Music, drama and more

At both our lower and middle schools we incorporate the performing arts in numerous, creative and varied ways. All of our elementary school students have performing arts class twice a week. Families have the opportunity to sign up for private piano and voice lessons within the school day. We offer art-based afterschool enrichment classes and opportunities for students to perform in front of their peers. At the middle school, and also the lower school, we bring in guest experts as teachers, to expand the level of what our students are exposed to in the performing arts.

Our lower school performing arts program, led by Jessica Blackwood, allows students to explore concepts such as rhythm and movement. Starting at pre-k and moving on up through fifth grade, students explore, create and perform both vocal and rhythmic music. They explore drama. This year, some students explored improvisation in drama, a skill that helps improve communication, cooperation and collaboration.

The theme in performing arts class this year is “inspiration.” Students have been exploring what it means to be inspired and how to use an inspirational piece or experience to drive the creative process.

In our twice yearly performances, we feature plays created by the children, the end products in our “project-based learning” approach. “It may lack the polish of a pre-written kids musical, but I think it is invaluable to allow the students to explore the real-world problems and challenges of putting together a performance,” Mrs. Blackwood says. “Not every experience is a great success. We fail sometimes, and we discuss how and why afterward. In performing arts class they are constantly active and engaged their learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the nuts and bolts of art from inspiration to performance.”

At the lower school we also offer a program of private piano and voice lessons during the school days. Students are given the opportunity to perform during the winter showcase and during Friday gatherings. Also, any student with a talent to perform is offered that opportunity during our Seabury on Stage sessions during Friday gatherings.

We also have performance related after-school enrichment experiences – Creative Dance through the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Destination Imagination and others.

At the middle school, we also strive for a variety of performing arts exposure, aiming to incorporate experts in various fields whenever possible. This fall the students learned drum circle from professional percussionist John Hargis. “Their evolution from a cacophony to a powerful sounding rhythm was very impressive,” says teacher Tamara Ritchie.

Also this fall, the middle schoolers took a music appreciation class from Seabury teacher (and musician) Paul Gonzenbach.

Last spring, the entire middle school was involved with writing, producing and performing “Smote, A Knight’s Story,” a humorous, musical version of the King Arthur legend. Seabury faculty member Tamara Ritchie, who facilitated the students, is an talented and experienced drama teacher. Most of the lower school students saw the performance (many twice), and that set off a passionate weeks-long interest in the King Arthur tales.

We’ve uploaded some of our student performances to a performing arts playlist on our YouTube channel. Check it out here.

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In This Issue

Upcoming Events

May 30th
8th Grade Capstone Night

June 7th
Lower School Talent Showcase

June 7th
8th Grade Graduation