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Arts Education
Education in fine arts assists us in perceiving, analyzing and interpreting our community, our environment and our cultural heritage. Study of the arts allows us experience the world through the eyes and ears of others. It adds new dimensions both to our understanding of the world, and to our ability to recognize problems in it and take action towards their solutions. The arts both mirror and influence the human condition, reflecting our origins, our history and our aspirations.
Education in the arts is an essential part of the development of every child. The fine art disciplines of art, drama and music function through a unique blending of craft and creativity that stimulates creative and intuitive thought while developing the intellect.
Arts education assists in perceiving and responding to the environment through the senses. It also helps in achieving self-discipline, experiencing success and realizing personal potential. Learning through the arts provides a fuller understanding and enjoyment of life. It also provides opportunities for students to explore careers in the fine arts.
IB Music, IB Theatre and IB Visual Arts may be offered to non IB Diploma students as a certificate course. Completion of the course requires a grade 11 and 12 commitment that gives the student advanced university standing. Please see full courses description in the International Baccalaureate section of this guide.
In addition to a wide range of courses available at Citadel High School in Fine Arts, it is also possible to Challenge for Credit for many Fine Arts courses for which previous study may have made you eligible. See the details on Challenge for Credit in Fine Arts.
Additional Music program information
Additional Music program information
There are a number of music courses offered at Citadel High School: Strings 10/11/12, Band 10/11/12, Voice 10/11/12, Music Theory 10/11/12, and International Baccalaureate Music Higher Level and International Baccalaureate Standard Level.
How are these classes scheduled?
The Band and Strings courses are scheduled throughout the year as opposed to semestered. The delivery of Band and Strings courses differs slightly. Students will have Band every other day for the full year as opposed to everyday for one semester. The band course is backed with English 10 which runs throughout the whole year as well. Strings 10 is entirely outside of the school day schedule.
The semester system poses scheduling conflicts in the upper grades. In order to accommodate those students who would like to take Band and Strings in grades 11 and 12, the courses are offered outside the regular schedule in a block called 'X'. Voice class is offered in one semester. Students registered in voice class must attend concert choir rehearsals for one semester. The concert choir rehearses on Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunchtime. Students are given some free periods during the semester in lieu of the time they spend in choir rehearsals.
Music classes last for one semester only. Depending on the overall schedule of the school, academic music will be held either in first semester or second semester.
IB Music HL course is scheduled over two years. This course is open to students entering grade 11 in either the regular academic program or the IB program. Students who are considering IB Music HL in grade 11 are strongly encouraged to enroll in one of the four music courses listed below in grade 10. They should also demonstrate a high level of proficiency on a solo instrument.
IB Music SL course is scheduled for two semesters. This course is open to students entering grade 12 who have been members of the Concert Choir, Concert Band, or String Ensemble for at least two years. This course is also open to students in grade 12 who demonstrate a high level of proficiency on a solo instrument. IB music courses will only be offered if requested by the minimum number of students.
This course is open to students entering grade 12 who have been members of the Concert Choir, Concert Band, or String Ensemble for at least two years. This course is also open to students in grade 12 who demonstrate a high level of proficiency on a solo instrument.
Are there other music making opportunities?
Students can choose to participate in our biannual musical production by either singing in the choir or auditioning for a role. There are also opportunities to participate in the pit orchestra for the musical.
In addition, students are encouraged to audition for All-City music ensembles at the Halifax Schools Music Centre. This program features an orchestra (HSSO), a youth choir for mixed voices (Soundtrax) Vocal Jazz Workshop, and four Jazz bands - Intermediate Jazz Band, two Jazz Combos, and Senior Jazz Band. For more information about this program please call 421-6700.
Course Descriptions
Course Descriptions
Drama 10 — 1 credit
Drama 10 — 1 credit
Completes the Fine Arts requirement
Drama 10 is an introductory course designed for students who would like to learn more about drama and theatre arts. The focus of this course is the personal, intellectual, and social growth of students as they explore a variety of dramatic styles, techniques and forms. The course entails in-class exercises to develop concentration, self-confidence, imagination, openness and sensitivity. Students will experience improvisation, work with scripted plays and some script writing, character development and role-playing as well as various technical aspects of the theatre. This is an activity-based class, requiring collaborative participation.
