Visual & Performing Arts
Studio Art
This course provides an opportunity for experimentation, expression, and exploration of the elements and principles of design. Using a variety of materials, students organize, develop artistic ideas, and refine their art skills. Trips to museums, audio-visual presentations, and class discussions help the students discover their own style and sources of inspiration. Students explore drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and sculpture as they begin to develop their art portfolio.
Drawing & Painting
We offer beginning and advanced drawing and painting courses for those who want to explore the subject and those who are serious about building an art portfolio. Through observation, critique, and discussion, students identify and interpret art and how it can influence and reflect the world around them. The work of artists from different art periods will serve as a reference for each project assigned. Students experiment with materials and techniques to develop greater self-awareness and artistic confidence.
Photography 1-3
We offer three levels of photography courses. Students learn how to use Adobe Photoshop to alter and enhance their photography. Students learn camera operation, lighting concepts, composition, and an emphasis is placed on the creative process. Students explore how digital photography is an effective form of communication used by photographers, artists, and designers today. Through visual aids and discussions, students will gain familiarity with the critique process. Assignments will demonstrate mastery of technical skills and individual creative expression.
Drama 1-4
Drama 1-4 includes instruction in acting, stage movement, theatre technology, theatre history, as well as scene writing and play-building. Students explore concepts spanning the definition of theatre and character development through higher-level constructs such as improvisation and body and voice control. Class time is spent in a variety of activities, including discussions, dramatic writing workshops, small group analysis, and interpretation, improvisation, viewing of film and theatrical productions, scene work, the auditioning process, and rehearsal work. Drama students will stage several performances throughout the year, and additional outside-of-class rehearsal time is required for performance participation.
Jazz Band 1-4
Jazz Band is for students who understand their instrument. The class repertoire and direction are constructed around the instrumentalists or vocalists who enroll in the class. The students learn techniques of rehearsing and performing with a band as well as musical self-expression in terms of improvising solos. The repertoire includes intermediate-to-advanced levels of musical literature from various periods in jazz history including Swing, Bebop, Latin Jazz, Modern Jazz, and Rock. Performances are required each semester. The students record the repertoire at The Marin School’s professional-quality recording studio each semester and produce a CD at the end of the year.
Recording Arts
Recording Arts is for musicians and non-musicians alike. The class is structured around the Pro-Tools recording software, which is the software used in most world-class studios today. Students learn how to record live instruments and digital loops onto the computer. They learn to process and edit the recorded material, mix their recorded tracks, and burn it to a CD. The class meets once a week with two hours a week of outside lab time. This class allows musicians to learn how to record their music and non-musicians to learn how music is recorded, processed, and mixed.
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Please note: Grades for this course are not currently included in the academic GPA.
Celebrating the marin school festival of the arts!
Students have a myriad of opportunities to exhibit their work in exhibits and competitions, one of which is TMS’s very own Festival of the Arts. Our annual event showcases student work from all of the arts, culminating in a mix of inspiring creativity.