International Baccalaureate
 

The Middle Years Programme - MYP

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Music Courses Grades 6-8

MS Beginning Band

Students can expect to learn the basics of embouchure (lip and mouth setting), tone production, posture and music reading. Percussion students will learn basic technique for mallet instruments, accessory instruments and battery instruments. Students should expect to be able to perform well enough to join a performance ensemble the following year. This course is open to any middle school student who wishes to learn how to play a wind or percussion instrument. These instruments are flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, tuba and percussion instruments.
 

MS Beginning Strings
 

Students can expect to learn the basic fundamentals of string pedagogy with emphasis on left-hand position, posture, bow technique, tone production and music reading. Students should expect to be able to perform well enough to join a performance ensemble the following year. This course is open to any middle school student who wishes to learn how to play a string instrument. These instruments include violin, viola, cello and bass. No previous experience or teacher approval is needed to enroll.
 

MS Choir
 

In this class, students learn how good posture facilitates correct breathing and relaxed singing. As the students learn proper breathing, they become more aware of the parts of the body, which are involved in vocal production and how to take care of their voices. Students perform in unison, or in two- and three-part music with different repertoire from different periods of music history and different cultures. Students can expect to do at least three performances a year. This course is for 6th through 8th graders who wish to learn the fundamentals of singing in a group.
 

MS Intermediate Band
 

The aim of this class is to develop the basics of tone quality, technique, embouchure and music reading. There will be performance opportunities throughout the year. This course is designed for 6th, 7th and 8th grade wind and percussion middle school students with intermediate level skills. This course is designed for wind and percussion middle school students with intermediate level skills.
 

MS Intermediate Strings

Students can expect continued development and improvement of basic skills while expanding their knowledge of quality string literature. Ensemble and solo performance will be encouraged. Although the focus will be on developing individual technique, students can expect to perform several times throughout the school year. This course is for middle school students who can perform at an intermediate skill level. Students who have had previous school ensemble or private lesson experience are eligible. Director approval is required for enrolling in this class.
 

MS Performance Band

Students can expect to develop and improve basic skills and expand their knowledge of wind literature. Ensemble and solo performance will be encouraged. Students can expect to participate in at least three or more concert performances throughout the year. This course is for 7th and 8th grade students who have developed a relatively advanced degree of skill for a middle school student. Director approval is required for enrolling in this class.
 

MS Performance Strings

Students can expect to develop and improve basic skills and expand their knowledge of string literature. Ensemble and solo performance will be encouraged. Students can expect to participate in at least three or more concert performances throughout the year. This course is for 7th and 8th grade students who have developed a relatively advanced degree of skill for a middle school student. Students who have had at least one year of school ensemble or private lesson experience are eligible. Director approval is required for enrolling in this class.


Music Courses Grades 9-10

HS Concert Band

This class emphasis will be to develop advanced technical and tonal skill with wind literature ranging from “pop” to the classics. Students will participate in at least three or more concert performances throughout the school year. This course is open to grade 9-12 wind and percussion students who have had at least one year of experience in one of the performance ensembles offered at OIS/SIS or other significant experience. Teacher approval is required.
 

HS Concert Strings
 

Students can expect to develop and improve basic skills while expanding their knowledge of quality string literature. Ensemble and solo performances will be encouraged. Although the focus will be on developing individual technique, students can expect to perform at least three concerts throughout the school year. This course is for 9th through 12th grade students who can perform at an intermediate skill level. Students who have had previous school ensemble or private lesson experience are eligible. Director approval is required for enrolling in this class.
 

HS Wind Ensemble
 

The emphasis of this class is to continue to develop advanced technical and tonal skills. The performance of high quality wind literature, featuring a variety of music styles, will be the focus of class. Students will participate in at least three or more concert performances throughout the school year. This course is designed for the advanced wind and percussion students, in grades 9-12, who have attained a high degree of proficiency. The Wind Ensemble is considered the highest-level band class. Audition and teacher approval are required.
 

HS String Ensemble
 

The emphasis of this class is continued development of technical and tonal skills. The performance of high quality literature featuring a variety of music styles will be the focus of class. Students will participate in at least three or more concert performances throughout the school year. This course is designed for the advanced violin, viola, cello and bass students in grades 9 through 12, who have attained a high degree of proficiency. The String Ensemble is considered the highest-level string class and has a performance focus. Audition and teacher approval are required.
 

HS Chorus
 

In this class, students sing more complex arrangements of music from different periods of music history and different cultures. They learn to perform varied repertoire with the appropriate vocal technique and performance style. Choir members hope to show more independence in music reading. Students can expect to do at least three performances a year. This course is for 9th through 12th grade students who wish to experience singing different types of repertoire.
 
