The Arts

Course Synopsis

TRANSITION YEARS:

Year 7 Drama

Students engage in drama through creating and performing for their peers. Character development skills are demonstrated through critiquing simple characters from performances.

Year 7 Media

Students develop understanding and skills in the creative use of technologies and digital materials to stories and explore concepts to become discerning consumers and producers of media.

Year 7 Music Excellence Program

Students with a demonstrated interest and aptitude in either vocal or instrumental music may apply for a position in this class​. There is a particular emphasis on developing performance skills.

Year 8 Music

Students gain an introduction to music knowledge, listening and composition skills as well as performance skills on guitar, keyboard and drum kit.

Year 8 Music Excellence Program

Students with a demonstrated interest and aptitude in either vocal or instrumental music may apply for a position in this class​​​​. There is a particular emphasis on developing performance skills.

FILM AND TELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA

Year 9/10 Media Studies

Students learn to plan and design media products for a range or purposes that challenge the expectations of specific audiences by particular use of production processes as well as produce and distribute media effectively across a range of audiences and purpose. Units include design and production processes for film, multi-platform design and production, animation and experimental film, as well as delving into the world of gaming.

Year 10 Film and Television and New Media

Film, Television and New Media  is offered in Semester 2 and introduces students to the concepts and skills required to study the General subject of Film, Television and New Media in senior, as well as Applied performing arts subjects.

Year 11/12 Film Television and New Media

Students are encouraged to be active participants in the media, not passive consumers. They will gain experience in the use of digital video cameras and industry-standard editing systems as well as design, pre-production and production practices. They will also be critiquing a range of cinematic genre.

DRAMA

Year 9/10 Drama

Focuses on students expressing and communicating through the enactment of real and imagined events. Students also learn the skill and value of critiquing performances. The subject allows students to develop confidence and self-awareness and an understanding of various forms and styles of drama.

Year 10 Drama 

Offered in Semester 2 and introduces students to the concepts and skills required to study Drama in Senior.

Year 11/12 Drama

Students have the opportunity to gain an understanding of the nature and function of drama, a practical knowledge of dramatic forms and styles, and a range of skills, including use of voice, gesture and movement.

Year 11/12 Drama in Practice

Students learn to take on the role of Drama Practitioner and gain an understanding of every aspect of the theatre world. This includes performance, costuming, stage design, critiquing and events management.

 Year 11/12 Arts in Practice

Students have the opportunity to study across the visual, performing and media arts. This includes performance skills, investigations and product design, and students will gain skills in Industry Standard Practices.

MUSIC

Year 9/10 Music

Both creative and academic in its approach, Music further develops musical knowledge and understanding, appreciation, performance and music creating skills.

Year 10 Music Semester 2

Offered in Semester 2 and introduces students to the concepts and skills required to study Music in Senior.

Year 10 Certificate II in Music Semester 2

Offered in Semester 2 and introduces students to the concepts and skills required to study Certificate II in Music in Senior.

Year 11/12 Music

In addition to acquiring a body of knowledge and mastery of listening, analysis, composition and performance skills, students also have the opportunity to develop self-expression and social interaction as well as concentration, memory, physical co-ordination, self-discipline, communication, computer music literacy and analytical skills.

Year 11/12 Certificate II in Music

Students learn the skills of a Music practitioner through skills in ensemble and solo performance, recording, gig setup and backup, workplace health and safety skills, rehearsal processes and music production.

Year 12 Music Extension

Caters for students with specific abilities in Music. This subject offers specialisation in performance, composing or musicology. It provides students with a developmental path to a more exacting level of experience in the area of specialisation and leads to the acquisition of significant expertise in the field.

VISUAL ART​​​​​​

8 Visual Arts

Junior Art aims to foster an understanding of the role of Art in our own culture and environment as well as in other cultures – past, present and future. Year 7/8 Art encourages the development of:

• Creative expression
• Visual literacy
• Technical skills
• Knowledge of artists, art movements, past and present cultures, historical perspectives and contexts

9/10 Visual Arts

Visual art is a powerful and pervasive means of communication. The aim of the Semester 2 Year 10 Art Program is to provide students with the opportunity to experience the content and practical exercises associated with the Year 11 Visual Art course. Students completing the taster should develop the means to represent their ideas, thoughts, feelings and observations of the world in visual formats. Year 10 Visual Art encourages further development of:

• Creative expression
• Making skills - visual literacy
• Appraising skills
• Knowledge of artists, art movements, cultures (past, present and future), historical perspectives and contexts.

10 Visual Arts Semester 2 Year 10

This subject is available to students in Semester 2 and is an introduction to the Year 11/12 General subject Visual Art. Students will study contemporary art practice and the role of the artist in society. This is the foundation for students to create two and three dimensional artworks that directly communicate with the viewer to present an intended message or concept. In preparation for the external exams that are a feature of new SATE syllabus students will sit an exam at the end of this program.

10 Visual Arts in Practice Semester 2 Year 10

This subject is available to students in Semester 2 and is an introduction to the Year 11/12 Applied subject of Visual Arts in Practice. Visual art is a powerful and pervasive means of communication. The aim of the Visual Arts in Practice Semester 2 Year 10 is to provide students with the opportunity to experience the content and practical exercises associated with Year 11 Visual Arts in Practice. Students completing the taster should develop the means to represent their ideas, thoughts, feelings and observations of the world in visual formats. Year 10 Semester 2 Year 10 Art Program encourages further development of:

• Creative expression
• Technical skills
• Visual literacy

11/12 Visual Arts (General subject)

In Senior Visual Art students define and solve visual problems by using visual language and making skills. Making processes involve selecting, exploring, manipulating and exploiting materials, techniques and processes in particular media areas (painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics) to communicate meanings.  Visual Art provides students with opportunities to understand and appreciate the role of visual art in past and present traditions and cultures, as well as the contributions of contemporary visual artists and their aesthetic, historical and cultural influences. Students interact with artists, artworks, institutions and communities to enrich their experiences and understandings of their own and others' art practices. 

Students have opportunities to construct knowledge and communicate personal interpretations by working as both artist and audience. They use their imagination and creativity to innovatively solve problems and experiment with visual language and expression.

11/12 Visual Arts in Practice (Applied subject)

Visual Arts in Practice can be taken as a subject in its own right; however it is also complementary to Senior Visual Art. Students studying Visual Arts in Practice develop skills in the practical application of Art and Craft to real life situations. For example, students may create pieces of wearable art or design life sized sculptures for public installations. In Visual Arts in Practice there is also an emphasis on collaborative and cooperative work practices and community arts. Assessment for Visual Arts in Practice is based on practical work with written and oral assessment used as supporting assessment. This is a useful subject for student apprentices and trainees as the emphasis is on the physical act of making art.​