Program
Arts
Our visual and performing arts programs nurture an appreciation for the arts and offer each child rich and varied opportunities to develop creativity, express themselves, experiment, and grow as an artist. Experiences in the arts are aligned with the academic curriculum and are designed to grow our students' cross-cultural competency.
Arts Program for Developmental Kindergarten through Grade 3
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Visual Arts
The Lower Elementary and 3rd Grade visual arts program offers students an opportunity to study art in a structured and safe environment. Students experiment with a variety of art techniques and materials, such as printmaking, painting, sculpture, drawing, weaving, and collage. In addition to making art, students will also improve their art vocabulary and learn about art history through visual reference, group discussion, and critique. Projects are designed for each class based on three criteria:- Students' previous knowledge and experience
- Cross-curricular collaboration
- Goals outlined in the Visual and Performing Arts Framework for California
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Music
The music program for Grades DK-3 provides students with classroom and performance experiences in music, dance, movement, and acting/drama. The DK through 3rd Grade music curriculum is designed to broaden students' cultural perspectives, encourage creativity, and inspire students to deepen their study of the arts. Often, the activities are correlated with grade-level core subject areas and classroom themes. Additionally, we have adopted the Orff-Schulwerk methodology, which encourages children to explore music, movement, drama, and speech through play. Our program is child-centered with an emphasis on process over product, and students learn concepts through participation and experience, as individuals or in groups.
Specifically, the DK-3rd Grade music curriculum encourages all students to:- Sing solo and as a group, using a varied repertoire of music
- Perform on instruments, solo and ensemble
- Improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments
- Read and notate music
- Listen to, analyze, and describe music
- Evaluate music and musical performances
- Understand relationships between music and other disciplines
- Understand music as an expression of historic periods and cultures
Arts Program for Grades 4-6
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Visual Arts
The Visual Arts program for 4th through 6th Grades is a sequential, progressive experience designed to challenge students and inspire an understanding and enjoyment of art, craft, and design. Activities bring together the art process, artists, history, materials, tools, technology, and skills with connections to the world, community, and home. Students are able to showcase their work in small group presentations. The artistic components of grade-specific theatrical performances, including sets, props, and costume, are designed and created in art class. -
Music (Grade 4)
4th Grade students experience a wide variety of music from different cultures and historical periods. Students develop knowledge of the elements of music through listening, movement, singing, and playing a range of instruments. Skill in both reading and writing music is a foundational part of the curriculum. Students are taught to use their voices to perform music from many different traditions and showcase their mastery in school-wide concerts: the Winter Concert in December and the Grandparents Day and Spring Concerts in May. The musical components of grade-specific theatrical performances are also taught in music class. The 4th Grade performs a mini musical for Curtis families in the spring. -
Performing Arts (Grades 5-6)
In addition to performing musical selections in the Winter and Spring Concerts, the 5th and 6th graders study performing arts/drama. This year-long course helps students develop the skills necessary to communicate story and character to an audience through theater, music, and movement. Students are also introduced to and gain a greater appreciation for culturally diverse and historical performing arts forms. Students gain confidence in public speaking by memorizing and performing classic scenes and monologues. They hone their reading comprehension skills by reciting, analyzing, and dramatizing various theatrical masterpieces. Both grades perform a play in the spring, and families are invited to attend. In addition to a live theater performance, 5th and 6th Graders produce short films. Working in small groups, the students create a story, write a script, assemble props, and learn to film and edit a short movie. 5th Grade presents its work in a Short Film Festival for the Curtis community.
Curtis Choral & Instrumental Program (Grades 3-6)
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Choir Program
All Curtis students in Grades 3-6 have the opportunity to participate in the Curtis Choir. All Choir program members have regular, twice-weekly group practices and perform in the Winter and Spring Concerts and Grandparents & Special Friends Day Concert. In addition, Choir members typically perform at flag assembly and participate in a spotlight concert for our community during the year.
Both the Curtis Orchestra and the Curtis Choir perform off-campus in a Southern California music festival in the spring, which is adjudicated by professional musicians and musical directors. We are incrediby proud that our Curtis Choir has performed 17 times at the Forum Music Festival and has an unbroken record of Gold-rated performances!
Choir is a graded, curricular class that is additional to participation in the student's regular, grade-level performing arts class. Choir members are expected to demonstrate the highest commitment to attendance, dedication to musical learning, teamwork. and cooperation. -
Instrumental Program
All Curtis students in Grades 3-6 have the opportunity to participate in a variety of instrumental classes and ensembles. Advanced musicians comprise the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Beginning and intermediate students with an interest in instrumental music may join the Preparatory Strings, Preparatory Band (woodwinds and brass) and Preparatory Percussion groups. More accomplished instrumental students are eligible to join Curtis Strings or Curtis Band. School instruments are available for students to borrow.
All Instrumental program members have regular, twice weekly group practices and perform in the Winter and Spring Concerts and Grandparents & Special Friends Day Concert. In addition, Choir and Instrumental Program students typically perform at flag assembly and participate in a spotlight concert for our community during each school year.
Both the Curtis Orchestra and the Curtis Choir perform off-campus in a Southern California music festival in the spring, which is adjudicated by professional musicians and musical directors. We are incredibly proud that our Symphony Orchestra has performed 16 times at the Forum Music Festival, winning nothing less than Gold and Silver ratings.
Instrumental groups are graded, curricular classes that are additional to participation in the student's regular, grade-level performing arts class. Instrumental program members are expected to demonstrate the highest commitment to attendance, dedication to musical learning, teamwork, and cooperation.
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