The Arts

In Years 7 and 8 students will explore their potential in four Arts disciplines – Visual Art, Dance/Craft, Drama and Music. The focus is on doing a taster of each course, learning some basics and using creativity to express themselves as individuals as well as collaboratively. Students study The Arts for two hours per week and have a term in each taster.

Visual Art
All Year 7/8 students at Comet Bay College develop their ability in design, drawing or painting as well as inquiry and presentation skills. Visual Art focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of Visual Art.  Students study the Elements and Principles of Art and Design and basic colour theory.  Students then develop their observational drawing skills and use the subsequent drawings in the design development of a one-colour lino print.  This lino print is then hand-coloured and mounted for display within the College.  Students’ practical work is linked to an investigation of Australian printmakers.

Dance
Dance focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of Dance.  Students learn the importance of warming-up, stretching and cardio fitness.  Students then work together as a class to devise a dance piece inspired by a teacher selected stimulus- this could be an image, a piece of music or a colour.  This piece is then performed in class.  Students also spend time developing their reflective practice and studying music theory through the use of a Dance journal.

Drama
Drama focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of Drama.  Students study the skills of mime, voice and movement.  Students also learn the skills of Theatre Sport.  Students have opportunities to work individually as well as collaboratively to develop Drama pieces for performance to the class.

Music
Music focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of Music.  Students study a variety of musical genres.  Students also study the history of music and the purpose and function of music in society.  Students are exposed to a variety of musical instruments and learn the fundamentals of rhythm, melody, harmony, rhythmic dictation, melodic dictation, musical form, transcribing music and basic music theory.  Students will perform a piece of music from the 1990’s in the present day rock style to the class.  Students will also compose an original piece in the format of a 12-bar blues.

In Years 9 and 10 students can choose to build their skills and techniques across the following disciplines which take two periods per week and run over the course of the year:

VISUAL ART ELECTIVES:

Visual Art
Visual Art continues on from the Year 8 ARTS LINK: Visual Art program.  The course begins with intensive drawing, looking at a wide variety of subject matter and media.  Students then complete a series of projects across several art forms that include painting, printmaking, sculpture and the use of digital technologies.  Students develop technical skills as well as learn how to generate their own original ideas and produce artworks for display within the College.  Students are exposed to artwork from both Australian and international artists and begin to develop their skills in visual analysis and using visual art language.  The aim of the course is to produce students who are confident in their own artistic abilities and are able to generate interesting and original ideas for their artworks.

Craft
Craft focuses on making objects that are both aesthetically pleasing and useful.  Craft focuses on developing specific craft skills, particularly those related to textiles such as resist dye techniques, knitting, weaving, hand-sewing, toy-making, paper making and book binding.  Students also examine the work of Australian and international craft practitioners, using their knowledge of these artisans and their work as inspiration for their own original and innovative craft pieces  Projects challenge and encourage students to create original and innovative designs across a wide variety of media and materials.

Ceramics (clay)
Students will expand upon their knowledge and challenge their skills in the area of ceramics. Hand building, moulding and wheel work are the emphasis of this course. Students will create artworks to a professional finished quality. Various clays will be manipulated such as paper clay, terracotta and porcelain along with glazes, clay transfers and new to the market glaze finishes.

Dance
The Dance program at Comet Bay College is designed to give students the opportunity to experiment, create, appreciate and perform various styles of Dance.  80% of the course is practical focusing on developing students’ skills in a wide range of dance styles including Hip Hop, Contemporary, World, Musical Theatre and Jazz.  20% of the course is theory based where students develop their skills in the outcomes of Arts in Society and Arts responses through journal based activities and assignments.  We have stunning facilities at the College, with a large, purpose built, Performing Arts Centre.  We also have a new Auditorium.  These facilities allow students to explore the full array of performance technologies to enhance their performances with stage lighting, music, set design and data projection.  This gives students an insight in the magic The Arts can create.

Drama
Drama is a dynamic subject which explores a range of styles, techniques and works.  The Drama Program is supported by excellent facilities including a purpose built Performing Arts Centre and new Auditorium. The major focus of Drama courses is on developing improvisation and scripting skills as a foundation for further studies in Drama and Theatre. The emphasis is on practical experience in developing creativity and appreciating theatre through improvisation forms in the history of drama and theatre. The application of skills developed will be used to build group devised plays. This extends to play writing and development of character. The work is to be performed for an audience.

Music
Classroom Music students will learn to read and write music, develop basic chord and rhythm skills on guitar, bass, drums and keyboard, participate in whole class singing activities, take part in song writing, recording and performing music from a variety of genres. In addition to this students have time to form their own groups that they will rehearse and perform with during class time.

Courses run by School Of Instrumental Music (various instruments).
These lessons are run by visiting teachers and require a student to come out of another subject for approximately 30 minutes a week to study their instrument. Teachers often use a rotating timetable to minimise disruption to one subject, but it is expected that students catch up on missed work in their own time.

Vocals
A singing teacher is at the College one morning a week for students wishing to take extra vocal tuition. These classes take place during other class times on a rotating basis.

Comet Bay College Concert Band
Students learning an instrument through the School of Instrumental Music are required to learn music theory by enrolling in either general Music or Music Extension class or making alternative arrangements. Performing and rehearsing in the Comet Bay Concert Band is also a compulsory requirement of School of Instrumental Music students. Ensemble rehearsals are held after school and assessment is based on regular attendance and performance skills.

