Performing Arts

First year drama students at Fenn participate in a variety of games and exercises designed to develop skills in observation, sensory and emotional awareness, pantomime, mime illusions, and improvisation. Working together, students focus on the dual performance skills of speech and movement. They learn basic theater vocabulary, stage directions, and stage movement techniques. Time is also spent learning how to be a positive and polite audience member. Each student will take part in a short performance at the end of the term for the fourth grade audience.

Following a review of basic acting techniques, fifth grade drama students will participate in a short one-act play with a special focus on multicultural theater. Once roles have been assigned, students will personalize their parts through character analysis and design. Students will also take on small technical responsibilities backstage. Students are expected to support each other at all times, both on and backstage. The play, with costumes, make-up, and simple sets, will be presented to the fifth grade at the end of the term.

The sixth grade drama program reviews previously learned skills and introduces students to the words and works of William Shakespeare, known fondly as the Fenn Shakespeare Series. Students learn historical background information about Shakespeare and his time. All students participate in scenes from well-known Shakespeare plays, including Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream, MacBeth, and more! The scripts used are adaptations that allow students to become familiar with authentic Shakespearean language, characters, and plots. The scenes are presented to a sixth grade audience at the end of the semester.

This course offers an exploratory view of multiple forms of theater and an introduction to stagecraft. During the semester, students will learn about the elements of producing a show, including set design, costume design, and lighting and sound design. They then have the opportunity to tackle many of these elements for a scene in which they are cast. Students will analyze and develop their scene characters both individually and with their scene partners. The term will culminate with a ‘Scene Showcase’ in which students will share their complete theatrical scenes with technical elements.

The Upper School program offers opportunities in all aspects of theatre. Building on the foundation acquired in the Lower and Middle School drama programs, the pieces selected and performed in the Upper School are advanced and require artistic commitment, truthful characterization, effective ensemble work, and risk-taking. Actors receive individual attention with regard to acting skills such as character development, emotional expression, physical movement, motivation, vocal delivery, and staging techniques. 

Each course culminates in at least one performance, and some plays are performed for audiences two or three times. Many of the courses require additional time commitments beyond the scheduled class periods and in some cases weekend commitments. 

Theater Tech covers the technical aspects of a theater production, allowing our boys to gain in-depth experience in lighting, sound, set design, and stage managing. Students are expected to learn the history and theory of various effects as well as their practical use. This course is organized so that half of the time boys are involved in 'hands-on' experience while the remainder is conducted in a lecture and discussion setting. Class members may be called upon to assist technically with the Upper School fall play, the Middle School fall play, the Fenn Musical, the Upper School spring comedy, and various Lower School plays.

The Lower School music program includes opportunities for singing, playing, listening, critiquing, and performing. In addition to curricular classes, many Lower School students elect to participate in co-curricular opportunities such as the Treble Chorus, Beginning Band, String Ensemble, and an instrumental lesson program.

In fourth grade, students actively participate in a wide variety of musical experiences. Emphasis is placed on developing proper vocal technique, matching pitch and singing in unison, basic note reading, and keyboard playing. Games promote critical listening and note reading skills. Discussions and listening lessons chosen from the works of classical, popular, and non-Western musicians prepare students to apply basic musical terminology and theory to effectively critique and describe music. Music history components focus on the Baroque and Classical eras and representative composers, and non-western music is also introduced. Students prepare for and participate in a final evening choral performance at the end of the semester, either in December of May.

The fifth-grade music program utilizes a variety of classical, popular, folk, and non-Western music to build upon skills and knowledge acquired in the fourth-grade. Vocal technique, music reading, listening skills, and critique are reinforced. Students sing in two-part harmony. Continued keyboard instruction allows our students to play simple melodies and learn basic chords. Music history elements focus on the Baroque and Romantic eras and representative composers, as well as African and African-American styles. Performance continues to be an important goal of the fifth-grade program. Students participate in an end-of-term evening choral concert in December or May.

Sixth grade music students build upon skills and knowledge acquired in the Lower School program. Composition and music analysis becomes the focus in the Middle School.  Note reading skills and principles of form, unity, contrast, and texture are applied through musical composition. Boys or students create several pieces, both collaboratively and individually, using Sibelius and Garage Band. Students present these original compositions in class and critique one another’s works, applying musical terminology. 

The seventh grade music students study multiple genres of music within historical context. The course primarily focuses on the history of western music from the Middle Ages onward, but some nonwestern genres are included in the curriculum. Garage Band and Sibelius composing programs are utilized to demonstrate an understanding of musical texture, orchestration, harmony, and form. Students create and share individual and collaborative projects, including a harmonization of the famous Pachelbel Canon.

The Upper School music program presents opportunities for composition, instrumental music, dance, and vocal music. Offerings are designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests, abilities, and confidence levels. Admittance into classes is not by audition, but a willingness to take risks and a commitment to improve one’s skills is expected.

Music offerings vary by term, but include Composition, Steel Drums, Dance, Introduction to Guitar, and the winter musical. In addition to the curricular music program, boys may elect to enroll in The Fenn Band, The Fenn Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, String Ensemble, and on-campus lessons in wind band instruments, percussion, and guitar.