Performing and Visual Arts
In the Veritas Arts Programs, the prominent objective is to guide students to grasp the reality that God is the first and ultimate Artist as the Maker of heaven and earth. Created in His image, we also possess the God-given capacity for creativity.
The arts are an essential part of classical education. Veritas students are given a vibrant experience within the Fine and Performing Arts program that includes art, music, and theatre appreciation, in addition to studio art, chorus, and drama.
ART
Art is more than simply a special subject or an elective. It is essential to learning and life. It cultivates self-expression, imagination, and creativity, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and builds self-esteem.
At all levels, students are encouraged and challenged to stretch their imagination, observe and find the beauty in the world around them, analyze and discuss the work of both contemporary and historic master artists and movements and to explore a variety of art mediums and techniques.
Consistent with the classical model of learning, students will understand there is a process to a project, including increasing comprehension and application of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Students will explore and plan how they will arrive at the end of the project design using these tools, and finally express and articulate their perceived idea in that end product.
Students who learn about art develop their capacities to weigh meanings and make evaluations. Understanding, appreciating, and creating art can help teach students how to work cooperatively in a group, on their own, and for a predetermined purpose.
The art program varies from year to year, seeking to expose the students to a broad range of techniques and media including drawing (graphite, charcoal, pen and ink), painting (watercolor, tempera, and acrylic), weaving and other fiber arts, clay (hand building and wheel throwing), sculpture and other forms of 3D expression.
MUSIC
Music is a gift that allows us to share in the beauty and creative attributes of God. At Veritas, we recognize and seek to develop that natural and instinctive love for music.
From the very beginning, Grammar school students learn piano, recorder, bells, and other percussion instruments. Students are fully engaged by solfege singing (do, re, mi), rhythm, listening, and movement and perform both on and off-campus.
In Music Appreciation (8th Grade), our class goal by the end of the semester is to have a clearer understanding and appreciation for music’s origins, its effects on generations, and the human mind. Students will study in-depth music terminology, the four major music eras (as well as some in between), a variety of music genres, and cultural music from around the world! Students will be exposed to great composers from each era and learn to identify rifts and impressions from their compositions in today’s music.
In Rhetoric Praise Band, students give back their gifts of music through praise and worship. Class meets twice weekly to rehearse and collaborate for weekly chapel. Students work together to determine who will read scripture, open chapel in prayer, and create a lyric slideshow for chapel presentation. Students will collaborate with the chapel speaker and select a scripture verse and song(s) that pertains to that speaker's message/ weekly theme. Students rehearse 1-2x a week (outside of class time). Over the course of the year, students not only strengthen their musical abilities, but their teamwork and leadership skills, too.
THEATRE
The Veritas Performing Arts Department provides students with an opportunity for musical and vocal instruction, as well as dramatic performance.
In Theatre Veritas, students study and demonstrate numerous outlets of the performing arts. The curriculum focuses primarily on basic theater and musical theater techniques, performance terminology, performance skills, stage etiquette, and production teamwork. As the year progresses, students participate in improvisational activities, scene work, actor one-on-one, choral arrangements, set building and painting, costuming, stage hair and make-up, singing/vocal training, and choreography.
Logic Drama (Logic School Performing Arts) and Rhetoric Drama (Theatre Veritas) classes are uniquely combined for optimal learning experiences. Classes meet both separately and together throughout the week. Students have two major productions each year, the Fall play and the Spring musical. They also sing and perform in numerous annual Veritas events.