June 2017

 

File_001 (9)

It has been a colorful and exciting year in our Performing Arts classes.  We have covered many subjects that blended the academic curriculum with singing, dancing, theatrical techniques and using instruments in class.

FullSizeRender (6)

DSC_0333

Middle school students were guided through a deep understanding of voice and singing, which culminated in their performance of Macbeth.

Lower elementary students studied Africa with an emphasis on exploring Egyptian dance, the story of “Tomb of Osiris” and recreating the story as archaeologists. They also found themselves playing “Taiko-like” drums when they studied Asia and immersed themselves in learning about Indian festivals and recreating Bollywood dance and music.  

download (3)File_002 (7)File_003 (4)

Primary students experienced the wonders of performing “December Gifts” for their parents during the winter time, and enjoyed playing an assortment of instruments and learning how to put on mini-plays during their weekly classes.

File_000 (1)

image9File_000

I was pleased with the participation and growth of all our students over the year, and I was especially moved by the dedication and talent of the Improvisation elective students.  This was a small group of upper elementary and middle school students who absorbed the key elements of improvisation with ease and enthusiasm.

FullSizeRender (1)

Each of these students have used the role playing techniques and team building exercises in class to help deepen their own self awareness and their willingness to work spontaneously with others.  It was truly a growth experience that was fun and helpful for building student’s self confidence.

20160909_113826

Thank you for the amazing time that I have spent with you over the past three years. I hope that the music, dance and theatrical experiences that we have shared together will always live in your hearts and inspire you to make a difference in the world.

download

 

 

 

 

April 2017

DSC_0326

Upper Elementary students have been studying the Middle Ages and learning about the people who shaped European history from the Fall of Rome in the fifth century through the Renaissance period.  Mirroring this focus, Ms. Dian taught her students to read and perform Medieval Scripts in the “Round” (audience members sit all around the performers) including a song called “Medieval Times.”  

knight

Part of her curriculum included exploring the lore and history of the Knights of the Round Table.  “The Knights of the Round Table were characters in the legends about King Arthur. They were the best knights in King Arthur’s kingdom and lived in King Arthur’s castle, Camelot.  They were called the Knights of the Round Table because of a special table that was in Camelot, that was round instead of rectangular. This meant that everyone who sat around it was seen as trustworthy and equal.”*

DSC_0318

DSC_0340

Ms. Dian and her students created their own Knights of the Round Table, each student getting a chance to create their own knightly names.

DSC_0339

DSC_0337

With summer peeking around the corner, what better time to learn the olde Medieval English song called “Summer Is A Cumen-In?”  Written in Medieval English, the song describes the beginning of summer.   

DSC_0333DSC_0332

The students not only learned how to sing in Medieval English, they also performed the song in the round (singing in groups at different points of the song).  Once the song was learned, instruments were added including glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones, and a variety of rhythm instruments.

DSC_0341

DSC_0320

Ms. Dian commented that “it was a challenge to get our mouths around the words and then to learn the melody/rhythm, and it definitely brought a few smiles to the class. I was proud of them all, as this isn’t an everyday language to learn and they took it on with gusto.”

DSC_0319

*Wickipedia

March 2017

download (3)

Taiko drums date back as early as 588 CE originating in South China, and eventually making their way to Korea and finally to Japan.

File_003 (4)

Ms. Dian is working with lower elementary students in teaching them the historical importance of taiko drums for early Asian cultures by the use of Japanese storytelling and learning how to play the same methods and rhythms as the Japanese did.

File_000 (6)

Some accounts began in the mythical realm where drummers were said to drum so ferociously that the men were able to scare away the evil forces that wanted to take over their village.  Other uses for the taiko drums were for religious ceremonies and theatrical accompaniment.  

File_000 (9)

“According to the war chronicle Gunji Yoshū, nine sets of five beats would summon an ally to battle, while nine sets of three beats, sped up three or four times, was the call to advance and pursue an enemy.”*

File_004 (5)

Although in our class today students used plastic buckets turned upside down with mallets/rhythm sticks as their beaters, and not actual taiko drums, the effect was dramatic.

File_001 (7)

On the whiteboard at the head of class, Ms. Dian had written the Japanese words along with the rhythm pattern that formed the chant for beating the drums in rhythm.  Students seemed to internalize the chant as they played clearly and with conviction.  

File_002 (5)

The ending beat was especially poignant as they hit the drums and chanted a guttural “Hoi.”  Ms. Dian also pointed out that silence is as important as loud drumming to have an effect on the audience.

File_003 (5)

It was challenging for all of the students to end right on time.  A couple of times they were successful, and it really had a strong impact upon the students and their teachers.