Media
This course is currently only offered in Year 10 with the view to expand it into Upper and Lower School in 2016. Media is a study of key areas such as film, radio and print media. In this subject students analyse, view, listen to and interact with a range of popular media, develop your own ideas, learn production skills and apply their understandings and skills in creating own productions. The course is very popular but demanding; therefore, selection into it is based on students’ aptitude and achievement in other subjects, particularly English.

All students must undergo a selection process to be placed into these programs. Once a place has been offered a student does not have to re-apply every year. Places may be offered to students of any year level in Lower School. For information regarding all Extension Programs within The Arts and applications please contact the Dean of The Arts at the College.

Visual Art Extension
Visual Art Extension offers students with talent and a keen interest in Visual Art the opportunity to expand and extend their Visual Art skills beyond what is offered in our general pathway.  Applications for Visual Art Extension are taken each year.

Students are required to submit a portfolio of work that demonstrates their abilities in Visual Art.  Students may also be referred to the program by their Visual Art teacher.

Dance Extension
This course provides the students with strength, flexibility and technique that is required for Contemporary and Hip hop. Students will get to take more responsibility choreographing their own works and reflecting on others with guidance from the teacher. Students will be assessed on works that the staff have choreographed in addition to student designed dance pieces.

Students will be able to nominate and audition for this course and will have to undergo a selection process.

Drama Extension
The Drama Extension Program enables students to develop performance and production skills, both independently and collaboratively in a supportive environment with like-minded peers.  Students become skilled at improvising, play building, script writing, performing for a variety of audiences and purposes and reflecting on the performance process.  This is an intensive program which allows students to expand upon their repertoire of skills and explore a greater range of styles and techniques.  Places in this extension program are limited and students may only gain a place via application and audition.

Two pathways are offered to students in Years 11 and 12.  Pathway One (University bound) students can opt to study ATAR subjects in Years 11 and 12.  Pathway Two (TAFE/Alternative University entrance) students can opt to General courses and/or VET Certificates in both Years 11 and 12.

Pathway One – university bound
Dance: ATAR, Visual Art: ATAR, Drama: ATAR

Year 11
ATAR Dance Units 1,2
This course looks at the interrelationship between practical and theoretical aspects of dance. Students use a wide range of creative processes, such as improvisation and choreographic elements and devices to draw on their own physicality as well as interpretation of other artists’ work to create unique dance works.

ATAR Visual Art Units 1,2
This course is designed for the serious art student.  In this course students engage in traditional, modern and contemporary media and techniques within the broad areas of art forms.  Students consider differences arising from cultural diversity, place, gender, class and historical periods as a course of inspiration and stimulus for developing ideas and producing original artworks.

ATAR Drama Units 1,2
In this course students explore techniques of characterisation through different approaches to text interpretation, particularly those based on the work of Stanislavski and others who followed. They extend their knowledge of drama forms and styles and learn about the work of particular practitioners whose approaches to drama encompass presentational and/or non-realist drama.

Year 12
ATAR Dance 2A/B
The focus for this unit is Popular Culture and Australian Dance. Students further develop their knowledge of dance language and examine how the language of movement contributes to the process of conveying concepts. Students solve choreographic tasks to produce new dance works incorporating dance elements and choreographic processes, using technologies and design concepts that reflect current popular trends.

ATAR Drama 3A/B DRA
In this course students perform and produce a published drama work incorporating a detailed study and interpretation of text, subtext, context and style. They learn about different theoretical approaches to representational and presentational or non-realist drama and the ways that drama texts can be reworked for contemporary performance contexts and audiences. They apply conventions and techniques of drama forms and styles in original ways to develop original works that may be either celebratory and/or critical in their perspective. They show understanding of how a range of practical and theoretical approaches manipulates the elements of drama. They work independently or collaboratively to devise and perform an original work.

ATAR Visual Arts 3A/B VAR
This course offers students opportunities to engage with the social, political and cultural purposes of art making and art interpretation. They have flexibility to select learning contexts that reflect their own cultural milieu and promote the production of a unique and cohesive body of work. Broad and innovative inquiry includes the conceptualisation and documentation of experiences within contemporary society. They research issues, events, and ideologies and examine their own beliefs, considering how the visual arts have reflected and shaped society and values.

Pathway Two – non-ATAR
Year 11 General Art
Year 12 1AB Art
Certificate II and III in Music

Year 11 General Visual Art and Year 12 Visual Art 1A/B VAR
Students develop artworks primarily concerned with experiences of the self and observations of the immediate environment.  They discover ways to compile and record their experiences through a range of art activities and projects that promote a fundamental understanding of art language and appreciation of the visual arts in their everyday life. In developing subject matter for artworks, students explore ways to express personal beliefs, opinions and feelings.  They explore a variety of media and materials in a range of art forms when generating and extending ideas.

Year 11 Certificate II in Music
Students work independently and in teams to develop their skills and knowledge in aspects of music industry. The majority of learning is based on practical activities with performance as the focus.

Year 12 Certificate III in Music
This course follows on from Year 11 when students have attained their Certificate II in Music and continues to build students’ performance, music writing and recording skills.