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Year 7 - 9 Arts

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Dance

Dance education at Noosa District SHS provides another mode of learning and a means of identifying and developing special interests, needs and talents not emphasised in other educational areas.

The dance program is designed to give students the opportunity to develop their self-expression and increase their imagination and artistic awareness.  Students will study various genres and styles of dance and will have the opportunity to choreograph, perform and appreciate their dance works and that of other choreographers. 

Creative and problem-solving abilities are fostered to communicate personal expression of ideas and feelings through dance. The study of dance, widens a students' understanding of their own culture as well as other cultures and the world at large.

The enjoyment and self-satisfaction that students gain through the study of dance is unique. Students will achieve fulfilment through the physical expression of a creative idea which builds self-confidence and physical ability. Quality dance classes can improve students' self-esteem as well as their mental and physical well-being to enhance their quality of life.

Outline of topics:

Year 9 

Term 1 and 3Term 2 and 4
 Popular dance of the youth culture is explored in this unit.  Students will study the genre of jazz and cheerleading. The exploration of ballroom dance.  Focus is on Latin American dances like the Salsa, Cha Cha Cha and Samba
  1. Popular Dance Performance
  2. Cheerleading Choreography
  3. Elements of Dance Exam
  1. Ballroom Performance
  2. Ballroom Choreography


Skills and awesomeness including excursions/events/trips:

The skills students acquire in a dance class are numerous.  Firstly, students' learn self-motivation, self-confidence and self-fulfilment. The dance class is a safe environment where students can build on their confidence and sense of place.  The community atmosphere that is developed in a dance class is one that the students' cherish. Secondly, students learn tolerance, empathy, and the necessary social skills to work effectively to become a valued team member.  Students have to problem solve with class members to achieve success in the dance class.  Thirdly, students develop their creativity and imagination. Students are encouraged to think 'out of the box' in order to explore personal and social issues through dance. Concentration skills are also established in order to be successful in the dance class.  And lastly, dance heightens awareness of, and develops respect for the body and increases the quality of a person's physical well-being through strength and flexibility technique. Not all students will pursue a career in dance, but the skills they acquire throughout the course are life skills that students will find beneficial in all employment avenues.

Opportunities to perform include:

  • Musical every second year
  • Creative Showcase every second year
  • Parade performances
  • Fusion Festival
  • Harmony Day
  • Celebration of Excellence
  • Excursion to Kindergarten

Career pathways:

Performer, Choreographer, Director, Actor, Model, Event Management, Teacher (school or studio). Dance Therapist, Sports Trainer, Pilates/ Yoga instructor, Outdoor Education Officer, Occupational Health Therapist, Sport and Exercise Science.  

Drama

Drama is a craft that has been developed over more than two thousand years.

It is a dynamic practice that introduces students to a world of wonder and play. It encourages them to continue questioning, exploring and teasing out new ideas and ways of living and thinking.  It is about creating, exploring and responding in the search of ourselves and the meaningful connections with others and the world around us.

Drama is concerned with living, with human behaviour and the human condition. As a learning experience, drama is unique. Most of what we learn in life comes to us second-hand: books, TV, films,newspapers and magazines, or from the things other people tell us.

Drama, however, is firsthand experience of a special kind. Simply by the use of imagination, we can become different people in different situations, sharing experiences we would otherwise never have. Drama allows us to experience what it feels like to be a different person, to perceive the world through someone else’s eyes. For this process to work effectively, the use of imagination must be combined together with a number of techniques, skills, resources and facts. The study of drama is about learning life skills, not just acting skills.

Course Content

Over the course of Year 7 and 8, students will embark upon a journey that will take them places they never imagined going. Students will learn a range of skills including:

  • Building self esteem and confidence
  • Learn to work in teams and how to build trust
  • Develops speaking, thinking, listening and presenting skills
  • Create performances in a range of styles

Students do tasks around creating, presenting and reflecting.
The theme for Year 7 is “Drama is Real” where students will learn basic mime and acting skills techniques. In year 8 the theme is “Clowning Around” where students learn about circus skills and clowning techniques.

Year 9 – One Semester Course

Term 1/3 – Realism Based ActingTerm 2/4 – Collage Theatre

Students develop and sustain different roles and characters for given circumstances and intentions.

 

They perform devised and scripted drama in different forms, styles and performance spaces. They collaborate with others to plan, direct, produce, rehearse and refine performances.

What is Collage drama?  It is an issue based dramatic performance that involves a series of scenes which make a statement about the issue. 

 

The performance is linked in a meaningful and creative way using a variety of dramatic forms.  The purpose of Collage Drama is to inform, educate and as a means of protest to draw attention to the issue.

 

1: Performance of a Scripted Playtext

2: Process Journal:  Self / Peer analysis

 

!: Individual collage script

2: Performance of collage script

 

Skills and awesomeness including excursions/events/trips

  • Shake And Stir Performance (Incursion)
  • Improvisation Skills – Theatre Sports
  • Acting Skills – Voice and Movement
  • School Musical

Special features

Students will get the opportunity to review travelling shows that do presentations at the school. There is the Arts Expo where students present their drama acts to parents and other students.

We have a range of other school activities such as Talent Quests, drama competitions and Orientation Days where they can perform.

