In creative arts, students discover a variety of art forms through a study of dance, drama, music and visual arts.
Studying the creative arts, students learn to appreciate, compose, listen, make and perform. Each art form has its own unique knowledge and skills, elements or concepts as well as a capacity to inspire and enrich lives.
Students must study 100 hours of both music and visual arts during Years 7 to 10. They also have an opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills in other art forms through elective subjects including drama, dance, photography and visual design. Students can then select from a range of courses in Years 11 to 12.
Music
Students in Year 7 and 8 study the Mandatory Music course. At Balgowlah Boys this includes a highly practical curriculum that includes learning in percussion, guitar, keyboard, Electronic Music, Rock and Roll, Film Music, and Reggae. In this course students will gain experience in class bands, small ensembles and individual performance, as well as extending their knowledge of music theory.
In Years 9-10 and 11-12 students have the opportunity to continue their studies in Music and progress through the NSW Stage 5 and 6 curriculum. The Elective program at Balgowlah will see students further their musicianship and understanding of Music performance, Composition and Theory.
Visual Arts
At Balgowlah Boys we aim to give students an enjoyable and forward-thinking Visual Art experience. In both the Mandatory (Years 7-8) and Elective courses (Years 9-12) students investigate a full range of visual arts forms including drawing, painting, printaking, photomedia, sculpture, and digital technologies. Students who participate in the Visual Arts curriculum will have opportunity to collaborate with artists in residence, produce their own art shows both at Balgowlah and in public galleries, and partake in large scale mural and public art projects.
Students are encouraged to develop their own individual art practice and build upon their theoretical knowledge of Visual Art. Balgowlah Boys has three classrooms dedicated to the Visual Arts. These rooms contain facilities such as a Senior HSC Workshop dedicated the production of the HSC Body of Work, printmaking presses and a computer pod. Students are encouraged to utilise these art facilities when they can so as to promote their own sustained art making practices.
Drama
Drama is offered at Balgowlah Boys in Year 7 and as an elective in Years 9-10 and 11-12. The Drama program enables students to develop confidence, knowledge and skills in performance, script writing, and production. Students who study Drama as an elective will gain experience in developing their own productions and will engage in numerous excursions and experiences to develop their knowledge and understanding of Drama.
The Company
The Company meets in the school hall/stage on Thursdays from 3.30pm – 5.00pm in the School Hall on the stage. This group will study theatre in-depth; Movement, Poetry, Characterisation, Plays, Playwrights and self-devised drama. Documentary theatre and Production. It will be assumed that these students have already attained a level of concentration and control and are ready to be challenged. In order to become members of this drama group, students will be required to audition.
The Theatre Studio: Year 7 Extension Drama and 8 Curriculum Drama students
The Theatre Studio will offer students both challenge and inspiration within a safe and caring environment. Term 1 Starting Wednesday 26th February from 3.30pm – 4.30pm: School Hall on the stage.
If your son is interested, please email Tricia Herman (Director): patricia.herman@det.nsw.edu.au