Arts & New Media at SCH Academy

CULTIVATING A PASSION FOR MUSIC

Through the study of music and performance, our students learn how to communicate, collaborate, and engage with the different musical languages of the world. Beginning in Lower School, all SCH students experiment with singing, movement, music composition, and instrumental play. After an introduction to string instruments in 3rd grade, all 4th graders choose an instrument to study all year. These experiences continue in Middle School when students are able to take part in choirs and instrumental groups. In Upper School, students can pursue their interests through songwriting, or joining one of our vocal or instrumental groups: Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, or Upper School Orchestra. 

The Music program at SCH sponsors an after-school private music lesson program enabling students to study with master teachers. Our program features instruction in piano/keyboard, strings (violin, viola, cello, bass), guitar, woodwinds (clarinet, saxophone), Percussion, Brass (trumpet, trombone), and voice. Private voice lessons are only offered to students beginning in Middle School up through Upper School.

A great feature of SCH’s campus is our state-of-the-art Jamie Bell Recording Studio & VidCast Studio centrally located in our Thornley Middle School Building. The studio equips all students with digital composing software and professional level recording equipment for those who wish to further pursue sound production.

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FINDING YOUR PLACE ON STAGE

The performing arts curriculum at SCH is rooted in a formal theater education as well as the exploration of learning how to present, articulate, express, and interact with an audience. Our goal is to let all students learn the basics of performance, and feel empowered and comfortable in the spotlight. 

Lower School performing arts experiences begin with frequent opportunities to sing, act, and present in front of an audience. However, formal dramatic study begins in Middle School when students are introduced to the foundations of theater and have the opportunity to try out for the coed production in grades 6-8. Upper School students can choose to continue their theatrical interest by taking the acting and production electives and joining Players—the school’s award-winning extracurricular dramatic troupe.

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ARTISTIC TRADITIONS, CULTURES, AND EXPLORATION

At the heart of SCH’s visual arts program is freedom of expression. Our goal is to provide students with the space to be artists and experience the frustrations, risks, and joys of the creative process. Classes offer a balance between solid foundational work and expressive freedom, teaching students the foundations of good craftsmanship as they explore their own path of self-expression.

Throughout our visual arts curriculum, students move progressively through two- and three-dimensional media. From their earliest days at SCH, studio time includes drawing and painting, 3D construction, digital art, and mixed media. By Upper School, students can elect to study a combination of visual art media, or pursue a specific artistic passion and create an advanced portfolio to support their college/university applications.

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CREATIVE THINKING FOR OUR FUTURE

SCH’s new media program sits at the intersection of technology and the arts and was created to challenge our students to become digital creators. Beginning in Lower School, students are introduced to design for fabrication, gathering and editing photo and video, interactive circuitry, and coding. Students are taught in our state-of-the-art Maker Space which includes a system for teleconferencing throughout the world. As students progress into Middle and Upper School, they enter a series of new media classes offered through the trademarked Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) program.

After the culmination of the CEL curriculum in 10th grade, students can elect to continue their studies in new media through classes in architecture, creative coding (Xcode), digital design, 3D animation, video production and songwriting, and music production. To keep up with today’s fast-paced, digital world, our new media faculty is always on the lookout for emerging technologies and actively incorporating them into all levels of instruction at the school.

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