7th & 8th Grade Performing Arts Electives

The Performing Arts Elective courses are mixed classes of 7th and 8th grade students that meet four times in the ten-day cycle. They are all scheduled during the same period of the day, so it is only possible to do one per year. Students are not required to take the same elective in both 7th and 8th grade, though students in performing ensemble classes (Band, Strings, Chorus) are strongly encouraged to continue their progress in 8th grade.

All rising 7th and 8th grade students will select their top three elective choices using the sign-up form below. Students should discuss their choices with their families before filling out their top three choices. While we try to accommodate students’ first choice, due to scheduling, physical space and demand, some students may be given their second or third choice. Students should, therefore, take care to select second and third choices that they will be happy with in the event their first choice is not available. Please complete this form by Friday, May 31.

Students will select their top three performing arts elective choices for 2024-2025 by submitting the form below:

Performing Arts Selection Form

View information about each elective course below:

Band

Band is a performance ensemble class for woodwind, brass and concert percussion players. The group rehearses and performs a variety of music written for wind ensemble instruments. The group performs two evening concerts throughout the year (with the Chorus and String Ensemble), as well as several informal performances during school hours. The instruments in the Band include woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, as well as string bass (not electric).

REQUIREMENTS
Students must have at least one year of experience on their instrument to join the Band. Students looking to switch to a new instrument must have approval from the director before switching.

For any questions specifically about the Band, please contact Cornelius Young.

Chorus (Obezag Singers)

The Obezag Singers is a performance ensemble class for anyone who loves to sing. The chorus rehearses and performs a variety of music, spanning many different styles, eras, languages, and cultures. They perform two evening concerts throughout the year (with the Percussion, Band and String Ensembles), as well as several informal performances during school hours. Vocal technique, sight singing and aural training are focuses of study alongside learning performance pieces.

REQUIREMENTS
There are no requirements for joining the Obezag Singers. All are welcome regardless of experience.

For any questions specifically about the Obezag Singers, please contact Charles Miller

Dance

The 7th and 8th Grade Dance Ensemble is designed to teach student dancers of all ability levels the fundamentals of a variety of dance forms. The course will build upon the movement foundations that students have learned through the Orff-Schulwerk program, and then allow them to hone their abilities further in solo, partnered and social dances. Students in the course must wear clothes that allow them to move freely and should be prepared to engage in physical activity in every class session. Students will also be expected to perform with the other Performing Arts ensembles at concerts and assemblies throughout the course of the year.

REQUIREMENTS
There are no requirements for joining the Dance Ensemble class. All are welcome regardless of experience.

For any questions specifically about the Dance Ensemble, please contact the Nick Olson.

Percussion Ensemble

The Percussion Ensemble is a performing ensemble for anyone who enjoys playing percussion instruments. The ensemble performs music from across the world at two evening concerts throughout the year (with the Band, Chorus and String Ensembles), as well as several informal performances during school hours. Percussion Ensemble will feel very familiar to the music classes students have taken earlier in their time at Key, with the exceptions that there are no recorder or movement/dance components to the class—just percussion! Students will play pieces on pitched mallet instruments (xylophones, etc.), timpani and other world percussion instruments.

REQUIREMENTS
There are no requirements for joining the Percussion Ensemble class. All are welcome regardless of experience.

For any questions specifically about the Percussion Ensemble, please contact the Garnet Mowatt or Rachel Kershner

String Ensemble

String Ensemble is a performance ensemble class for any string instrument players. The group rehearses and performs a variety of music written for string ensembles. They perform two evening concerts throughout the year (with the Percussion, Band and Chorus Ensemble), as well as several informal performances during school hours. The instruments in the String Ensemble include violin, viola, cello, and string bass.

REQUIREMENTS
Students must have at least one year of experience on their instrument to join the String Ensemble. Students looking to switch to a new instrument must have approval from the director before switching

STRINGS:
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

Click on any instrument above for more information about that instrument! For any questions specifically about the String Ensemble, please contact David Mueller.

Theater

The Theater elective will introduce students to a variety of different skills and disciplines related to the production of scripted content. Students in the course will learn about the fundamentals of script development, design aesthetics as a means of telling a story, acting and performance skills, and finally the basics of directing. The elective will be geared toward the creation of a selection of short, stage plays in the winter and spring, and is “performance-optional” for students who enroll. Though every student in the elective will contribute to the production of these plays, not every student needs to appear as a performer on stage, as the goal of the elective is to introduce students to the wide array of behind-the-scenes roles that are vital to successful theatrical productions.

NOTE: This class is not affiliated with the after-school Middle School Spring Play, which is an extracurricular activity that is open to all students in 5th-8th grade.

REQUIREMENTS
There are no requirements for joining the Theater elective. All are welcome regardless of experience.

For any questions specifically about Theater, please contact Nick Olson.