Fine Arts Institute Handbook

FINE ARTS INSTITUTE

www.westislandcollege.ab.ca

7410 Blackfoot Trail SE Calgary, AB

West Island College Calgary

@WICYYC

Tel: 403.255.5300

West Island College Calgary

@WICYYC

2018 - 2019

FINE ARTS INSTITUTE Purpose

To engage students in comprehensive, articulated arts education experiences that provide students the impetus to develop a life-long appreciation for, participation in and patronage of the Fine Arts.

Promise

The Fine Arts Institute allows students to further cultivate the knowledge and skills necessary to meaningfully engage with the arts, via direct participation and through viewing and listening.

Premise of Curriculum •

Challenge students with relevant, innovative, fine art focused content

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Provide students with opportunities to interact with experts in a variety of fine arts professions

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Empower students with real world experiences; the Certificate may be used as a valuable portfolio piece to include in résumés and post-secondary applications

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Provide students with opportunities for mentoring, collaboration and networking

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Assist with effective communication skills, both oral and written Focus students’ area of interest within the fine arts Broaden students’ horizons and contribute to their enjoyment of exploration of new fields of interest

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Need The Fine Arts embrace music, art and drama without obscuring their uniqueness.

Each has a body of content, partly derived from tradition and partly developed from the insights and interests of those involved. Each has its own mode of expression and makes its own contribution to society, necessitating the inclusion of the arts as separate subject areas in the school program. There are fundamental principles that apply to all three. Specifically, the student is involved as a creator, a performer, a historian, a critic, and a consumer. Throughout the grades, an articulated fine arts program should enhance the depth and breadth of expression and intuitive response. The maturing student learns to appreciate, to understand, to create and to critique with discrimination products of the mind, the voice, the hand and the body (Alberta Fine Arts Curriculum). Fine arts students imagine, create, and reflect. They are developing both the verbal and nonverbal skills necessary for enhancing problem-solving and high-order thinking skills.

Program Overview Students may start participating in the program in Grade 7 and will be required to satisfy a number of criteria in order to be eligible for the West Island College Fine Arts Institute Certificate. The current program consists of four modules: Module A: Fine Arts Courses Module B: Fine Arts and Leadership Experience Module C: Fine Arts Clubs and Activities Module D: Enrichment Experiences

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Module A: WIC Fine Arts Institute Courses There are 18 courses offered to students from Grade 8 to Grade 12. Students will be required to complete any 6 of the courses offered in order to be eligible for the Fine Arts Institute Certificate; one of these courses must be a 30-level or AP course. Students must further demonstrate emergent skills and practices by taking on leadership roles within the Faculty of Fine Arts. Descriptors of the fine arts courses offered are provided below.

Theatre Arts Drama 7-9 Students will establish and build upon their foundational knowledge of voice, movement, acting, improv, and theatre studies. It is not mandatory; however, Drama 9 is a recommended course for students wanting to take drama at the senior high level.

Drama 10 Creativity and collaboration are the cornerstones of this course. Professional guest artist workshops and field trips to see live theatre enrich our community and pave the way for the future artists. Spontaneous acting is explored in addition to planned improvisation. Character development and creation is practiced through physicality and half-mask. Delving into the roots of Western Theatre, students will study ancient text and create their own Greek Theatre.

Using contemporary theatre scripts students will refine their acting skills learning basic Stanislavski method. Through investigation, research, and experimentation students will create and devise their own theatre performances.

Drama 20 Building on foundational skills learned in Drama 10, artists in Drama 20 will further push personal process and take risks during performance. Roots of physical comedy is explored through the modality of clown. Speech and text from Shakespeare will be studied and remixed to create a contemporary performance. Students will learn the art form of playwrighting by creating scenes for the Drama 10 class to perform. In addition to viewing live theatre and collaborating with guest artists, students will experiment with contemporary performance creation and site-specific theatre creation.

Drama 30 Furthering their artistic expression, students in Drama 30 will elevate their personal practices and prepare themselves for high-level performances. Drama 30 hinges on mentorship and forging important professional relationships with

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artists. Drama 30 students are leaders in the program and community, paving the way for other emerging artists. Poetry and movement performances, studying and performing Contemporary Canadian Theatre, and auditioning and acting on camera are key tenets of this course. The course culminates with designing and directing a 15-minute scene for the Drama 30 Directing Showcase.

Advanced Acting & Touring Students will only be admitted to the following two classes through a successful audition and are then expected to commit to after school rehearsals and preparation time. Students will explore theatre through a variety of techniques based on a professional theatre model and depending on the style of the play we are producing at the time. Students will learn about ensemble work, theatre etiquette, creative process, the importance of focus and commitment in rehearsal and performance, and will be expected to contribute to the building of the theatre community at WIC.

