Performing Arts
At Coromandel Valley we value the rich opportunity to work alongside students to build skills in communication, developing self esteem and confidence, risk taking and having a growth mindset. The performing arts program gives many avenues for students to develop these personal development skills in an encouraging and fun environment built on fun and practical experiences both within the curriculum as well as extra curricular opportunities.
The Arts is also seen as a vital avenue for students to experiment, explore and create through a wide range of arts experiences, giving opportunity for practicing their critical thinking through self reflection and response to their own and other’s forms of art. Through responding to and exploring music globally and historically to current times, students gain a broad understanding of identity and self expression.
Junior Primary Drama and Music:
Students from Reception to Year 2, partake in weekly lessons where they are introduced to the elements of music and drama through practical experiences based around play and games.
In music and drama, students explore, develop skills, create and respond to music as well as present, developing gross and fine motor skills through whole body movement to music, using tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments, scarfs, ribbons, stretchy band, parachute and singing with movement to a wide variety of musical genres and styles.
Middle Primary Performing Arts:
Students from Years 3-4 partake in weekly performing arts lessons where students further experience, explore, make and respond to dramatic and musical art forms. Students develop skills in planning and sequencing, communication, goal setting and self reflecting while working individually and collaboratively.
In Drama, students learn scripted plays to explicitly gain an understanding of the elements of drama in preparing for performance. They also creatively explore characterisation and stage craft in preparation to present to an audience. Students also experience improvisation and script writing in devising their own plays.
In Music, students focus on reading rhythmic and melodic notation, understanding melody, beat and meter as well as form and structure through singing, using tuned and untuned instruments. Students manipulate the elements of music to communicate ideas, perspectives and meaning.
In Drama, students further develop their understanding of the drama elements through creating and rehearsing plays, using goal setting and self reflecting to further develop their skills.
Upper Primary Performing Arts:
Students in Years 5-6 attend weekly performing arts lessons where students work individually as well as collaboratively to explore, evaluate and extend their understanding of how artists use drama and musical elements to express their ideas. Students explore using the drama elements to express character and situation while developing skills and techniques to present a play with best success in entertaining or moving an audience. Students learn scripted plays of different genres to explore different meaning and contexts.
In Music, students further develop understanding and skills in notation and structure in the popular music genre. Through deeper understanding of the artist’s expression of identity through music and lyrics, students create their own music and perform in small groups. Students create a piece of music using chords, bass, rhythm, lyrics and melody in the popular genre and perform or record for an audience. Students explore improvisation and the history of music and how this impacts on today’s music.
In Drama, students learn, rehearse and present a scripted play while exploring the role of drama in society. They learn about stage craft and all aspects involved in presenting a dramatic performance. Students use drama as a mode of communicating a particular topic or issue of individual interest or concern. Students develop script writing skills, rehearse and perform or record using props and costumes. Students reflect and respond to their performances and the effect on their audience.