining skills for reading, writing and understanding music notation, including pitch, rhythm, music symbols and terms. Students will regularly be applying these skills in the classroom with the use of keyboards and rhythm instruments, and also by way of group singing, movement and dancing, listening to music and composing their own music.

 

SEVENTH GRADE

1612 – Visual Arts

The seventh graders will continue with their work on proportions and drawing by studying the human figure. They create a drawing emphasizing line variety and value. They continue with the study by making a wire figure and studying Calder. Students also study the parts of a house, do a campus walk examining the buildings, and create a 3D model of a house. To coordinate with the rest of the academic program, seventh graders also study the artistic aspects of a map and design a treasure map.

1628 – Music 7

The seventh-grade course will concentrate on learning about and analyzing American popular music of the 20th century. In addition to this focus, students will also continue basic (to intermediate level) skills for reading, writing and understanding music notation, including pitch, rhythm, music symbols and terms. Students will regularly be applying these skills in the classroom with the use of keyboards and rhythm instruments. Students will also work together in small groups to create their own music video.

1602 – Dance 7

Seventh-grade students learn the basic tools of choreography necessary to create a dance. Students team up and prepare daily choreographic studies that they present to the class. They give and receive constructive criticism, watch a variety of dance forms on video and write critiques. The emphasis in this course is on teamwork and overall acceptance of individuality. Students finalize their quarter in dance with a mini-performance for their classmates.

1620 – Theater 7

This is an introductory theater course in which students learn basic theater terminology and stage directions. Students work creatively on cooperative activities, theater games and improvisations with other class members. Students study the construction of the play and its similarities to the short story, reinforcing the English curriculum. The course culminates in a major project in which the students script, memorize, and perform an original scene.

EIGHTH GRADE

1622 – Theater 8

This course is designed to improve communication, cooperation, and organizational skills. Students are reacquainted with basic stage terminology and theater craft. They study character development and play writing through improvised exercises and basic text analysis. If time permits, they perform either poetry or scenes in morning assembly; this is in preparation for their eighth grade plays. At the end of the semester, each class produces an original play; they write, direct, design, and perform it. The themes of the plays vary from year to year, depending upon the curriculum and the needs of the students.

 

1614 – Visual Arts 8

Students study the basic technical skills for drawing, painting, and sculpture. They also study the various components of a city and use the city of Springfield as an example. Students use this information to develop a plan for “their city.” In the second half of the course the students apply the art skills and create a display that includes a drawing, painting, and written work describing their city. Each eighth grader presents his/her project at the end of the year for his/her teachers, parents, family and friends at the Eight Grade Rite of Passage.

 

1630 – Music 8

The eighth-grade course will concentrate on learning about music from around the world including the Middle East, India, China, Africa, Europe and Latin America. In addition to this focus, eighth graders will also continue working towards gaining an intermediate (to advanced) level of skills for reading, writing and understanding music notation. Students will regularly be applying these skills in the classroom with the use of keyboards and rhythm instruments, and also by way of group singing, movement and dancing, listening to music and composing. They will also participate in a performance piece in the annual Winter or Spring Music Concert.

UPPER SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM

Students in the Upper School (class of 2011 and 2012) are required to take a minimum of one year (1 credit) of art for graduation. The class of 2013 will be required to take a minimum of one and one half years (1.5 credits) and the first class to meet the new requirement of two years (2 credits) will be the class of 2014. The art credit (s) may be in visual or performing arts or a combination of the two. Students who enter MacDuffie in grade 9 are required to take “Arts in Perspective” as a prerequisite for the individual electives in the arts. If a student has completed two years of the MacDuffie middle school program and has maintained a B- (or above) average, he/she is not required to take “Arts in Perspective” but would be allowed to select any of the arts electives.

1648 – Arts in Perspective

In this year-long course, students move at a quick pace through each of the arts: music, visual, theater, and dance. They study the basic terms and concepts of each discipline in order to gain an understanding of the process of creating art and the contributions art makes to society. This course is designed as the primer course for beginning art students. It is also a course for students who love art and want a better general understanding of all the arts. This course, however, is not a rehash of the middle school curriculum, but is designed to accommodate the requirements established in the National Standards for Arts Education for high school students. This course is a technical and academic course where students work in both the studio and the classroom.

VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM

Students in the Visual Arts Program require no previous art training or skill. They work with professional-grade art materials and tools in an informal setting with large work tables and separate work areas for specialized arts. There is an in-class library with “how-to” books, “idea” notebooks, reference and art history books, slides, video tapes and files of reference pictures. Students have storage spaces for their works in progress. Art history integrates with the studio arts throughout the various courses. Students’ art work is displayed on a regular basis.

1640 – Applied Art History

Art is the result of an artist’s experience and environment. Art reflects the daily life and aspects that are most important at that time. Examining the art of a period gives the viewer an idea, not just of what was happening, but how it affected the people. Art is a growth process, not just within an artist’s life, but from one time period to the next. As knowledge of the world around them increased and skill in handling materials improved, artists were able to show more and more of the reality of life. This course will study development of people through the artworks of the artists. Students will create artworks based on the readings and discussions.

1642 – Visual Art

Each semester-long art course covers skills, knowledge, composition, and application. The students work on a range of projects using a variety of materials. The courses can sometimes be customized to meet the particular needs of a student, for example drawing for architects, drawing for fashion designers, fantasy drawing, or drawing nature.

Drawing

Drawing is a way to see…really looking at an object and seeing the relationship between the parts. Drawing is not a talent, but a learned skill in seeing and rendering the image. Additional specialized semester courses: Pencil and Ink.

Painting

The student studies color theory and produces a variety of paintings using assorted paint materials. Additional specialized semester course: Acrylic, Colored Pencils, and Watercolors.

Sculpture

Students in this multimedia course create artworks that have a front, back, top, bottom, left, and right side. Additional specialized semester courses: Jewelry, Glass, Leather, and Fiber.

Architecture

In this course the student studies the art and science of space. The student sketches, drafts, renders, and makes models. The student learns the basics of spatial design. Additional specialized semester courses: House Design and Interior Design.

 

Graphic Design

Visual communication – getting your message across is the work of the graphic designer. In this course, the student works on creating artworks using images and words. Additional specialized semester courses: Cartooning and Photography.

Portfolio

This course is for students with strong visual arts backgrounds who wish to add artworks to their college portfolios. Having already developed basic art skills, the students apply them to more complex projects. The students create a series of artworks using a variety of media and techniques. It is strongly recommended that students interested in developing a portfolio take this course in the second semester of their junior year and continue the program into the first semester of their senior year.

Senior Art

Seniors who have fulfilled their arts credit for graduation and have taken visual arts in the Upper School may take this visual arts course. Students get the opportunity to explore different mediums and subject matter.

DANCE PROGRAM

1644 – Modern Dance and Repertory

This year-long course offers an intense training for students seriously interested in dance. While the emphasis of the course is primarily on modern dance, students spend one day a week studying ballet to strengthen and improve their technique. There is also a focus on dance history, choreography and improvisations.Please note that this class also fulfills a student’s Physical Education requirement.

THEATER PROGRAM

1660 – Acting
Grades 9 – 12

 

Acting is a year-long course. No previous acting experience is required to enroll in this class. There is no text for the class. Students become acquainted with basic stage and theater terminology. They study basic acting craft. They develop the necessary skills for researching and performing a role. The primary methods for learning these skills are improvisation and original scripting. The first semester culminates in a performance for the entire student body in morning assembly. The second semester is devoted to the study of comedy. The students study a range of comic styles: comedia del arte, slapstick, romantic comedy, high comedy, black comedy and satire. The primary methods for learning these skills are films, improvisation and original scripting. The semester culminates in a final performance at the end of the semester, usually a comic Melodrama.

1664 – The Acting Ensemble(Advanced Acting)Grades 10 – 12

Department Approval Only

This is a year-long academic advanced level theater and acting class that prepares the more serious-minded student for college level work in theater. The class meets four days a week, but extra rehearsal time is often necessary for productions. This class performs full scripts with the intent of touring. The scripts range in scope from performance art to pre-modern drama, children’s and readers’ theater to realism. Students take a mid-term exam often in the form of a project. Their final exam changes as they progress from year to year. The first-year student performs an original one-person show. The second-year student performs an adaptation of a short story. In the third year of enrollment, the student directs a one-act play. Each year, returning students confront new challenges. A theater history text is required for the class.

