MAD (Music, Visual Art, Theater)

The Arts are a universal form of human expression and a unique way of knowing that engage us in effective, imaginative and productive activities. Learning through The Arts helps us to explore, shape and communicate our sense of identity and individuality. A focus on the individual enhances our self-confidence, resilience and adaptability. It encourages our sense of belonging and community through the recognition of identities. During adolescence, The Arts provide an opportunity for age–appropriate and holistic development of the social, emotional, intellectual and personal intelligences of the student. In MYP Arts, students have opportunities to function as artists, as well as learners of The Arts. Students develop through creating,  and presenting arts in ways that engage and convey feelings, experiences and ideas. It is through this practice that students acquire new skills and master those skills developed in prior learning

Thinking creatively fits naturally in MYP Arts, and the heightened awareness of thinking creatively encourages students to develop metacognitive skills and become self-regulated learners, not only in The Arts but across the whole program. There is rarely just one way to create art, and the process of creative thought and critical selection of ideas and solutions will take many paths before a student can determine the most beneficial way of working that suits him or her best. Students are encouraged and enabled to take creative risks and explore ideas in the process and creation of the product through both conventional and unconventional approaches. Involvement in The Arts encourages students to understand The Arts in context and the cultural histories of artworks, thus supporting the development of an inquiring and empathetic world view. They challenge and enrich personal identity and build awareness of the aesthetic in a real-world context.

In Grade 6 to 8, all students study a rotation of Music, Art and Drama, thereby having exposure to and experience of the arts disciplines over the course of the year. In Grades 9 to 10, students select their choice of arts discipline and then follow this chosen discipline for that year. 


Music 

Music in the MYP gives students access to musical experiences that allow for the development of thinking skills, intuitive skills, practical abilities, communication and the ability to relate to others. Engagement with existing and emerging music from the local community and from around the world allows students to understand the significance of music to the cultures of the world and, by engaging in practical work, to develop understanding of how the act of making music is a significant and universal aspect of human expression. 


Visual Art 

Experience in a wide range of visual art activities adds a creative and cultural dimension to student development that will benefit them for the rest of their life. The process of making ideas a reality using the skills and practices of visual art is an integral part of the substance of the MYP Arts curriculum. 


Theater

In MYP Theater, students learn thinking, communicating, problem-solving and team-work skills through the lens of Drama and Theater. Drama is an action packed, lively, participatory subject where students work on their own and with others to create meaning, communicate learning and share ideas through various forms of activities and performance. Through Drama we learn more about ourselves and the world around us by exploring ideas and themes in a communal and challenging learning environment. 


Aims 

The aims of MYP Arts are to encourage and enable students to: 


Assessment Criteria