Fine Arts

Drama Department

Drama courses are offered at Nottingham High School. Other buildings, at all levels, offer production experiences—musicals and plays-- as extra-curricular activities for all students. High School students also participate in the District-wide musical each summer. District drama students continue to receive awards, scholarships, and high honors at the Harms Festival and a variety of other venues. For more details on each school's program, please call the building directly. The SCSD has strong partnerships with Syracuse Stage, Syracuse University Drama, Open Hand Theater, as well as many other community organizations and individuals.

Music Department

The SCSD music Department offers general, choral, instrumental (band and orchestra) music opportunities to all students enrolled in our schools. District music programs follow a District -adopted Pre-K through 12 curriculum. At the high school level, we offer specialized courses including theory and composition. District music students regularly perform in city-wide, county, and state festivals and other events.

Expanded music offerings include chorus, recorders, concert band, jazz or stage band, orchestra, gospel choir, percussion ensembles, as well as a variety of other specialty groups at various levels. There are also quadrant jazz and other performing groups. The culmination of our performance groups are the All-City Instrumental Festival and the All-City Choral Festival consisting of 1000+ students. Students also perform at many venues throughout the community.

Visual Arts Department

The SCSD Visual Arts department offers classes in all schools. The visual arts program follows a district adopted Pre-K through 12 curriculum. At the high school level, a variety of courses in 2D and 3D art are taught as well as the opportunity to take college-level courses through Syracuse University.

Many of our schools participate in regional Scholastic Art Awards, the Community Folk Art Center Teenage Art Competition, display at the Everson museum of Art, and the annual Feats of Clay Festival. Many schools host their own building arts festivals and provide exhibitions throughout the community, including rotating exhibits at Crouse Hospital. Our Visual Arts program is enriched through partnerships with the Everson Museum of Art, Community Folk Art Center, Crouse Hospital, Onondaga Community College, and Syracuse University.

Learning Standards for the Arts

The SCSD Music and Visual Arts curricula are based on the National and New York State Standards. The teacher-developed documents go beyond the standards to address student learning and offer experiences desired for all students to become literate and pursue careers and in the arts.

• Standard 1: Creating, Performing and Participating in the Arts - Students will actively engage in the processes that constitute creation and performance in the arts (dance, music, theatre, and visual arts) and participate in various roles in the arts.
• Standard 2: Knowing and Using Arts materials and Resources - Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the materials and resources available for participation in the arts in various roles.
• Standard 3: Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art - Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the arts, connecting the individual work to other works and to other aspects of human endeavor and thought.
• Standard 4: Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of the Arts - Students will develop an understanding of the personal and cultural forces that shape artistic communications and how the arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present society.

Fine Arts Partnerships

The SCSD partners with many community agencies to offer our students a large variety of arts experiences. These partnerships include:

• Everson Museum of Art - student visits, high school docent program, Visual Thinking Strategies, student performances, and Film series
• Professional concerts at the Civic Center and visiting ensemble performances in schools
• Syracuse Stage performances
• Community Folk Art Center exhibits
• Open Hand Theater
• Crouse Hospital Exhibitions
• Partners for Arts Education
• Syracuse University

Tips for Parents

• Attend concerts, dance recitals, art exhibitions cultural events, etc. in the community
• Volunteer with your child in community arts organizations and activities
• Encourage artistic expression in music, visual art, dance, or drama
• Arrange for private instructions in the arts
• Discuss the arts with your children, having them verbalize or write what they are seeing, hearing, or feeling
• Become even more involved in your child's arts education at school by asking questions, offering input, and seeking ways to support teachers’ efforts at home