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The Visual and Performing Arts Departments throughout Ridgefield Public Schools aim to create inspiring experiences that are common to all the arts: exploring, creating, performing, presenting, interpreting, connecting, and reflecting. We believe the arts promote awareness of the world and provide an opportunity to seek meaning through a creative process.
The Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) department consists of three strands: Visual Art, Music, and Theater. Our mission is to develop our students’ literacy in the arts while focusing on the artistic processes: creating, performing/presenting, responding and connecting. We believe that the arts are of paramount importance to the development of well-rounded human beings who are creative and critical thinkers and who are connected to the world. Through these processes, the arts give students positive self-esteem, self-confidence, and creativity. The arts give students a voice to express themselves in ways that words alone can not do. The arts foster teamwork, collaboration, communication, self-expression, and innovation in ways that a traditional classroom can not. Many of the world’s greatest contributors and innovators were also artists and musicians, and all acknowledged the importance that the arts played on their development as leaders and pioneers in their field. The VPA program prepares students for life.
VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The Visual Arts program at Ridgefield High School offers courses in a variety of art media. All courses focus on the elements and principles of art and design, craftsmanship, technical skills, and personal expression. There are various visual art pathways to post-secondary education and career skills, or students can simply explore areas of interest. Students have the opportunity to explore a variety of art media at the beginner and advanced levels, including 2-D, 3-D, and Digital Media Arts.
2-D Studio Art provides a foundation for every art course offered and is of paramount importance for students who will pursue postsecondary studies at an art school or a career in art. These students should start their art studies as early as possible to ensure proper training for portfolio development. It is critical that students diversify their art experiences in order to have a broad skill set when applying to post secondary opportunities.
Students need a minimum of four semesters of art courses to enroll in AP Art & Design, at least three of which are in a specific medium (e.g., drawing, photo, ceramics). Note: Students may repeat any
Griffin C Triangles on New York
Griffin C Triangles on New York
Visual Art Courses
Haley Wyatt Ski Sky
Haley Wyatt Ski Sky
Music
MUSIC DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The music department at RHS contains over 250 students within the band, orchestra, choral, and theory/technology programs. Our philosophy is to meet students where they are and provide them pathways of growth based on their passion for music. There is something here for every level of musician. We believe that music is about working together similar to the way a business would, where everyone contributes to something greater than themselves. Our business is putting on quality performances for the community. Doing so requires not only building musical skill sets and techniques as musicians, but also program administration and event planning. Students learn to plan logistics, marketing, and budgeting. We believe in student empowerment. There are many opportunities and roles for students to explore leadership and contribute to how our program runs.
The music department has the substrands of Orchestra, Band, and Choir as the basis for our performing ensembles. These courses have co-curricular components, such as co-curricular performance ensembles, some evening rehearsals, and community performances that are part of our curriculum but take place outside of building hours. The "Concert" level courses require no audition, just 8th grade equivalency of prior instruction on their instrument. After one year of a Concert level course, students are eligible to audition for more advanced ensembles.
Additionally, we offer a strand in classroom courses aimed at theory, composition, and digital music.
There are additional ensemble opportunities available as extensions of the classroom that meet outside of school hours. Students must be enrolled in a music performance course to be eligible for participation in these groups. Learn more about our music program at ridgefieldhsmusic.org.
Advanced Level: Audition and one year Concert Level prerequisite
Advanced Level: Audition and one year Concert Level prerequisite
Theater
THEATER DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The RHS Theatre program provides students with the opportunity to experience performance and stagecraft in avariety of creative and challenging ways throughout their four years in high school. Theatre education and productionintersect in our award-winning program. Students have the opportunity to participate in main stage productions as well as other Black Box Theatre performances and activities. Students are strongly encouraged to take theatre classes so that they are better prepared to participate in productions; however, all students are eligible and encouraged to participate. Students who simply want to experience a performance class for the first time may take courses at any time during their four years. Students who are interested in a four-year performance track should register for one .5 credit Improvisation (grade 9), .5 credit Acting 1 (grade 9), .5 credit Acting 2 for both fall and spring semesters (1.0 credit total) (grade 10), .5 credit Advanced Acting for both fall and spring semesters (1.0 credit total) (grade 11), which may be repeated for an emphasis on directing and acting during their senior year. Students interested in Costume and Makeup may take the .5 credit Costume & Makeup Design class at any time during their four years.
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