Performing Arts

Our primary goals in the Lower School music program are to foster a love for music, inspire creativity, and develop confident musical independence. The Lower School music program at Charles Wright Academy is centered on exploratory activities that guide young learners through musical experiences rooted in play, creativity, and collaboration. We use the whole body to learn music through singing, locomotor and non-locomotor movement, as well as instrumental play.

We start from a foundation of singing and connecting the body to the voice. After students gain extensive practice internalizing musical, beat, and rhythm-based concepts, we begin focusing on externalizing music onto pitched and unpitched percussion instruments. Students begin to listen and collaborate to create music together, utilizing a variety of vocal and instrumental techniques. Musical elements such as dynamics, tempo, melody, harmony, timbre, tonality, motif, form, expression, texture, and character are infused into each song/lesson.

As we build an expansive repertoire of music and musical skills, students are also exposed to and explore many different subject areas. We use music to better our understanding of literacy, mathematics, science, visual art, history, and foreign languages and cultures.

In addition to developing skills in singing and percussion, wind, and folk string instrument playing, students will move on from the Lower School with a strong foundation in music literacy. Students will enter Middle School with the ability to read, write, and perform simple and complex rhythms, as well as simple rhythmic melodies on the treble staff.

We offer an extensive selection of opportunities in the performing arts, including theater, improv, costuming, choral ensemble, instrumental ensembles, as well as after-school theater production opportunities.

Middle School theatre courses allow students to further explore the theatrical arts that were introduced to them in their Lower School experiences. These classes help develop acting technique, movement principles, and introduce the technical aspects of theatre such as lighting and set design.  Students learn about ensemble performance, script and scene analysis, and the importance of peer critique. 

Students in the Upper School can strengthen their skills through a variety of performing arts opportunities. Students can join choir, orchestra, and band ensembles, as well as be a part of a theater production behind the scenes or on the stage. Our Donn Laughlin black box theater has state-of-the-art equipment, including a brand-new sound system. Additionally, students can reserve one of four practice rooms and a recording studio.

Upper School students have many opportunities to further develop their dramatic talents in our Theatre electives. In Beginning and Advanced Theatre courses, students delve into character creation and different approaches and styles of theatre.  Technical theatre classes impart the behind-the-scenes skills necessary for any production, including set, lighting, sound, and costume design as well as stage management and administrative production skills.