Performing Arts

The music curriculum at Dayspring Christian Academy is designed to provide worthwhile experiences in different areas of arts (music-both instrumental and vocal) in which students will develop a working knowledge of the basic principles of these arts. Students will express themselves creatively, develop self-confidence, and cultivate a meaningful appreciation for the works of others in a safe environment. Students will recognize God’s creations as a source from which man may express himself artistically. Students will also recognize that the ability and skill to express themselves artistically as a God-given ability.(Psalm 33:3) All God-given abilities should be developed to the highest degree, in order that God will be glorified.

High participation – the High School Concert Choir consistently has over fifty per cent of the high school students participating, one hundred per cent of Middle School students participating, ability to perform high quality music with limited rehearsal time, opportunities for a variety of experiences from festivals, competitions, tours, and large scale performances such as musicals.

Elementary Music Opportunities: Elementary Concert Choir, 3rd-5th grade Honor Choir,  5th grade Band.

High School Music Opportunities: High School Concert Choir, High School Honor Choir, High School Concert/Jazz/ Pep Band. These classes are offered every semester and can be taken in their 9th-12th grade years.

Middle School Music Opportunities: Middle school requires choir for all students grade 6th -8th and offers band as an elective.

Intro to Theatre

This course is designed to increase students’ understanding, appreciation, and participation of the theatrical experience.  A variety of learning techniques will be used as we explore the history of Theatre, the relationship between culture and theatre, techniques of the theatrical arts from the roles of the actors, directors, choreographers, technicians, and designers, to play readings, to first­hand experiences in acting.  This course will draw you into the world of live theatre and explore the real life lesson we can be apply to our daily lives.

Beginning Acting 

This course is designed to teach the acting process.  To help students understand how to develop a character.  To awaken their imagination, the emotion, and the skills required to achieve excellence in a performance.  A variety of learning techniques will be used as we explore Script Analysis: uncovering the meaning and vision of any play and playwright’s intention.  Characterization: discovering the “who, why, where, when and how” of each character. Stage Movement: learning approaches to voice, speech, moving with intention and purpose.  Auditioning: developing a good audition and all that is required to land the role you desire.  Stage Make-up: understanding the basics of stage makeup, it’s purpose, and application.

Advanced Acting 

This course is designed to teach the deeper acting process and acting challenges that are more advanced. The student will encounter more complex script analysis, character development, emotional scenes, stage combat, accents, vocal development, choreography, and additional difficult elements of the Theatre.  This course is designed for Juniors and Seniors with previous acting experiences.

Directing

This course is available for students who have completed the previous courses.  It is designed to teach theatre from the perspective of the director.  The students will encounter the complex issues of selecting a play, textual interpretation, historical research, casting budgeting, working with designers (set, lights, costumes, music), publicity, working with actors, and so much more.  The course asks students to begin to think as directors, and to bring a show to life.

In order to provide mutually beneficial training opportunities for both acting and directing students.  The Directing and Acting classes will frequently be brought together to experiment with mutually challenging director/actor, collaborative exercises. The various exercises culminate in the direction of a short play for public performance.

Drama Tech

This course is designed to teach students about all the aspects of Technical Theatre from set constructions, to lights, to costumes, to props, to special effects, painting.  The majority of the class will be spent constructing the set for that years upcoming production.  The students will be taught how to safely use and operate power tools (including table saws, radial arm saws, jig saws, pneumatic tools, etc).  The students will participate daily building/painting assignments, transporting of set pieces to the venue, setting up set pieces (as well as props and lighting), run the technical side of the production, tear down the set, and return equipment to Dayspring.  This is a reoccurring course that can be taken multiple times throughout a students career.