The Arts

The Arts Department has a one-credit requirement for all students entering in the ninth grade. Entering tenth and eleventh graders must earn one-half credit. All ninth graders, except those in Choir or Orchestra, must take Introduction to the Arts. Another one-half credit is required for graduation.

Department Philosophy

The Arts Department instills in students a lifelong commitment to the creative arts and the world of imagination. Through a common core of arts in the curriculum, extracurricular opportunities for developing individual talents, and a consistent exposure to the rich cultural resources of the nation’s capital, students work toward a comprehensive understanding and appreciation for all the arts, and the ability to communicate proficiently in at least one art form. Students who wish to focus their talents and energies toward serious training in the arts over four years are able to prepare for an arts major or studies at the college level. Knowing and understanding the arts, through active participation and experience, are vital to the development of students' minds and values—inseparable from the rest of their Episcopal education.

Objectives

All graduates should:

  1. Be able to discuss arts disciplines using their knowledge of appropriate concepts and vocabulary
  2. Approach proficiency in at least one art form, including the ability to problem- solve through reason and creativity
  3. Be able to analyze works of art through perceptual discovery and historical/cultural placement
  4. Be aware of the interdisciplinary connections between the arts disciplines, including shared knowledge and common skills