The Australian Curriculum: The Arts aims to develop students':
- creativity, critical thinking, aesthetic knowledge and understanding about arts practices, through making and responding to artworks with increasing self-confidence
- arts knowledge and skills to communicate ideas; they value and share their arts and life experiences by representing, expressing and communicating ideas, imagination and observations about their individual and collective worlds to others in meaningful ways
- use of innovative arts practices with available and emerging technologies, to express and represent ideas, while displaying empathy for multiple viewpoints
- understanding of Australia's histories and traditions through the Arts, engaging with the artworks and practices, both traditional and contemporary, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- understanding of local, regional and global cultures, and their Arts histories and traditions, through engaging with the worlds of artists, artworks, audiences and arts professions.
At Farrer Primary School The Arts are generally taught through inquiry units.
We aim to have a concert at the end of the school year which involves choreographed performances from each class. In 2020 we were not able to have a concert due to COVID restrictions.
The Arts involves learning as follows:
Dance
Learning in Dance involves students exploring elements, skills and processes through the integrated practices of choreography, performance and appreciation. The body is the instrument of expression and uses combinations of the elements of dance (space, time, dynamics and relationships) to communicate and express meaning through expressive and purposeful movement.
Drama
Learning in Drama involves students making, performing, analysing and responding to drama, drawing on human experience as a source of ideas. Students engage with the knowledge of drama, develop skills, techniques and processes, and use materials as they explore a range of forms, styles and contexts.
Media arts
Learning in Media Arts involves students learning to engage with communications technologies and cross-disciplinary art forms to design, produce, distribute and interact with a range of print, audio, screen-based or hybrid artworks.
Music
Students learning Music listen, perform and compose. They learn about the elements of music comprising rhythm, pitch, dynamics and expression, form and structure, timbre and texture.
Visual arts
Learning in Visual Arts involves students making and responding to artworks, drawing on the world as a source of ideas. Students engage with the knowledge of visual arts, develop skills, techniques and processes, and use materials as they explore a range of forms, styles and contexts.
Additional learning opportunities
Art Club
Band
Year five and six students have the opportunity to participate in the Instrumental Music Program (IMP) band program through a weekly, paid lesson structure. A member of Farrer Primary’s teaching staff is allocated to each band to work alongside the teacher from the IMP.
Choir
The Farrer Primary School choir gives students another opportunity to be involved in music learning and performance. The senior choir is open to all students from Years 3-6. There is no audition however students are asked to commit to being part of the choir for the duration of the calendar year. A junior choir is offered to students in Years 1 and 2.
We aim to make choir fun but also rigorous in musical development. Our selection of songs include popular children's songs as well as songs designed specifically for choirs and the development of young voices.
Each year the Farrer Primary School senior choir performs at various occasions including school assemblies, Floriade and performances at Goodwin Village. We also look for opportunities to sing in a 'big' event each year such as SingFest or Limelight.
Paid music lessons
Piano and guitar lessons are available to students through a paid tutor system. Information is shared in the school newsletter when vacancies arise.