Search
Our Arts Program
-
Visual Arts
The St . Paul art program is a comprehensive art experience. Students study art history, artists, the element s of art, and the principles of design. They experience a multitude of processes, technique s, and mediums. Our students experience both two-dimensional and three- dimensional art forms.
In grades K-4, students learn about many artists, the characteristics of their artworks and the processes used to create them. Our student’s art experience includes different papers, paint, clay, wire, oil pastels, fabric, and yarn. The exploration of processes and techniques include collage, sculpture, printmaking, mixing and blending of pastels and paint, painting and perspective drawing.
In grades 5-8, students continue their art experience with further practice of process and technique as well as enrich their knowledge through the exposure to art history, cultural significance, and current relevance of art and artists.
Music
The St. Paul music program focuses on learning through experience. Students are active participants in the learning of concepts and skills. Our students learn from the abstract to concrete and back to abstract for the deepest level of learning.
In grades K-3, students experience music via the Kodaly methodology. This methodology prepares students through an experiential approach moving from the abstract to the concrete. Basic skills and concepts of music are experienced. This lays the foundation for further study and experience in the upper-grade levels.
In grades 4-8, students solidify their understanding of skills and concepts in a more concrete fashion. They get the opportunity to expand on the concepts they have learned and use those to do grade-level performances. Typical performances in the upper grades are class musicals, concerts, and talent shows. In addition, the students offer up their musical gifts to participate in religious services.
Students who choose to participate in band or orchestra in grades 5-8 have the opportunity to apply the skills and concepts learned in all the levels of general music to the playing of an instrument. This takes the concrete concepts and moves to the abstract again. These students typically perform two to four times a year on their instruments. The students are also able to participate in all the specific grade level performances with the general music students.