Art, Drama and Music

Visual Arts

The Art curriculum at MSF is designed to enable the students to develop their creativity and imagination through a wide range of activities encompassing the areas of pattern and texture, colour and shape, form and space and line and tone.

Students become keen observers of their environment by identifying principles of art and design in the world around them. As the students follow the curriculum they develop their skills and improve their control of materials, tools and techniques. They increase their critical awareness of the role and purposes of art in different times and cultures and thus become increasingly confident in communicating what they see feel and think through art.

Music

From the earliest years students are taught singing and rhythm activities, the language of music and the use of percussion instruments. They learn the work of composers and listen to a wide variety of repertoire linked whenever possible to the Units of Inquiry. Music-making activities are a very important part of our programme. Students in our Early Years visit the music room weekly and experience tuned and untuned percussion instruments and explore pitch, tone, rhythm and movement.

The MSF music programme in the Primary School covers all aspects of music education to provide enjoyment, stimulation, discipline, fulfilment and awareness. As part of their music programme, all students from Grade 1 upwards learn to play the recorder (“Blockflöte”) during their weekly lessons. They are encouraged to perform in the classroom, at assemblies and at concerts throughout the year.

Grade 5 students and above receive music education from a specialist music teacher in a fully equipped keyboard laboratory. Students visit the keyboard laboratory once a week where they learn solfege, singing, keyboard skills, imrprovisation and harmony.

Grade 1 and 2 students have the option to join a lower school training choir. This choir performs in lower school assemblies and at various events throughout the school year. Grades 3 to 5 students have the opportunity to sing in the Senior Choir. The Senior Choir performs regularly at assemblies and events throughout the school year and on International Day. In 2012, the Senior Choir will perform at our first Musical Soiree in February.

Private music tuition is available after school (15.30 – 17.30) in piano, violin, clarinet and saxophone. Piano and violin tuition is available to students of all grades. Clarinet instruction is offered from Grade 3 and saxophone from Grade 5. Parents interested in this programme are asked to contact the Music Coordinator, who will put them in touch with the relevant teacher.

Drama

At MSF students learn through drama and about drama. Drama is used as a tool to learn new concepts in other disciplines and as a separate subject with specific core skills. Students will also have opportunities to work cooperatively to put together a performance and where appropriate, the opportunity to appreciate the work of professional ensembles that visit the school or enjoy theatre visits in the local area.

Parents are invited to attend drama performances at various times during the school year, such as the Christmas shows and for class assemblies.