Lower School Art
The halls of the Lower School building are filled with projects from the art room that exude energy and creativity! From TK through 6th grade, the students are learning the elements of art, integrating art with classroom studies, and learning about famous artists and their works and techniques. In each creation, the art student’s unique voice is expressed while using a wide range of media, such as printmaking, various painting media, clay, collage, and paper mache.

Lower School Music

Grades TK-2 Music
Music for grades TK – 2nd grade offers students a foundation in the tonal and rhythmic skills necessary for success in the older grades. In an atmosphere of joyful music-making, our youngest Trinity students learn to find and use their singing voices to produce a tuneful and beautiful sound. In addition, through musical stories and games, students acquire confidence performing simple rhythmic tasks such as moving to the steady beat and playing basic rhythm patterns on instruments. In collaboration with classroom teachers, students have regular opportunities to display their newfound musical knowledge by performing in large and small concerts during the school year.

Grades 3–5 Music
Grades 3–5 music provides an active and rich curriculum for students to develop their music gifts. Students become familiar with reading and deciphering the musical score. Singing great classical pieces as well as spirituals and contemporary repertoire provides a strong choral background for our musicians. Additionally, students both learn to play the soprano recorder and develop their skills on the barred instruments.

Grade 6 Music
The yearlong sixth grade music curriculum is varied and rich, filled with singing, dancing, music history, and instrumental ensembles. After each semester, there is an evening concert in which students showcase their musical works. The final performance of the year, our Spring Evening of Entertainment, will include the pieces from the Trinity Choral Festival in which all sixth graders will participate. The following information will help you see how we get to the finished product!

MS Drama is a class in which 7th and 8th grade students will explore the fundamentals of theater and the creative and technical elements necessary to put on a production. Throughout the class, students will hone skills in acting and developing a character, memorize lines and discover successful performance techniques, and perform before an audience.

Middle School Art
In art, students are gaining a deeper understanding of the elements and principles of art. Students draw from observation, learn to use perspective in drawing, and experiment with various mediums including acrylic painting, sculpture, oil pastels, and charcoal. Students also spend time working in sketchbooks and developing a creative plan to understand and the process of art making. They are also challenged to consider what makes a work of art successful as they study works of contemporary artist and get a taste of how to critique works of art.

Grade 7 Music
The semester long 7th grade music curriculum is varied and rich, filled with composing, singing, dancing, music history and instrumental ensembles. After each semester, there is an evening concert in which students showcase their musical works.

Grade 8 Music
Students will be given an overview of the history of American Musical Theatre with particular emphasis on its importance in American heritage and culture. Students will learn through practicing the elements of a musical theatre production using scenes from West Side Story. They will relate this musical to the Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet. The students will examine and experience the elements: drama and blocking a production; singing and proper vocal production; choreography; set design; make-up; technical production and costuming. Following this study, the students will be assigned a scene from an American Musical to produce and perform. The students will debut their finished product during an in class production for parents and Lower School students.

US Drama allows students to develop--or discover--their interest in theater. The class stages a play in each semester, and the students are involved in both onstage and offstage aspects of that endeavor. Whether a student has a long-standing love of acting or is venturing bravely into this territory for the first time, this class provides space for creative development of myriad skills. Through the process of bringing a production to the stage, the class gives the students the opportunity not only to hone their acting abilities, but also to practice skills such as listening, effective communication, self-discipline, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Performance technique, etiquette, stylistic understanding, and music history are all facets of this course. This group focuses on expanding the repertoire to include not just jazz but also classical and other styles. In addition to continuing to develop on an instrument, the main goals are to gain an understanding performance practice and learn to improvise. The purpose of these goals is to prepare and equip the students for college ensembles and other playing opportunities

We inspire students…

to cultivate their own artistic voices in the midst of a vibrant community.
to discern their own creative paths while making artwork of the highest quality.
to seek meaningful connections in their art, cultivating a healthy theological imagination.
to pursue art with a larger purpose that serves the greater community and the world at large.

Whatever a student’s passion–whether it be a career in fine arts, design, or photography or simply a state of creative discernment–there is an inspiring and supportive space for them in the upper school art studio.

There, students have access to a wealth of classes spanning a wide array of subjects: drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, design, digital art, sculpture, mixed-media, and printmaking. The curriculum introduces students to the great traditions of art history while also engaging and drawing inspiration from the modern day. The art studio is where students refine their passions and leave ready to make their mark on the world.

Learn more about Upper School Visual Arts

Upper School Vocal Ensemble explores choral music at an advanced level through analyzing and applying the fundamentals of music theory to choral music, learning music terminology, developing performance techniques for various genres, evaluating and developing choral balance in an ensemble setting, comprehending connections between the music and the composers and experiencing a wide variety of musical styles in our repertoire.

Beginner Band
For lower school students just starting an instrument, this group learns the basics of sound-production, technique, and musicianship. They begin to read music and play songs together.

Novice Band
For lower school students with one year or more playing an instrument, this group continues the focus on reading music and developing good playing technique using a method book. They also begin to play some of the same repertoire as the middle school band.

Middle School Band
Continuing to build on the fundamentals of playing an instrument and playing in an ensemble, this year-long class also applies the material from 6th and 7th grade general music curriculum. In addition to performing two yearly music concerts, this group serves the school by playing music at most of the all-school chapels and assemblies.

Lower School Strings
Lower School Strings Students have the opportunity to join their peers for a small group ensemble experience. In this ensemble, students will acquire the basic elements of ensemble playing, performance etiquette, and note reading. Lower School Strings performs for parents and friends on their own and with other Trinity Strings groups.

Middle School Strings
In Middle School Resource, strings students will follow the development of western music from the Renaissance to modern day. Students will learn to identify, play, and perform music from each era. Middle School strings students perform throughout the year. They also have the opportunity to join the worship team for middle school sanctuary.

Upper School Strings
Upper School strings students work together in a variety of groupings to develop chamber music rehearsal and performance skills. Students will acquire a wide repertoire of music and have several opportunities to perform formal concerts as well as background music for dinners and events.