The Arts

There is no culture without Arts and Arts are intrinsic to the High Meadow School culture.  Through dance, art, music and drama, students gain self-discipline, technique, modes for self-expression, presentation skills and a broader understanding of historical periods, literature and technology. In addition, through our Arts-In-Education Programs, students penetrate more deeply into inquiries across the academic curriculum through artistic endeavors.

From the Early Education Program for toddlers through 4th grade, students are taught within their grade. In the 5th through 8th grades however, students begin making choices among arts electives that place them in classes with students across the upper school.  Thus, the Arts becomes a focal-point of community-building in the upper school, building friendships and alliances among students from different grades.

The Visual Arts, Music, Dance and Drama Programs at High Meadow School are taught by accomplished artists in their respective fields who are also excellent and committed teachers. The primary goals of our arts programming are for each student to attain:

1. an appreciation for the discipline behind the work, and experience with the creative process.
2. a personal aesthetic that they will incorporate into their own work and world view.
3. the language to express their personal aesthetic.
4. an ability to communicate through the creative process and an appreciation of the diversity of styles among artists.
5. experiences with a wide variety of forms, materials and media within each discipline and an appreciation for these forms.
6. an open mind that allows them to suspend judgment and look more deeply into the unfamiliar, unexpected or out of the norm.
7. patience, trust, self-awareness, tenacity and joy in creating.

Music

Lower School

General Music engages students with a variety of rhythmic and melodic instruments from around the world and here at home. Students learn music history and basic theory to write and perform songs of different genre and cultures.

In Choral Music, students in 3rd through 8th grades learn about the components of music: tone, pitch, harmony, melody and rhythm. Students are exposed to a variety of music through listening and singing at grade level, at our weekly whole school “Gathering”, and at a variety of whole school events.

Upper School

High Meadow School requires students in 5th through 8th grades to choose a musical concentration in either guitar, voice or percussion and instrumental ensemble. Students are taught in small groups and as an ensemble to cultivate technique in the instrument area, collaborative skills, acquisition of theory, songwriting and an ear for and love of music.

Dance

Students in Pre-K and Kindergarten receive yoga/movement instruction as an introduction to concentrated and controlled movement of the body. Students in 1st through 8th grades receive training in a hybrid of ballet, jazz and modern dance forms. Students work on coordination, rhythm, body control and left-right orientation and develop concentration, persistence and listening skills through repetition and practice of movement combinations.

Visual Arts

The ongoing goal of the Visual Arts Program at High Meadow School is to enrich the lives of our children and make art an integral part of their learning process. Students are exposed to the art forms of various cultures and artists, and a broad array of artistic processes and media. Students learn printmaking, charcoal and pastel drawing, collage, painting, sculpture, still-life and figure drawing and pottery.

In the Upper School, students in the 6th through 8th grades choose among a number of arts electives, giving them an opportunity to immerse themselves in a particular medium or art form.

Drama

All High Meadow School’s teachers use dramatic play, interpretation and reenactment as a method for teaching stories, science and social studies. In grades 4 – 8, students begin to study drama as a separate class. Students learn methods for character development and motivation, stage presence and etiquette, enunciation and pronunciation and generally have fun.