Creative arts is mandatory for students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
In creative arts, students discover a variety of art forms through a study of dance, drama, music and visual arts where they learn to appreciate, compose, listen, make and perform.
Each art form has its own unique knowledge and skills, elements or concepts as well as a capacity to inspire and enrich lives.
Students engage in learning experiences in visual arts, music, drama and dance as part of their natural growth and development. However, learning in each of the artforms does not occur automatically. Regular learning experiences that are thoughtfully planned, sequenced and related are essential for developing students’ skills and knowledge and understanding within the artforms. They also contribute to the development of the whole child.
Visual arts, music, drama and dance offer students and people of all ages opportunities for personal expression, enjoyment, creative action, imagination, emotional response, aesthetic pleasure and the creation of shared meanings.
Music
Our students at SSPS are very fortunate to have a specialist music teacher who passes on his extensive knowledge in a fun and engaging way. Students learn a range of skills from rhythm to playing stringed instruments to note taking. ALL students K-6 participate in a music program for one hour a week.
In Music, students develop knowledge, skills and understanding in performing music of different styles and from different times and cultures by singing, playing and moving, and in organising sound into musical compositions using musical concepts. They also develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in listening to and discussing their own music and that of others.
Recorder Group
Students do not need any previous musical ability to learn the recorder. There are three groups that cater for students' ability levels. Students will initially learn to play our of the Black Belt Recorder books, and then move into the Suzuki Method for Recorder. While in the recorder group, students will have weekly group lessons, participate in group lessons, perform at school events and perform at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Festival of Instrumental Music and Suzuki Graduations.
Strings Program
At Strathfield South Public School students have the opportunity to be part of our fabulous strings program. Children can learn to play Violin, Viola, Cello or Double Bass. We are currently offering a scholarship to students who want to learn the Double Bass.
Students begin in the Beginner Strings program - this is a small group lesson during the school day. Once students have gained experience on their chosen instrument they are invited to join the Junior Strings which focuses on reading music and playing in an ensemble. Once students are ready they are invited to join the Senior Strings, this ensemble focuses on more challenging music and students are expected to be able to read music, play their part (in a section) that is different to other parts. The focus on Senior Strings is to develop ensemble skills and performing for an audience. Our Chamber Strings ensemble is our flagship ensemble, this group is by invitation only and has a maximum of 14 students. These students take part in the Festival of Instrumental Music at the Opera House each year.
Children in the Senior Strings and Chamber Strings can also join our SSPS Symphony Orchestra (combined with students from the band and recorder groups) as well as attending our annual Combined Schools Music Camp.
Visual Arts
In Visual Arts, students develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in making artworks informed by their investigations of the world as subject matter, use of expressive forms, and consideration of the audience for their works. They also develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in appreciating their own artworks and those of others, recognising some relationships between artists, artworks, audiences and how the world is interpreted.
Drama
In Drama, students develop knowledge, skills and understanding in making drama collaboratively by taking on roles and creating imagined situations shaped by the elements of drama, and in performing drama by actively engaging in drama forms. They also develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in appreciating their own dramatic works and those of others.
Dance
In Dance, students develop knowledge, skills and understanding in composing their own dances using the elements and contexts of dance and in performing their own dances and the dances of others from different times and cultures. They also develop knowledge, skills and understanding in appreciating their own dances and those of others.
