Arts

Art

Art in the Junior High teaches the joy of self-expression and the use of imagination to solve problems and explore art concepts. Students place emphasis on the more formal elements and principles of art through two and three-dimensional projects. Assignments emphasize technical skill development, planning and execution, art history, and the development of aesthetic appreciation, art vocabulary, and a greater understanding of individual artistic expression.

Students explore all media with the exception of photography. Projects involve drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics and crafts. The art faculty expect students to seek original interpretive responses to assignments and encourage students to develop their personal imagery and style. At Paideia, we are committed to making art appreciation and expression a part of each student’s life.

Music

Students take music, choosing among chorus, band, and orchestra. The music classes include the seventh and eighth grade music students, and each child has music class three times per week throughout the year. Each discipline presents four concerts per year, usually held in the evening or at the end of the school day. Students involved in the music program at Paideia are supported by a team of teachers who collaborate on enhancing the students’ knowledge of performance and theory.

All students studying an instrument are encouraged to take private lessons, to audition for Georgia Music Educators Association All-State band or orchestras, and to attend summer music camps. Junior high band and orchestra students are encouraged to try out for the junior high musical.

Band

Band students in the 7th and 8th grade attend class three times per week. The classes are divided into two sections – brass and percussion, and woodwinds – each of which meet separately one day a week. Additionally, students attend a full rehearsal twice a week. The instrumentation for the band is as follows: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophones, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, and percussion. The ensemble performs standard concert band literature that does not include piano or guitar.

Orchestra

Junior high music students attend orchestra class three times per week. One day per week, the classes are divided into sections – violins on one day, violas, cellos and bass on another. The students attend a full rehearsal twice a week. The instruments studied in Orchestra are: violin, viola, cello, and bass. The ensemble performs standard orchestral literature.

Chorus

As in the other music disciplines, 7th and 8th grade chorus students attend class three times per week. The smaller classes that meet separately are divided by gender – boys practice together one day a week, and the girls meet one day per week. Additionally, all chorus students practice together twice a week. Every rehearsal emphasizes basic choral musical skills. Membership in chorus is not a prerequisite for participation in the junior high musical.