Middlesex County Classes
GRADES 6-8
Acting for Comedy
This class will cover comedy from top to bottom, from basics to expertise. Students will walk out with proficiency in improv, standup comedy, and sketch writing/analysis. All while having an amazing time!
Art of Photography
This course will feature hands-on technical skills in portraiture, lighting, still life, etc. Discussions on the world of fine art photography, galleries, and gallery presentation. Weekly assignments and open critiques. Students must have access to a camera with adjustable settings.
Contemporary/Modern Dance
This course blends techniques from ballet, jazz, modern and lyrical genres and will provide development through theory and practical application. The first period encompasses different styles of movement and technique. The second period will include choreography which students will participate with the instructor to create a contemporary piece. The class will emphasize the practice of composition skills, clarity of movement, initiation, body articulation, and dynamics of performance and will focus on the development of small group work and solos. Dance history will be included in this course in addition to discovering new contemporary choreographers and dancers. Written reports must be submitted.
Creative Writing
In this class students will explore various approaches to writing poetry, short stories, and songs. They will use their memories and imaginations. Students will use literary devices to enrich their writing voices, as they create simple plotlines, complex characters, and song lyrics. Certain assignments will incorporate choices around style: self-expression, persuasive, or narrative. Students will learn how characters can exemplify their opinions or beliefs or do…
Music Improv Ensemble
This course is designed to teach students to improvise in a variety of musical styles including jazz, rock, blues, pop and classical. Basic music theory, scales, melodic vocabulary, and motive development techniques will be covered. Students will analyze elements of each style and learn to create improvised solos and melodies in the style. Repertoire for the class and final concert during the festival will be chosen by students and instructor.
Musical Theatre
This course will focus on the development of good Broadway style performance skills in voice, acting and dance. Students auditioning for this class will need to demonstrate ability in all three areas.
Theater Arts
Utilizing the actor’s tools of body, voice and imagination, students will explore improvisation, character work and scene study in creating original scenes culminating in a performance at the end of the semester.
Visual Arts – Sculpture
The Sculpture class will develop students’ skills in working with three-dimensional materials.
Visual Arts Anime / Manga
A fascinating subject that many professional animators have captured online, on TV and in video games. Anime, a word for Japanese animation, includes comics called manga with fictional characters that exaggerate the human form. The class centers around the figure, where anatomy, construction and movement are studied in conjunction with each other. In addition to figure…
Visual Arts Drawing and Painting
The Drawing and Painting course will give serious students the opportunity to develop their technical skills and explore the creative process with a wide range of materials. Different techniques and approaches will be introduced, helping the students to develop new methods of self-expression.
Vocal Music
A creative approach to vocal technique, this vocal music class will include breathing, placement, sight singing and music reading/theory. Students will work on singing solo numbers as well as in groups. Special attention to building confidence and working together cooperatively will be important parts of the class.