MUSIC PROGRAM

The MacDuffie School Music Program is founded on the premise that music education is an important component for every student as part of a well-balanced academic program. Our curriculum incorporates the National Standards for Music Education and the Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework. The nine national standards are listed below:

The ultimate objective of the program is to help students become well-rounded musicians, which enhances their ability to express themselves musically and critically.

 

1646 – MacDuffie Singers

This year-long choral performance course works toward well-rounded vocal musicianship by strengthening students’ skills in such areas as enunciation, breath management, posture, sight-singing, part-singing, understanding music notation, sheet music, and performance readiness. Students gain experience with repertoire that represents various cultures and musical genres. Members of the chorus are expected to attend all rehearsals and take part in all concerts.

1667 – Introduction to Music Technology and Composition

Introduction to Music Technology and Composition is a semester-long elective. This course is designed for upper school students. Through the use of music notation and recording studio software, students will take their first steps toward musical composition. For both the music novice and experienced musician alike, this course will give participants a hands-on approach toward composition. Projects will include taking field recordings and transforming them into Musique Concrete sound collages, as well as learning about music notation by using Finale Notepad in the computer room. There will be discussions of recording studio techniques as well as several projects that will be both collaborative and independent. Through the use of technology every student should be able to get a firm grasp of basic musical theory, as well as develop their recording skills. They should walk away from the class with a CD portfolio of pieces they have worked on, as well as a newfound interest in music and technology.

1669 – The History of Jazz

The History of Jazz at MacDuffie is a semester-long elective. This course is designed for upper school students. This course surveys the development of jazz in the United States. From ragtime to fusion, the course looks at each stage of development in depth. The first half of the course focuses on key innovators using Mark C. Gridley’s test “Jazz Styles”. Regular readings and homework questions will be assigned and used to assess student progress. Field trips to local concerts will be included in the course. In the second half of the course, students discuss current trends in jazz and the future of jazz. This will include the importance of jazz as an American art form and the way jazz has been used for diplomacy around the world. Students will be expected to create their own research topics for a final project. Students will develop their research skills as they prepare papers and individual presentations. There will also be periodic quizzes and a final exam. By the end of the course they will have a thorough understanding of the musical language and the artists who made jazz what it is today.

NON-CREDIT ACTIVITIES IN THE ARTS

Dance Ensemble
Grades 6 – 12
A club, Dance Ensemble, meets every other week. Students have the opportunity to act as instructors, and the classes reflect the students’ interests. Dancers also have the time to choreograph their own works. Guest teachers present a variety of dance forms.

MacDuffie Dancers

The MacDuffie Dancers is open to any upper school student who is very serious about dance. To become a member of the MacDuffie Dancers students must audition a piece of work to be considered for the Winter or Spring Concerts. These auditions take place at the beginning of each semester. Students meet monthly to share the progress of their work and give and receive constructive criticism regarding their choreography. Students are also encouraged to dance in each other’s works. Students who participate in The MacDuffie Dancers are strongly encouraged to enroll in Modern Dance and Repertory.

Acting in School Plays

MacDuffie presents two main stage productions a year. Auditions are open to all students in the school regardless of the student’s age or experience level. The types of play vary from year to year, but traditionally, the fall play is a comic or straight play and the spring production is a musical. In the late spring more experienced students will, on occasion, direct one-act plays. All students are also welcome to participate in these productions as well.

Technical Theater

Students may learn stage management, lighting, set design and construction, make-up skills and costuming by volunteering to work behind the scenes on the school plays.

A Cappella Ensemble

This musical group is for interested students, faculty, and staff to work on singing without accompaniment. Members help to select repertoire. An audition is required prior to acceptance. The group is student directed.

Jazz Ensemble

This group is for faculty, students, and staff who wish to explore the jazz medium. Members must provide their own instruments (a piano is supplied), and availability depends upon interest. Improvisation, reading charts, arranging, and fulfilling specific roles within an ensemble are several areas that are addressed.