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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.
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 (Musical Theatre), EAL MUSIC 10, Music Songwriting 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 Grade 10 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'.
The Voice 10/11/12 Musical Theatre course is scheduled outside of the regular school schedule. Folks should prepare to attend one lunch hour class and several evening rehearsals in preparation for Musical performances.
EAL Music and Songwriting last for one semester only.
IB MUSIC SL lasts for 1.5 semesters. This course is open to students entering grade 11 or grade 12. While a music background is not necessarily a prerequisite, it is strongly recommended that students wishing to take this course have some proficiency on a musical instrument. Please note, this course is offered through the Nova Scotia Virtual School. Recommended for students wishing to pursue Music after high school.
IB MUSIC HL lasts for approximately 2 semesters. Students enrolled in HL Music will complete the same 3 projects as students in SL Music students. There is an additional music collaboration project that distinguishes the HL Music course from the SL Music course. Please note, this course is offered through the Nova Scotia Virtual School. Recommended for students wishing to pursue Music after high school.
Are there other music making opportunities?
Students can choose to participate in musical production by either singing in the chorus or auditioning for a role. There are also opportunities to participate in the pit orchestra for the musical.
Students can also join the school choir, Pop Vox. These folks meet once a week over the lunch hour to sing and learn cool harmonies.
In addition, students are encouraged to audition the Halifax Regional Arts program ensembles. This program features many choirs, a concert band, an orchestra, and a jazz band, to name a few. Students who participate in HRA ensembles must participate in Citadel High music ensembles, if one is available. For more information, please consult: https://hra.hrce.ca/
Citadel High puts on Coffee Houses once a month throughout the school year. Coffee house are open to all Citadel High students.
At the end of each semester, Citadel High hosts a school talent show. Look for information about these exciting events and opportunities to perform.
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 (English as an acquired language) students who love music! Using tools like the ukulele, pan drums, bucket drumming, improvisation, singing, 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. This course also provides students more opportunities to develop their English speaking/writing skills.
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 classes per week and participate in full concert band. Please note that some of these classes 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? We will spend time on 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. The majority of time will be spent in rehearsals for the school musical. In this course we also aim to create a safe, fun, and supportive environment where students feel comfortable to express their inner Broadway star. This course takes place outside of the regular school schedule. It's tailor made for folks who are already planning on being on stage in the annual musical production and who would like to earn a Fine Arts credit in the process!
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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