The Arts
Music
The Middle School Music program fosters learning and self-expression through the exploration and creation of music. Interaction, participation and performance are hallmarks of the program. Beginning in the sixth grade students study percussion, keyboard and vocal techniques and begin to learn to read music by sight. The Classical music tradition is emphasized with attention to composers such as Mozart, Stravinsky and Bach. In the following year, students continue to build upon instrumental, vocal and theoretical skills and explore American music with a special emphasis on the American musical as an art form. Eighth graders learn world music traditions with a focus on Latin America and Africa, and compose music for a selected ensemble such as percussion or vocal. An integral component of the curriculum is a visit to an evening performance at one of Princeton’s local venues such as the McCarter Theatre, which enhances the classroom experience.
Three popular and fun extra-curricular performance groups are open to all students. The Instrumental and Rock Band are offered at both the beginning and intermediate/advanced levels, and the Chorus is a vocal group for all levels. Rehearsals are held after school, and many of our students participate in both activities.
Art
The art curriculum is designed to sequentially introduce students to the elements of art and design. While in an environment of exploration and creativity, those fundamentals are incorporated using a variety of media. Art production, the role of art history, art criticism, and aesthetics are presented throughout each middle school art course.
Beginning students use a variety of media for self expression including drawing, writing, collages, painting, and printmaking. Various artists’ works are viewed and discussed, including analysis, and their role and significance in cultural and historical relevance.
Seventh graders utilize the Ceramics Studio with a focus on three dimensional ceramics and sculpture. Students explore a variety of hand-building techniques, creating coil pots, high relief tiles, slab construction vessels, and sculpture. Surface treatment and glazing techniques are presented and incorporated into each project.
As eighth graders, students refine their skills in drawing, painting, and printmaking. They have the opportunity to write about and discuss works by Jacob Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe, Amadeo Modigliani, Henri Rousseau, and others, and to give oral critiques of their own work. As a culminating project, each student creates and submits a piece of art to represent them at the 8th Grade Art Exhibition which is part of the graduation celebration.
Interdisciplinary art activities for all grades are planned with various core classes during the year, and student work is displayed within the middle school. In the greater community, Hun middle schoolers have been recognized in the “Bravo for Art” exhibit in association with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and other area and national competitions, and have the opportunity to participate in frequent contests throughout the year. Students may also participate in the Ceramics Workshop held after school on a weekly basis throughout the year.
Faculty:
John Sabol
Drama
An exciting spring activity, participants in our Drama class encounter a series of theatre “workshop” activities in which they conceive an idea, derive a plot, create a script and produce their own original play. Students create the costumes, set, and advertising for this production, and hold afternoon and evening performances for the Hun Community.
