Middle School Academics

Performing Arts

Middle School Performing Arts

Through a range of curricular and co-curricular offerings Beaver empowers students to use the Performing Arts as a form of self-expression and an agent for social change. With a focus on creativity, collaboration, and communication—in addition to discipline-specific skills—students are encouraged to develop a unique artistic style and apply their skills at a high level.

Theater Arts

In the Middle School Theater Arts curriculum, students explore and refine their skills as collaborators and performers, learning how to create spontaneously, rehearse effectively, and perform with confidence.

Theater Arts 6

6th
Performing Arts, Visual Arts
Interests: Hands On

In 6th grade, students develop an understanding of theater as a collaborative art form and work to create a supportive, trusting, and cooperative ensemble. Through theater games and activities, students learn the importance of communication and problem-solving and grow more confident as collaborators and performers.  Students also explore physicality and vocal expression, combining these skills […]

Theater Arts 7

7th
Performing Arts
Interests: Hands On

In 7th grade, students explore and refine their skills as actors, collaborators, and performers, learning how to create spontaneously, rehearse effectively, and perform with confidence. Students practice and perform improvised scenes, learn and demonstrate a variety of stage combat techniques, develop their ability to create a character with the help of background details and an […]

Theater Arts 8

8th
Performing Arts
Interests: Hands On

In 8th grade, students practice theatre as a collaborative art form, learning more about the processes of making, developing, and performing theater. Students work to create believable characters through improvisation and scripted work, express themselves physically and vocally, write and develop original dramatic work that is linked to or informed by other disciplines, and explore […]

AFTERNOON PROGRAM: Students can elect to participate in the fall play or winter musical as an actor or theater technician, applying the skills learned in class to produce mainstage shows.
See this year's performance schedule

Music

Through our Middle School Music Program all Middle School students learn how to play an instrument or sing—or hone those skills if they are already accomplished musicians.

Using orchestra and chorus as a model for collaboration, students learn instrument technique and musicianship skills through practicing and rehearsing a range of repertoire. They begin by test driving each instrument before being matched with an ensemble, taking into consideration the student’s interest, feedback from the teachers, and the needs of the ensemble. Those with previous experience in percussion can audition to join the percussion section which joins with the brass and woodwind ensembles for their combined rehearsals.

The ensembles comprising of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are highly differentiated, allowing beginners and advanced students to thrive together by learning multiple parts of the same piece of music. Although this is a music program that builds technical skills and artistry, the impact goes far beyond music—focusing on collaboration, creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM: Instrumental Ensemble, which focuses mostly on contemporary music, is open to all instruments. Students interested in honing their singing skills, can also participate in the winter musical.
See this year's performance schedule

Examples from the MS Performing Arts classroom

Interview with Sam Singer ’28: Reflecting on the Paper Instrument Project
November 19, 2022
Interview with Sam Singer ’28: Reflecting on the Paper Instrument Project
Go to the BVR blog

Beaver Country Day School admits qualified students of any race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, handicap status, national origin or ethnicity to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, handicap status, national origin or ethinicity in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, athletic or other school-administered programs or policies.