Advanced Acting & Touring 15/25/35 Students enrolled in Advanced Acting will be immersed in an intensive actor program that centres around the production of a play. The course culminates with live theatre performances for their peers and community.

Technical Theatre 15/25/35 Students in Technical Theatre will be immersed in an intensive technician training program that centres around the production of a play. Students will participate in executing design and operations of a live theatre performance in front of their peers and community.

Visual Arts Art 7-9 Art education at the junior high level covers a variety of media and techniques. It is a sequential developmental course that aims to expose students to the ways in which they can think and behave as artists.

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Art 10 Art 10 builds upon the skills and knowledge that students gained in Art 9 and begins the exploration of developing a personal style. Students will explore various ways of representing ideas through the use of imagery and will gain a deeper connection to the critique process (which is introduced in Art 9). A variety of media is introduced and exploration and risk-taking is encouraged.

Students will build upon their understanding of the elements and principles of art and will be exposed to an introductory level of art history.

Art 20 Art 20 is a building course that allows for more in-depth exploration of a variety of mediums (both two and three dimensional) and encourages the student to make deep connections with the visual arts. The critique process is a part of understanding personal and historical work, and students are encouraged to develop a personal style. Art history is included in project work and the student is required to talk about his/her own work and the processes that took place to create it.

Art 30 Art 30 is an exploratory course that encourages the student to gain confidence in his/her personal style and ability to talk about art in many forms. Projects encompass both two- and three-dimensional media and also relate to art history.

Students will research and present their work to their peers and gain confidence in analyzing historical, contemporary and their own work. Gallery visits and exposure to art in today’s modern society are included in Art 30.

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Music Arts Band 7, 8, 9, 10, 20 and 30 These courses are a systematic development of musical skills, knowledge and perception. The student is involved as a creator, a performer, a historian, a critic and a consumer. Throughout the levels, WIC’s articulated fine arts program enhances the depth and breadth of expression and intuitive response. The maturing student learns to appreciate, to understand, to create and to criticize with discrimination the products of the musical experience. The WIC Instrumental Music Program is designed as a sequential and developmental approach to musical instruction. Each level grows from those experiences previously presented.

The sense of meaning in music is developed by the student as:

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Performer: Performance is an active process, involving the development and application of musical skills, knowledge and perception;

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Listener, Evaluator, Consumer, and Historian: These experiences develop an understanding of music and musicians of the past and present;

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Composer: The organization of the elements of music into an intrinsically satisfying composition generates aesthetic creativity and perception.

AP Music The AP High School Music Theory course is a rigorous, college-level class that corresponds to one or two semesters of a typical introductory college music theory course that covers topics such as musicianship, theory, musical materials, and procedures.

Module B: Fine Arts & Leadership Experience Michael Fullan identifies a number of global competencies for students in Deep learning: Engage the World Change the World. The focus on the 6 C’s – character, citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking is a movement away from set knowledge to the skills of entrepreneurship, creativity, and problem-solving, suggesting a new set of competencies is necessary to thrive in this accelerating world (Fullan, 2017, p. 16-17). Deep learning work has students tackling problems relevant to their life circumstances and immunizes and protects against social and emotional difficulties, thus building positive mental health and resilience (Fullan 2017, p.22). Engaging students in authentic tasks that engage them deeply while providing meaningful ways to learn critical numeracy and literacy skills (Fullan, 2017, p. 24).

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There are a number of options for students to gain authentic fine arts experiences here at West Island College. Students will commit to fine arts experiences where they are involved in preparation, planning, implementations, and/or reflection. These experiences are highly personal, and students are expected to thoughtfully reflect on where and how they will participate.

In order to achieve the Fine Arts Institute Certificate, students must complete any 10 of the following criteria provided in any 3 of the sections below, 1 of the 3 must be a leadership opportunity.

Section 1: Interaction with Fine Arts Community Students will benefit from these fine art leadership opportunities by gaining:

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Career exploration and interaction with fine arts professionals through workshops, seminars, and off-site visits to local establishments.

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Observational internship – students will see first-hand how people in the fine arts community interact.

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Networking – students connect with people in the fine arts community with similar interests.

Section 2: Participation in Leadership Opportunities Students may choose to engage in a number of leadership camps or activities.

There are various leadership programs that would meet the requirement for the Fine Arts Institute Certificate. Student participation in WIC leadership roles such as WICAA, Student Council, Fine Arts Council, and Prefect Board may also be recognized as leadership experience.

