Performing Arts

6th Grade Performing Arts Classes

Participation in Performing Arts gives students a creative outlet where they can connect with their peers in a supportive environment, where they develop their talents and skills.  Performing Arts students develop cognitions and ways of learning that complement learning in other academic courses. 

General Music

Duration: 1 Semester. (1st or 2nd Semester)

General music is a priority class in grade 6.

In general music, students learn beginning ukulele.  Students will learn how to read rhythms and tab notation, and perform traditional folk songs. They will listen to and analyze contemporary music selections and write their own original compositions. In addition, students will learn recording and songwriting techniques with the music software program, Garageband.

Band

Duration: 2 Semesters. (Both Fall and Spring)

6th Grade Band students perform in two concerts per year.  In class, they are introduced to playing in a large ensemble.  Material taught in rehearsals includes technical studies, scales, and rhythm studies.  The ensemble performs repertoire that introduces students to a variety of musical styles.  Band meets 3 times per cycle. 

PLEASE NOTE: This course is open to students who play percussion, wind and brass instruments (does not include piano or guitar).  

Band meets 3 times per cycle.

Monday Jazz Band

Duration: 2 Semesters. (Meets MWF before school.)

Sixth graders may audition for Monday Jazz band, a Big Band Jazz ensemble, comprised of advanced students who are also enrolled in band.  Students are introduced to a wide range of styles, including swing, latin, bebop and jazz/rock.  Improvisation is introduced and class time is allotted to teaching the basics of jazz improvisation and chord theory.  The Monday Jazz band performs regularly for in-school and community events throughout the year. 

Choir

Duration: 2 Semesters. (Both Fall and Spring)

Students in 6th grade may enroll in chorus, and are encouraged to continue through 7th and 8th grade.  8th Grade Chorus students enroll in either Subharmonics for tenors and bass, or Overtones for sopranos and altos.  

The WMS 6th grade chorus performs 2- and 3-part choral repertoire from a variety of genres and time periods.  Students learn and practice good vocal technique as well as continue to improve their understanding of music theory through sequential ear training and sight reading activities in class.  They are actively engaged in the creative process as they work together to arrange a song of their choice each term.  Singers learn both audience and performance etiquette and the music vocabulary used to evaluate a performing ensemble.  Chorus meets 3 times per cycle.

Orchestra

Duration: 2 Semesters. (Both Fall and Spring)

WMS offers grade-specific orchestras for violin, viola, cello, bass in grades 6, 7, and 8.   The sixth grade orchestra rehearses and performs its own literature.  When possible, ensembles combine for larger works.  Literature studied from the greatest works written or arranged for youth string orchestra but also includes occasional folk, pop, and movie music.  Specific skills for orchestral playing are taught in areas such as tone, rhythm, pitch, expression, style, ensemble awareness and rehearsal etiquette.   Orchestra meets 3 times per cycle.

Combo Classes

Duration: 2 Semesters. (Both Fall and Spring)

Available to 6th and 7th graders: Students who would like to perform with two ensembles (any combination of band, choir, or orchestra) may register for the Combo Class.  Ensembles meet 3 days per cycle.  Students would alternate days between two ensembles and a monthly calendar of the rotation is provided by teachers to help musicians know when to bring their instrument to school.

Drama

Duration: 1 Semester. (1st or 2nd Semester)

6th Grade Drama students learn to develop enthusiasm about Drama as an art form in general and to feel comfortable acting in front of their peers.  Throughout the semester, we cover the basics of story structure, creating an environment on stage, expressing emotions, physicality, and voice and diction. We also give students an introduction to various technical aspects of theatre. The course concludes with a cumulative final project that combines all the elements we studied, wherein students write and perform a short play in groups. No prior drama experience is necessary to succeed in this class.

After School Performing Arts Opportunities

Instrumental and Vocal Extension Program (IVEP): Students in our music ensembles may elect to take private lessons (voice or instruments) after school.  Lessons are tuition/fee based and are taught by private lesson teachers are professional musicians with performance degrees on their instrument.  Private Lessons are very beneficial to students, such as for developing their technique or preparing them for performances and auditions.  Small group, chamber music coaching is also available through the IVEP program.  Registration (15 lessons per semester) takes place before each semester, online on the Wellesley Public Schools website.  Fall registration will go online in April (www.wellesleyps.org, select “Fee Payment” at the top right corner, then scroll down).

FUSION/Junior Moving Company: Open to students interested in beginning or continuing experiences in various styles of dance.  They perform each spring in the “Footnotes” production at WHS.

Musical Theatre:  Sixth graders may audition for the middle school fall and winter musicals, open to all grades.

Play: Sixth graders may audition for the middle school spring play, open to all grades.

Stage Crew Club: Sixth Graders who are interested in learning more about technical theater can join the Stage Crew Club.  They gain practical experience and can apply to be a part of the Official Stage Crew for the play and musicals.  This opportunity is open to all grades.

Tuesday Jazz Band:  This after-school jazz band is a club that meets on Tuesdays after school.  It is offered to instrumentalists who would like an extended opportunity to learn jazz performance.  They perform at least once per year.

SongLab: In SongLab, singers and instrumentalists work together to perform arrangements of songs chosen by the members, as well as compositions written by students and faculty members from Wellesley Middle School. Students will have the opportunity to learn beginner guitar, ukulele, and keyboard in an informal jam session setting. This music club starts in March and all WMS community members are welcome to join.

Why Perform?

Performing Arts shapes the way our students understand themselves and the world around them. It allows for deep engagement with learning.  It nurtures assets and skills that are critical to future success, including creativity, curiosity, determination, and motivation.  In other words, the performing arts help develop the student.

Emotional Awareness: Students learn to express themselves in multiple ways and become more sensitive to the preferences and feelings of others.

Reflective Learning: Students reflect on failures and successes through the creative process and derive a sense of their own competencies, interests, and challenges.

Process Orientation: Students develop the ability to consistently refine their thinking as part of the creative process, developing an ability to re-evaluate goals and objectives and, if needed, adjust their approach to the objective.

Decision-Making: Through both the creative and reflective learning process, students gain greater capacity to question, interpret, and influence their own lives.

Multiple Ways of Learning:  Studies in Performing Arts promote fluency in knowledge systems beyond the linguistic and mathematical, enabling a deeper and broader understanding of our world and of the human experience.

Adapted from www.broaderminded.com