Clarkson CHS

Music

Music is central to the expression and identity of all societies. It contributes to and shapes our personal, social, economic and cultural environments. Through their activities in music, students enhance their capacity to create, explore and communicate ideas. They develop specific skills, techniques and processes. All students at school study music in one form or another throughout their schooling career. Students can access instrumental tuition, classroom music tuition, as well as being able to become involved in music ensembles and performances

Classroom music fosters skills in language acquisition, cognitive development, psycho-motor skills, spatial understanding, critical thinking, reading and writing. Participating in music-making enhances self-esteem, relationships, and personal motivation. Through music, students become collaborative learners, team members, independent and adaptable problem solvers and innovative producers, all characteristics which are valued in the workplace. The classroom music program gives students the opportunity to play instruments such as the keyboard or guitar, as well as working in a collaborative and friendly classroom environment. All students who access the music room for musical purposes are given the chance to have ‘hands on' musical experiences.

Visual Art

The visual arts by their unique nature enrich the lives of our culture and civilisation.

Art is a means by which people communicate with one another in a visual form, passing on values of the past and present which help to generate a sense of identity. At school, students from Years 8 to 12 access the art rooms at some time in their high school career. Through the study of art, students combine knowledge, imagination, appreciation and evaluation. These aspects are necessary for perception, creative thinking and self-expression, for critical awareness and the development of practical skills in the visual arts. Through analysis, visual diaries, and experimentation students produce art works representative of a variety of styles and genres. Through their art works, students develop a knowledge and understanding of the visual arts which will enable them to participate more effectively in and contribute to the diverse aspects of Australian cultural life.

Media

The media is the most widespread and influential system of communication in the contemporary world. Media institutions construct representations in sound, screen and print form which help to shape our sense of self and our relationship with others.

Students in Years 8 to 12 study media, and this provides them with the opportunity to develop life skills which will enable them to analyse these potent forms of modern communication. More specifically, studying media provides students with the ability to make independent judgments about the relationship between their culture and the language systems of the media. Students also gain, through the study of media, the ability to participate in contemporary society as active citizens.

Students who study media learn the craft of storyboarding, flip books, clay animation, film and documentary analysis, as well as being given the opportunity to apply their understandings through media production. Media production can include short films, documentaries and music videos, which are viewed by the school community throughout the year.

Dance

As an art form, dance encourages artistic creativity and the active use of the imagination, and provides a unique way in which to view the world in which we live.Perhaps more than any other human activity, dance encompasses one's intellect, physicality, emotions and spirituality, enabling total involvement and personal growth for the individual.

As a physical activity, dance develops body and spatial awareness and the kinesthetic sense, and increases co-ordination, flexibility, strength, endurance and rhythmic understanding. Furthermore, one's involvement in dance activities will aid in personal development in the areas of self esteem, confidence, concentration, social awareness, communication and management skills, and the ability to organise, analyse and evaluate. Involvement will further increase aesthetic sensibilities and will serve to develop a critical and informed appreciation of the arts.

Dance Studies provides the opportunity for practical and theoretical study of dance as an art form. Embracing the premise that dance is a creative medium of expression and a highly technical physical discipline, the subject has been designed to develop the student's ability to create, to perform and to appreciate dance within its historical and multicultural contexts.

Years 10, 11 and 12 study dance at school, giving the students an opportunity to watch, choreograph, rehearse and perform their work on many different occasions. In 2007 students will continue to use the current WACE course of Dance Studies, with the new courses of study ready for introduction in 2008.

Drama

Drama is a significant means of defining Australian culture, and the study of drama provides important processes through which the integration of feelings, ideas, beliefs and opinions can be expressed, understood and shared. Drama has a long tradition of forms, structures, conventions and heritages. It exists in different ways in all cultures, places and times. Drama satisfies the need for creative outlet, responsibility and expansive enjoyment.

Students study drama from Years 8 to 12, and in the courses examine different styles of drama including mime, improvisation and play work. Students in Middle school access Drama for one semester, and in this time learn the skills of stage craft and the basics of acting. In the Senior School , Drama enables students to work both individually and collaboratively. Drama is language rich and provides students with opportunities for developing reading, writing, listening, speaking and performance skills, as well as providing foundations for interpreting and reasoning. The ability to communicate orally and physically is a key life skill for successful participation in contemporary society. As a culmination to their study, Senior school students present a large scale production each year, utilising staging, costumes, props etc, over 3 nights.