Fine Arts leadership opportunities may also include Student Section Leader in concert and/or Symphonic Band, Concert Band and Symphonic Band student

Drama Production “The Outsiders” 8

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director, head of musical equipment moving, band librarian, and band peer tutor, student ambassadors for Fine Arts Focus Friday sessions or Open House. Other leadership experiences gained outside of the College may be recognized here, but it would be at the discretion of the Fine Arts Panel.

Section 3: Real-World Learning Experiences Senior High Band Trip The purpose of the Senior Band Trip is to provide student musicians an opportunity to work with high caliber musicians and music directors. It also provides students with an opportunity to experience preparing and performing for a variety of audiences. Students engage in experiences that are simulated as professionals.

Calgary High School Drama Festival The Calgary High School Drama Festival was founded in 1962 by Calgary’s high school drama teachers. Students attending the festival create and showcase work for adjudication, as well as participate in professional facilitated theatre workshops.

WIC Fine Arts Cabaret The WIC Fine Arts Cabaret is an annual interdisciplinary evening showcasing all areas of The Fine Arts Department. The evening is a highly curated event where faculty, students and parents can come together to celebrate the extraordinary visual, musical, and dramatic art that is created throughout the year.

WIC Talent Show The WIC Talent Show is an annual event where students are able to perform in front of their peers and teachers. Students who complete a successful audition are able to perform in the talent show in a variety of modalities – whether it be dance, music, theatre, or visual arts.

Module C: Fine Arts Clubs & Activities Students may participate in a variety of fine arts clubs and activities offered at the College. The students will decide which activity they would like to work on at their own discretion and will keep track of their own participation. In order to receive the Fine Arts Institute Certificate, students must receive credit for any 4 of the following fine arts opportunities that are offered, and a minimum of membership in 1 club per each year in senior high school.

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WIC Fine Arts Council (Grades 7 to 12) An executive style club that allows students to become engaged in the Fine Arts Department and provide leadership to their peers. Fine Arts Executive members will be elected annually and will provide governance to the club. Some areas of Fine Arts Executive Club membership are promoting Fine Arts events, speaking at assemblies, interacting cross-circularly with other clubs and executives, and planning fine arts events.

Visual Arts Club (Grades 7 to 12) Visual Arts Club is for all grade levels that would like to be involved in all things creative at WIC. Activities include creating individual visual art pieces, creating and maintaining displays and gallery spaces within the school, supporting our fellow fine arts peers in their dramatic and musical productions, and learning and talking about modern and contemporary art in our communities.

Drama Club (Grades 7 to 12) Students who either participate in the Fall or Spring Production or who attend 4 drama-based Focus Friday workshops qualify for Drama Club credit. This allows for deeper connection with the department of drama as well as a great resource for artists looking to broaden their personal practices.

Choir Club (Grades 7 to 12) A performance-based club where students develop their vocal skills.

Beginner/Jr./Sr. Jazz Band (Grades 7 to 12) A performance-based club where students develop their skills in jazz and jazz rock music. Students perform at the two major school concerts.

Technical Theatre Club (Grades 7 to 12) Students who participate in the Technical Theatre side of the Fall or Spring Production qualify for club credit. Students will gain real world experience by actively participating in a rehearsal and show process.

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Student Lead Film Festival (Grades 9 to 12) A similar model to the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), “WIC Flick Festival” is a film festival run by students for students. Participants enter original works to be judged by a panel and successful entries will be screened by the school community.

Student Lead Music Festival (Grades 9 to 12) Students will work as production managers and performers in designing a solo and small ensemble festival involving students from a variety of schools by invitation.

WIC Improv Club (Grades 9 to 12) Come work on your spontaneous acting skills in a supportive and fun group setting! We will explore games, scene work, Theatresports and principals of comedy.

Senior Band Workshops/Clinicians (Grades 10 to 12) Students will be instructed by and interact with professional musicians in a Master Class setting.

Module D: Enrichment Experiences Students may choose to participate in a variety of intensive fine arts experiences.

Debate Camp Canada Debate Camp aims to empower students with the skills of effective communication and teamwork through the avenues of drama, speech, and debate. The goal of our program is to create informed and articulate global citizens in a fun and exciting learning environment.

Grade 8 Band Camp Grade 8 Band Camp provides an opportunity to focus entirely on music and being part of the “musical team”; serves as motivation to “refresh” and “revive” skills after the summer and learn new skills in a fast-paced, music-focused environment; to promote teamwork, leadership skills and build new friendships in an exciting outdoor setting.

Artstrek Summer Drama Program An intensive theatre training camp held annually during July at Red Deer College.

Professional artists and educators from across Alberta lead students in sessions from voice, movement, acting, and a variety of other areas. “At Artstrek, our focus is on the learning, exploration, and process of theatre that breathes life into the rehearsal of lines and blocking of scenes.”

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