File_002 (7)

“Little Mermaid” update:

download (2)

The upcoming musical, “The Little Mermaid,” is starting to take shape as students rehearse their parts and become more familiar with the script. Ms. Brittany, Ms. Dian, Mr. Alex, Ms. Melissa and Ms. Sarah are looking forward to the performance scheduled for Tuesday, March 4th and Wednesday, March 5th.

 

 

main-image-shows-other-presenters-macbeth-media-box-image-1-image

Middle School students have been absorbed in reading William Shakespeare’s “ Macbeth” in their literature class with Ms. Arlene.  A complicated story of ambition gone wrong, “Macbeth” begins when the brave Scottish general falls under the spell of three witches who prophesy his rise in power.

IMG_1789

After feeling the pull of power and being goaded on by his equally corrupt wife, Macbeth’s moral compass begins to dull and he enters into a juggernaut of ambition, murder, madness and death.

IMG_1797

MACB-PL-200200

Inspired by this, middle school students are creating a performance this March called “Macbeth, The Musical Comedy” which is a lighthearted, musical play based upon Shakespeare’s Tragedy. Ms. Arlene and Ms. Erica are collaborating with Ms Dian to create this fun performance.  

IMG_1798

In Performing Arts class, the emphasis is upon the songs, vocal techniques and exercises, and how the students portray their songs as their characters.  It has been really enlightening for Ms. Dian working with the students.

IMG_1749

She looked at the very basics of how they feel about singing and found that some students were open and willing to jump in, while others needed some time to feel more comfortable.

IMG_1797

IMG_1743

As the process unfolded, Ms. Dian impressed upon all of her students that it’s not always about having a technical singing voice, but to work on acting the songs, understanding their characters, and letting their voice come from this place of empathy.

IMG_1746

Once this groundwork was established, students looked at their characters more closely and explored how they felt in each of their songs (In some cases line by line) and we labelled the emotion. This seems to have helped them express themselves.

IMG_1794

IMG_1786

Ms. Dian is so proud of the transformation the students are having in their rehearsals.  They are open to direction, seem more confident, and are having fun.

IMG_1795

“Macbeth The Musical Comedy” will be performed by the Middle School students for their parents during the month of March.

January 2017

File_001 (9)

Upper Elementary students are diving deep into Japanese culture by learning about early 17th century Kabuki theater.  Ms. Dian began working with the students to bring to life the traditional and quirky roles early Japanese artists used in this uniquely Asian theater.

File_008 (6)

When it first surfaced in the early 1600’s, women were the only actors in the performance, playing both male and female roles.  Then by the mid 1700’s, men took over at the exclusion of women and were the ones allowed to perform Kabuki theater.  

File_007 (8)

In today’s version of Kabuki, “Nearly every full-length play occupies five acts. The first corresponds to jo, an auspicious and slow opening which introduces the audience to the characters and the plot.

File_000 (3)

The next three acts correspond to ha, speeding events up, culminating almost always in a great moment of drama or tragedy in the third act and possibly a battle in the second and/or fourth acts.

File_004 (9)

The final act, corresponding to kyu, is almost always short, providing a quick and satisfying conclusion.”*

File_007 (7)

Not only are the students learning about this art form, but Ms. Dian has asked her students to pick a favorite fictional character of their own and overlay the features of a Kabuki actor onto their fictional character.

File_006 (9)

 For instance, some of the students chose “Winnie the Pooh” or “Pikachu” as their choice and they need to extrapolate the main dramatic and moving characteristics of their character, and act it out using the Kabuki theater framework for their performance.  

File_000 (1)

A theater term the students are learning is called a “mie” which is a methodical, slowly moving and dramatic pose.  Learning about the past, and then pulling the salient features of traditional theater forward into current day applications, is a favorite for Ms. Dian as she guides her students in the depths of what performance arts offers.

File_003 (8)

File_006 (8)

In addition, to celebrate Chinese New Year, the students are learning basic Mandarin through a simple movement exercise – they are taught 4 colors – red, blue, green and yellow in Mandarin.  These color hula hoops are placed in the 4 corners of the room.  When the color is called (in Mandarin) they move to the corresponding corner – it was a lot of fun and a great way to experience another language. They will also be learning the traditional Chinese Song “Gong Xi Fa Cai” set to Orff instruments.

File_002 (7)

“Little Mermaid” UPDATE

The 2017 FMS production of the “Little Mermaid” has been fully cast with students, and rehearsals have begun.  Ms. Brittany (E6), Ms. Dian, and Mr. Alex (Ms. Marian’s son)  are directing the production. Ms. Melissa (E4) will be stage managing the production, and Ms. Sarah(E6) is in charge of costumes. Stay tuned for updates as this magical production takes shape.  

File_003 (9)

*Wikipedia