Performing Arts
Performing Arts Department
The Performing Arts programme at Swanmead covers both music and dramatic arts and is taught in a specialist performance space. Pupils are taught music throughout and start drama at KS3.
In music, pupils develop composition, performing and listening skills whilst learning about cultural diversity, history and the elements of music. There is a large focus on world music looking at styles from India, South East Asia and Africa.
In Year 5, pupils learn recorder skills, develop singing and explore the elements of music. Year 6 pupils build on these skills and pupils explore harmony and cyclic patterns. In Year 7 pupils develop skills further and create compositions for art exhibitions, explore structure by composing in ternary form and learn about rhythmic cycles used in West African music. Year 8 pupils study reggae and explore techniques for solo performance. During their final term pupils prepare for year 9 and beyond by studying a Baroque Concerto and learn to play it.
The subject encourages pupils to be creative and gives them the opportunity to explore new ways of expressing themselves whilst having fun learning.
Drama is a subject that explores many aspects of performance which also develops pupils' emotional literacy. Pupils develop performance skills by working through themes that can affect their everyday life including bullying and peer pressure.
In Year 7 pupils learn basic drama skills that they will use for creating drama. These include improvisation, freeze frame and thoughts aloud. Pupils explore storytelling techniques, working with script and circus. In Year 8 pupils explore physical aspects of performance and study slapstick and Pantomine. Pupils also have the opportunity to work with Shakespeare creating interpretations of texts relevant to modern audiences.
Extra curricular performance is encouraged and pupils have the opportunity to involve themselves with school productions. Past performances include On Broadway, Bells Ring Out , Into The Woods Jnr. and Joseph.