Music 10 Theory (For EAL Students) — 1 credit
Music 10 Theory (For EAL Students) — 1 credit
Completes the Fine Arts requirement
This music course is designed for EAL students who love music! Using tools including ukulele, steel drums, bucket drumming, improvisation, bandlab/chrome music lab, and music notation, students will explore a variety of styles and approaches to music and music-making, as well as their own relationship to music. This is a hands-on course where students work together not only to create music, but a safe, fun, and supportive learning environment.
Music 10B (Instrumental Band) — 1 credit
Music 10B (Instrumental Band) — 1 credit
Completes the Fine Arts requirement
The Band 10 course is designed for students who play a concert band instrument. Students enrolled in this course typically start learning a band instrument in either grade six or seven and have continued to play in a concert band throughout their junior high years. Students will be expected to attend 3 Band rehearsals per week and participate in full concert band. Please note that some of these rehearsals may occur outside of the school schedule. In this course, students will create and perform a variety of genres of music to expand their technical skills (on their respective instrument), and increase their understanding of musical components including theory, music history, composition, improvisation, and self-evaluation. Students will be expected to participate in a number of performances throughout the year.
Recommended Prerequisite
Students must have performed in their Jr. High School band, or prior permission of the Music Teacher & Fine Arts Department Head.
Music 10P (Songwriting) — 1 credit
Music 10P (Songwriting) — 1 credit
Completes the Fine Arts requirement
Do you write your own songs? Perform your original music at coffee houses? Want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of songwriting? In this course, students will develop and refine their songwriting skills. Topics include: music theory, aural skills, composition, setting lyrics to music, exploring music technology, the history of popular music, and of course opportunities for solo and group song-writing collaboration. An ideal course for aspiring song-writers!
Music 10S (Strings) — 1 credit
Music 10S (Strings) — 1 credit
Completes the Fine Arts requirement
The Strings 10 course is designed for students who have been playing a stringed instrument for several years. Students will be expected to attend 2 hours of ensemble rehearsals per week and 1 techniques class per week, on their respective instrument. Please note that ALL of these rehearsals occur outside of the school schedule. They are scheduled at lunch hour, before and after school times. In this class, students will explore the techniques of ensemble performance, music theory, and music history through a variety of musical styles. Students will be expected to participate in a number of performances throughout the year. Please note-this course is offered as a component of the All-City Music Program. Various All-City ensembles are available to students who are registered in this course, such as Honour Violin and HSSO.
Recommended Prerequisite
Students must have performed in their Jr. High School Orchestra, or have prior permission of the Music Teacher & Fine Arts Department Head.
Music 10V (Vocals - Musical Theatre) — 1 credit
Music 10V (Vocals - Musical Theatre) — 1 credit
Completes the Fine Arts requirement
Do you love musicals? To be on stage? To act, sing, and dance? Looking to prepare for the school musical audition? Looking to develop vocal and performance skills? Or just looking to do a bit more singing? This is the course for you: We will spend a good deal of time on team-building activities, theatre games, and physical and vocal warm-ups in order to free the singing voice and to feel more comfortable with movement on the stage. In this course we also aim to create a safe, fun, and supportive environment where students feel comfortable to express their inner Broadway star. While Broadway is the main genre we will study, there will be opportunities for students to explore other genres of vocal music as well.
Recommended Prerequisite
Prior singing and or choral experience is recommended.
Visual Arts 10 — 1 credit
Visual Arts 10 — 1 credit
Completes the Fine Arts requirement
Visual Arts 10 is designed to familiarize beginner students with the central components of fine art. Students will learn the basics of how to draw realistically, how to paint, and how to work with clay. They will also learn about how to develop an idea creatively and how to "read" great works of art. The course is project-based, with skill-building exercises before each major project. For the exam project, students will choose their best skills to create an artwork of their own design.
Dance 11 — 1 credit
Dance 11 — 1 credit
Completes the Physical Education requirement or Completes the Fine Arts requirement
Dance 11 is designed for all students, with or without previous formal dance training, and builds on student's experiences in dance throughout the physical education curriculum, grade primary to nine. It emphasizes creative movement as a form of communication and self-expression, as a unique way of learning about oneself and others. In this course students explore a range of dance styles, create and present dance sequences, respond critically to their own dance works and those of others, and make connections with dance in local and global contexts, both past and present. Students also have opportunities to examine the connections between dance and other art disciplines. The course comprises four components: elements of movement, creation and composition, presentation and performance, and dance and society.
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