Art Courses Grades 6-8

Grade 6 Art

The Art program for sixth grade has the theme making connections. Students will be introduced to the basic elements of design and examine how various artists use these elements in their work. Six elements and principles will be explored through active participation in drawing, painting, design, sculpture and construction. Students will compile their research into a personally documented sketchbook.
 

Grade 7 Art

The basis of this program is the exploration of art forms particular to different cultures and regions of the world. Students are introduced to two and three-dimensional processes such as painting, printing, and sculpture with the aim of encouraging experimentation and the fostering of individual expression. Students will compile their research into a personally documented sketchbook. Assessment will be a combination of self-evaluation and teacher critique.
 

Grade 8 Art

This program builds on experience gained in the grade seven program. Art forms from other regions of the world are explored; we revise media used in grade seven, but from a different perspective, and new media is introduced. Students are encouraged to find connections between their art studies, art making, and the world.
 

The major theme of the course is discovery of culture. Through an in-depth study of African, South American and Pacific cultures, students will develop an enriched understanding of culture as a reflection of society. Students then use this information to imagine, create and develop a “culture.”
 

Throughout the year all research will be completed in a personal journal and assessment will be through a combination of self-evaluation and student/teacher critique.
 
Art Term Courses Grades 9-10

The following is a list of all art courses available over the year in grades 9 & 10. Please note that not all courses are available each trimester, and class sizes are limited. In addition, some art courses are offered in two-year cycles. Please check carefully on availability of courses when making your choices.
 

Drawing

Working in a studio environment the development of skills and media exploration will be encouraged. Students will study style and meaning in drawing throughout the ages and apply these concepts in solving contemporary visual problems. A variety of media will be explored such as pen and ink, chalks and charcoal, graphite, pastels and conte, water colour, pencils and coloured pencils. Techniques covered will vary from the basics of drawing, lineal drawing, form and modelling, tonal rendering and perspective. Students will construct a folio to house their art works and be encouraged to draw at home using a miniature sketchbook.
 

Living Spaces

This course explores habitats within natural and human-made environments. Students will develop two-dimensional and three-dimensional solutions to problems that have been devised to extend each student's ability to think with creativity and originality.
 

Advertising

This course will study the implication of visual imagery in our century. Students will consider the psychological and emotional impact of layout, advertising and illustration through a study of the Elements and Principles of Design. A creative approach to understanding these forms of communication will be undertaken including illustrations, stories without words and humour with the pen.
 

Painting

Students will learn to use paint to express and communicate ideas. Students will study aspects of composition and historical precedents and work in a range of media; watercolour, poster color, acrylic, water soluble materials etc.
 

Pottery

Hand Building: In this course students will study traditional hand building techniques. Emphasis is placed on the expressive potential and intrinsic beauty of the clay medium. Both functional and non-functional studies will be undertaken. Wheelwork will only be undertaken after consolidation of hand-building skills.
 

Photography
 

A study of: Photographic art forms from a variety of cultures, photographers as artists, photographic techniques and processes, composition, applied photography - working with other media, e.g. Computer manipulations, and photographic silkscreen.
 

Printmaking
 

The history of printmaking and the wide variety of methods and techniques available to printmakers; woodblock, silkscreen, linoleum, etching, will be introduced. Students will be prepared in order to execute their own series of prints.
 

Sculpture
 

Throughout the ages sculpture as a three dimensional form of visual expression has stimulated the senses, provoked reaction and demanded interaction. From simple geometric form to realism students will explore the endless potential of form and space in different materials.
 

Stage Design[1]
 

Students will study the characteristics of stage design from different periods of history and from different cultures with a view to formulating a design and construction for the set of the 'All-School Production'. Miniature set designs may be constructed if time allows. Students will work as a collaborative team in consultation with the Director and Producer of the show and will be encouraged to become active members of the production crew. A sketchbook is required. The class schedule may be modified to meet the needs of the production, especially towards performance time. Dedication and commitment to after school time may be necessary as the 'All School Production's first full dress rehearsal approaches. Involvement in this course is exciting, demanding but very rewarding.
Mixed Media
 

This course breaks down the traditional divisions of media by encouraging each student to extend their personal boundaries in defining visual forms. Through a process of research, appreciation and by devising solutions to complex problems, the endless potential of mixed media will provide a stimulus for new visual awareness and appreciation.
 
[1] N.B. The class schedule for Stage Design may be modified to meet the needs of the production, especially towards performance time.