Performing Arts

Philosophy

In accordance with the philosophy of the school, the Performing Arts Department provides a curriculum that challenges the student to discover her own creative, artistic, and intellectual resources and develop them to her fullest potential. The music major curriculum includes five components of study: theory, ear training, music history, composition, and technology and prepares students for advanced music study on a college or conservatory level. The theater major introduces students to various acting techniques, public speaking, theater history, and allows them the opportunity to develop as playwrights and musical theater composers.

Goals and Objectives

• Incorporate the cognitive aspects of artistic development

• Heighten awareness and strengthen the student’s ability to participate in their art

• Introduce new approaches to fundamental concepts

• Integrate previously learned concepts with new ones

• Differentiate musical elements with visible realization through notation

• Develop a productive connection between what the students see and hear

• Examine how to interpret a musical score or acting script properly

• Illustrate continuous evolution of music or theater over a wide range of periods and styles

• Stimulate the student’s power of observation and independent judgment

• Utilize their analytical skills in accordance with technology

• Enable opportunities for hands-on experience through live performances

• Hone acquired skills through personal participation and active involvement in performing arts

Department Goals

A graduating senior in the Merion Mercy Academy Performing Arts Department will have completed two advanced level classes in their chosen field, Acting I and II or Honors and AP Music.

Acting Majors will have learned how to analyze a monologue, use the script to build a character, make acting choices based on the techniques and exercises of Stanislavski, Hagen, Koolhaus, Strasberg, and Meisner. They will have written and performed TED talks, "This I Believe" speeches, and acted out childrens' stories, contemporary and classical monologues, and scenes. They will have learned to read and notate music and notate their own melodies.

Music Majors will have learned and utilized music terminology pertaining to theoretical concepts regarding notation, music reading, dictation, and standard performance practices. The student will have further developed her aural skills regarding recognition of all major ear training concepts including scales, intervals, chords, melodic and rhythmic dictation as well as sight-singing and sight-reading. They will have taken the AP test and be prepared to continue in college or conservatory music study.