Fine Arts: Performing Arts

IB MYP Drama I is an introductory level course where students learn to appreciate diverse aspects of the discipline of theater. Students are introduced to acting, voice, improvisation, and script analysis. The course helps students to contextualize the theatrical experience through examination of theater history, and texts, as well as the process and product of staging performances. The course includes exposure to live theatrical production. As an honors credit, students in this course will have more assignments and responsibilities than students in a regular course credit, students in this course will have more assignments and responsibilities than students in a regular course.

Grades 9th, 10th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day: 5 minutes

This is an introductory-level course that focuses primarily on the performative aspects of theater. Students will participate in the theatrical process through improvisation, mime, and text analysis. Students will engage in theatrical performances of monologues and scenes. The course will include the critique and evaluation of live theatrical performances.

Grades: 10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day:  0

This is an introductory level course that focuses on the backstage aspects of theater. Students will analyze theatrical texts for design elements. Students then learn fundamentals of stage design and production including; set and lighting design, make-up, costume design, and sound design. Students apply this knowledge to school productions.

Grades:  9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: None
Hours/Min per day:  0

IB MYP Drama II is where students learn to appreciate diverse aspects of the discipline of theater. Students are introduced to acting, voice, improvisation, and script analysis. The course helps students to contextualize the theatrical experience through examination of theater history, and texts, as well as the process and product of staging performances. The course includes exposure to live theatrical production. As an honors credit, students in this course will have more assignments and responsibilities than students in a regular course. 

Grades:  10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: MYP Drama I or Theater Arts (B or above)
Hours/Min per day:  5

Students experience the course from contrasting artistic perspectives. They learn to apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work. The theatre course encourages students to appreciate that through the processes of researching, creating, preparing, presenting, and critically reflecting on theatre as participants and audience members they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community, and the world. Through the study of theatre, students become aware of their own personal and cultural perspectives, developing an appreciation of the diversity of theatre practices, their processes, and their modes of presentation. It enables students to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture and promotes international mindedness.

Grades:  11th
Pre-reqs: MYP Drama I and/or MYP Drama II, Admittance into IBDP/CP program
Hours/Min per day:  15

Students experience the course from contrasting artistic perspectives. They learn to apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work. The theatre course encourages students to appreciate that through the processes of researching, creating, preparing, presenting, and critically reflecting on theatre as participants and audience members they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community, and the world. Through the study of theatre, students become aware of their own personal and cultural perspectives, developing an appreciation of the diversity of theatre practices, their processes, and their modes of presentation. It enables students to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture and promotes international mindedness.

Grades:  12th
Pre-reqs: IB Theater I
Hours/Min per day:  15

This course is for students interested in learning the fundamentals of music through singing. In addition to the techniques required for pitch-matching and vocal performance, students will study composition and music analysis to better understand the elements and structure of a variety of musical styles.  Honors-level students will cover the same concepts with greater depth and increased expectation of independence in demonstrating knowledge and skills.

Grades: 9th, 10th
Pre-reqs: 
Hours/Min per day:  

Advanced Chorus is for students who have been singing in an ensemble for at least two years. Students will use vocal technique developed in Beginning and Intermediate Chorus to perform more songs of greater complexity with higher artistic expectations. Students can progress through the levels of Advanced Chorus (I → II → III) as they take on greater leadership and solo opportunities within the ensemble.

Grades: 10th, 11th, 12th 
Pre-reqs: Intermediate Mixed Chorus and teacher recommendation
Hours/Min per day:  

This course is for students who wish to learn music through performance on a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument, such as flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, oboe, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, or percussion.  Students will gain a basic proficiency on the instrument to allow them to continue developing their skills in Intermediate Band. Students will also learn basics of music theory and composition and critical listening through exposure to global musical styles. Honors-level students will cover the same concepts with greater depth and increased expectation of independence in demonstrating knowledge and skills.

Grades: 9th and 10th
Pre-reqs:
Hours/Min per day:  

This class builds off of the work in Beginning Band with further development of range, tone quality, and music literacy. Students perform increasingly more challenging and rewarding pieces, presenting performances to the public at concerts throughout the year. In addition to performing on their instrument, students will study the fundamentals of music history and music theory, including composition and improvisation. Successful completion of this course prepares students for the International Baccalaureate music course or Advanced Band.

Grades: 10th, 11th
Pre-reqs: Beginning Band and/or instructor recommendation
Hours/Min per day:  1-2 hours

This course is intended for students with two or more years of experience on their instrument. Students prepare for 3-4 performances over the course of the year and study challenging musical literature. Technical skills developed in Beginning Band and Intermediate Band are used to create compelling performances. Students may move progressively through the courses (I → II → III → IV) as they progress on their instrument for an increasing level of challenge and leadership.

Grades: 9th, 10th,  11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: Instructor recommendation
Hours/Min per day:  1-2 hours

This course is for students interested in learning about music through performance on a stringed instrument: violin, viola, cello or bass. Students will develop a broad knowledge of musical conventions through composition and analysis in addition to developing their own performance skills on a stringed instrument. Honors-level students will cover the same concepts with greater depth and increased expectation of independence in demonstrating knowledge and skills.

Grades: 9th, 10th
Pre-reqs: 
Hours/Min per day:  

This course builds on the skills of beginning orchestra, preparing students for more challenging rhythms and a wider range of pitches on their chosen instruments. Techniques include vibrato, extensions, shifting and increased musical complexity from the music in Beginning Orchestra. Students will perform two concerts.

Grades: 10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: Beginning Orchestra and/or instructor recommendation
Hours/Min per day:  1-2 hours

This course is focused on the preparation and performance of challenging literature for string instruments. Students must have a basic facility on violin, viola, cello, or double bass, and the ability to read and perform printed music. Advanced skills such as vibrato, shifting, and a variety of bow strokes form the core of the curriculum. The focus of the course is transforming printed music into a compelling performance through thoughtful decisions and rigorous preparation. Students will perform two concerts on campus as well as participate in collaborative music projects throughout Chicago.

Grades:  9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Pre-reqs: Intermediate Orchestra and instructor recommendation
Hours/Min per day:  1-2

In the first year of this two-year cycle, the focus in the classroom is on direct instruction of theory and musicology. Students build a foundation of knowledge, skills, and a portfolio of work with which to complete the significant requirements of the IB assessments in their senior year.

This course pushes students to explore musical traditions from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts through composition, performance, and analysis. Students learn, research, create, perform, and reflect upon music through the International Baccalaureate Music curriculum. While working twice weekly on music academics (composition, theory, musicology), all musicians will also participate in advanced ensembles in band, orchestra, or chorus through rehearsals three times a week and 2-4 concerts throughout the year.

Grades: 11th
Pre-reqs:  Intermediate band, orchestra, choir, or comparable previous experience and admittance into the IB DP or CP Program
Hours/Min per day:  3-5 hours/week

Involving aspects of composition, performance, and critical analysis of music, the course allows students the opportunity to explore musical traditions from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students learn, research, create, perform, and reflect upon music, following the IB Music curriculum. Class time is divided between a classroom environment for composition and research and one of our three performing ensembles for rehearsal. There is significant work expected outside of class practicing and working on IB assessments. 

In the second year of this two-year cycle, students turn from learning to demonstrating the creativity and skills they have acquired. Students present formal research in the Exploring assessment, demonstrate their creativity in Experimenting, engage with contemporary music production in the CMM, and finally package their best work in composition and performance in the Presenting portfolio. 

Grades: 12th 
Pre-reqs: IB HL Music I
Hours/Min per day:  3-5 hours/week