Visual & Performing Arts
The Bullis School Visual and Performing Arts Program is designed to advance a student’s ability to discover and develop his or her own voice through artistic expression. A student-centered, interdisciplinary approach balances the exploration of artistic traditions, the development of concepts and the building of skills. Using a newly-ascertained vocabulary, students learn to express themselves, create and problem solve. The Visual and Performing Arts Department aspires to cultivate culturally literate, inquisitive and independent thinkers who synthesize the greater world through the arts.
Sixth Grade
Students will take a trimester each of:
- World Art: This course focuses on the elements of art from around the world. Students will study and create artwork reflective of these cultural traits.
- Storytelling: By studying the elements of traditional stories, students will learn the foundations essential to good storytelling. They will explore the significance of stories in their own lives, adding techniques of plot and character development through movement and speech. This class culminates in the development and performance of students’ original stories. Students interested in participating in a major production may audition for the extracurricular Middle School fall musical.
- Youth Chorus: The Youth Chorus, a performing ensemble, meets two times a week alone and one time with the fifth grade. They participate in four mandatory concerts throughout the year. A varied repertoire includes folk, classical, pop, jazz and multicultural music. The class meets one other time during the week in the general music classroom and studies composers from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
- Youth Band: This course is open to students who have engaged in instrumental study for a period of time and who can demonstrate a basic level of proficiency on their instruments. The class will focus on development of ensemble skills and attainment of intermediate instrumental objectives.
AND Students will take a year-long course in one of the following (placement is by audition):
Seventh Grade
Students will take a trimester of:
- Painting: This course gives students a basic understanding of the painting medium.
- Troubadours: This choral group is open to seventh grade students through an audition process conducted at the beginning of the school year and focuses on music reading skills, vocal technique and ensemble musicianship. Members will be required to demonstrate a basic proficiency in sight-reading by the end of the school year and are required to participate in occasional concerts and practices outside of the school day. In addition, they will have daily written homework and vocal practice.
- Advanced Band: This course is open to students who have engaged in instrumental study for a period of time and who can demonstrate an intermediate to advanced level of proficiency on their instruments. The class will focus on development of ensemble skills and attainment of intermediate to advanced instrumental objectives. Membership is by audition and with approval of instructor.
- Music Ensemble: Exploring a varied repertoire of music, students in this class will perform on hand chimes, Orff xylophones and percussion instruments. The Music Ensemble is a performing ensemble that participates in two mandatory concerts throughout the year. The latter part of the year will focus on reading, notating, playing and composing music in a keyboard lab.
AND Students will take a year-long course in one of the following (placement is by audition):
Eighth Grade
Students will take a trimester of:
- 2D/3D Design: The class explores the elements of both two- and three-dimensional design, which can be applied to any media or art form. Students will apply these elements through studio experiences in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and computer imaging.
- Theater Arts: The eighth grade program will focus on the realm of theatrical process and performance. Students will learn how to create elements of character, environment, and action through monologue and scene work. Students will also have the opportunity to experience elements of stagecraft and design. Students interested in participating in a major production may audition for the extracurricular Middle School fall musical.
- Minstrels: This choral group is open to eighth grade students through an audition process conducted at the beginning of the school year and focuses on music reading skills, vocal technique and ensemble musicianship. Members will be required to demonstrate a basic proficiency in sight-reading by the end of the school year and are required to participate in occasional concerts and practices outside the school day. In addition, they will have daily written homework and vocal practice.
- Advanced Band: This course is open to students who have engaged in instrumental study for a period of time and who can demonstrate an intermediate to advanced level of proficiency on their instruments. The class will focus on development of ensemble skills and attainment of intermediate to advanced instrumental objectives. Membership is by audition and with approval of instructor.
- Music Ensemble: Exploring a varied repertoire of music, students in this class will perform on hand chimes, Orff xylophones and percussion instruments. The Music Ensemble is a performing ensemble that participates in two mandatory concerts throughout the year. The latter part of the year will focus on reading, notating, playing and composing music in a keyboard lab.
AND Students will take a year-long course in one of the following (placement is by audition):
Extracurricular Opportunities
- Fall Musical: The fall musical is a unique performance opportunity for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to participate in their own Bullis School production. Students will audition for both principal and company roles or may participate in stage crew in this after-school program.
- Middle School Jazz Band: An opportunity for the motivated and experienced student instrumentalist to explore performance in the jazz medium. Membership is by audition and with approval of the instructor. Concurrent membership in the Youth, Intermediate or Advanced Band required. This ensemble is not for credit and will meet at a time to be determined.
- Trouveres: This choral ensemble is a select singing group that meets twice a week after school. They build on skills learned in their respective choral classes and perform in venues outside of school. Students will audition for placement in Trouveres.