Career pathways:

  • Actors
  • Arts Administrators
  • Broadcast Journalists
  • Circus Performers
  • Newspaper Journalists
  • Secondary School Teachers
  • Set Designers
  • Stage Managers
  • Television Presenters
  • Television / Film Producers
  • Writer

Music

Music is everywhere. We hear it in our cars, in coffee shops, on TV, and at home. It is a language that is universal and unique for every known human culture.  In society we use it to learn, remember, feel, celebrate, and connect.

The benefits of Music Education have been proven time and again by decades of research, and they're experienced every day by Australian students who actively engage and participate in music making.

Music participation provides a unique opportunity for literacy preparation. Whether the children are singing, playing, or listening, teachers engage them to listen and hear in new ways which exercises their aural discrimination. Playing instruments and adding movement to the lessons also teaches children about sequential learning which is essential in reading comprehension.

Plato once said that music "is a more potent instrument than any other for education". You will find many teachers of children who would agree with him. Recent research has found that music uses both sides of the brain, a fact that makes it valuable in all areas of development. Music affects the growth of a child's brain academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Outline of topics

Year 7 & 8 

In Year 7 and 8, students learn to identify, analyse and evaluate music across several styles.  They perform excerpts of music from these styles as well as composing a short composition drawing upon their stylistic knowledge learned throughout the semester.

Term 1Term 2
Explore the topics of 'Catchy' and 'Rock' in musicExplore the topics of 'Mood' and 'Groove' in music
Making Portfolio Responding PortfolioMaking Portfolio Responding Portfolio

Year 9 

In Year 9, students continue their study of the foundations of music theory, musical elements, audio-production, musicology, composition and performance skills. They develop knowledge of and use technological devices, instrumental skills and creative thinking to help them perform, compose, interpret and to respond to music across multiple genres throughout the semester. 

Term 1Term 2
Genres, Styles & Music Elements – Performance FocusGenres, Styles & Music Elements – Composition focus
Performance & Musicology TestComposition

Skills, Benefits, Excursions, Opportunities & Events

They develop knowledge of and use technological devices, instrumental skills and creative thinking to help them perform, compose, interpret and to respond to music across multiple genres throughout the semester

Music is academic. For some people, this is the primary reason for providing music lessons to their children. A recent study from the University of California found that music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. Second graders who were given music lessons scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children who received no special instruction. Research indicates that musical training permanently wires a young mind for enhanced performance.

Music is physical. Music can be described as a sport. Learning to sing and keep rhythm develops coordination. The air and wind power necessary to blow a flute, trumpet or saxophone promotes a healthy body.

Music is emotional. Music is an art form. We are emotional beings and every child requires an artistic outlet. Music may be your child's vehicle of expression.

Music is for life. Most people can't play soccer, or football at 70 or 80 years of age but they can sing and they can play piano or some other instrument. Music is a gift you can give your child that will last their entire lives.

The Performing Arts faculty has a range of staging, lighting, audio and projection equipment. Students will learn how to work with amplification, PA's, mics and recording their own songs.

Opportunities to perform include:

  • Year 7 and Year 8 Music Clubs
  • Performances on School Parades
  • Perform at the Cooroy Fusion Festival
  • Perform at the Pomona Show
  • School Musical

A Career in Music

Music graduates work in a vast range of occupations across both the government and private sectors. It has been shown that employers across these sectors appoint music graduates based on their high-level transferable skills, including critical and analytical thinking, creativity and their ability to think 'outside the box'.  Here is a list of career options which is a guide for people wishing to work in music.

  • Administrator
  • Choir Director
  • Composer
  • Disc Jockey
  • Entertainer
  • Instrumentalist
  • Mixer
  • Music Critic
  • Music Publisher
  • Music Sales
  • Music Software Developer
  • Music Teacher
  • Musical Director
  • Musician
  • Performing Artist
  • Preschool Teacher
  • Producer/Director (performing arts)
  • Record Librarian
  • Recreation Officer
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Sound Mixer
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Stage Manager
  • Voice Coach
  • Community Arts Practitioner

​Visual Art

Art learning is important for every human being. Children all over the world draw long before they write, in fact, writing would never be able to develop without first understanding pictures as symbols.  At NDSHS’s Junior Secondary campus there is a focus on teaching visual literacy. To be considered literate in the 21st Century, one needs to be visually literate.  

Course Content

Students at NDSHS’s Junior Secondary Campus begin with observation of the real world: recording, analysis and creating a visual response to their surroundings through Drawing, Printmaking, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, and Mixed Media. Part of the joy of the elective rotations is that you don’t just study Art or Design: you make it. This is true for all of the electives at the Junior Secondary Campus.

Semester 1 and 2 - Wonderland in Oz

Part 1 - Printmaking
Part 2 - Painting
​Part 3 - 3D Work

​Special Features

Each year students from the Junior Secondary Campus enter their artworks into the Noosa Country Show held in the Pomona showgrounds.

In 2014 students from the Junior Secondary Campus won first, second and third prize in both the painting and the drawing categories as well as Best In Show.

Students also have an opportunity to hang their artwork in the school’s library throughout the term.​


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Last reviewed 20 May 2021
Last updated 20 May 2021