Arts Curriculum Information

General Music -- Regular, general music instruction takes place in the PPS for all K-8 students. Elementary students receive instruction that includes singing, playing instruments, creative drama and movement on a weekly basis. Middle school general music instruction includes guitar, drumming, theory, history, and production. General music instruction includes the study of American, Western, and multicultural genres. General Music is offered to middle school students on a rotating basis throughout grades 6-8.

Vocal Music -- K-12 students are given regular vocal music instruction throughout the school year. Genres studied include American, Western, and world repertoire including traditional pieces and improvisation. Performance opportunities are numerous and occur through general music courses in the elementary schools and established choruses in the middle and high schools. High school students are offered voice classes and participate in solo as well as small ensemble performances. Students participate in performances for the public in the schools, for local community organization events, and are supported to participate in Western Districts and All-State Chorus.

Stringed Music – Grades 3-12 students can participate in stringed music, small group instruction and performances. Genres studied include American, Western, and world repertoire. Elementary string instruction takes place at all elementary schools during the school day. Elementary orchestra rehearsals combine string students from across the city and take place outside the school day. During the school day, both Reid and Herberg Middle schools have orchestras that rehearse as ensembles with students also receiving small group instruction. Pittsfield High School offers an intensive string program and hosts the All-City Orchestra, which meets before the school day begins. Students participate in a wide array of performances for the public in the schools and for local community organization events. Both middle and high school students are supported to participate in Western Districts and All-State Orchestra.

Band Music – Grades 4-12 students can participate in brass, woodwind, and percussion small group instruction and band performances. Genres studied include American, Western, and world repertoire including traditional pieces and improvisation. Elementary band instrument instruction takes place at all elementary schools during the school day. Elementary band rehearsals combine string students from across the city and take place outside the school day. During the school day, both Reid and Herberg Middle schools have thriving bands that rehearse as ensembles with students also receiving small group instruction. Both high schools have marching, concert, and jazz bands. Performances are given for the public in the schools, for local community organization events and parades throughout the region. Both middle and high school students are supported to participate in Western Districts and All-State Band.

General Visual Art –Regular, general art instruction takes place in the PPS for all K-8 students. Elementary students receive instruction that includes drawing, painting, ceramics, and printing on a weekly basis. Middle school general art instruction is offered on a rotating basis throughout grades 6-8 and includes studies in a wide variety of media in both 2 and 3 dimensional work. General art instruction includes the study of American, Western, and multicultural traditions. Art experiences include field trips to local museums and residencies of professional artists from the community and local arts organizations. Student work is displayed in schools, at local businesses, at the Berkshire Artisans Gallery, and at the Mercer Administration Building on a regular basis.

High School Visual Art Offerings – Both Taconic and Pittsfield High Schools offer extensive courses of study in art. Art studio classes include instruction in graphics, drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics. Advanced Placement art and participation in Art All-State are also offered. A Fine and Performing Arts Career Pathway Program is in place for visual arts at Taconic High School and Pittsfield High School has a Fine and Performing Arts Academy in place where students can concentrate in visual art. Student work is displayed in the schools, at local businesses, at the Berkshire Artisans Gallery Art in Our Schools Annual Exhibit, at the Norman Rockwell Museum High School Art Exhibit and the Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards Exhibit. High School art students participate in numerous field trips to local, and regional museums as well as after-school clubs and projects.

Middle School Theatre – Both Pittsfield Public Schools’ middle schools have active theatre programs and full-time theatre teachers. Students in grades 6-8 receive instruction in performance, and technical production. Full-length plays and musicals are produced for public performance each semester. While instruction takes place during the school day, after school programs host rehearsals for special multi-grade level productions.

High School Theatre – Courses of study in theatre are offered at both Taconic and Pittsfield High Schools. While Taconic High School offers basic and advanced theatre arts, Pittsfield High School also offers classes in film, dramatic performance, musical theatre, theatre tech, and production. Both high schools present a number of public performances each year that include classic and modern plays, one-acts, full scale musicals, and children’s theatre. While instruction takes place during the school day, after school programs host rehearsals for special multi-grade level productions.

The PHS Fine and Performing Arts Academy (F&PAA) reflects a growing city and county emphasis on the arts as one of the primary elements of successful cultural and economic development. Recent projects such as Mass MoCA, the Colonial Theatre, and the Barrington Stage Company are a few that highlight the fact that Berkshire Country is an arts destination. As such, the F&PAA seeks to offer a concentrated program of studies to high school aged artists who seek to develop their artistic skills in conjunction with a solid fundamental liberal arts education. We anticipate that the F&PAA will make PHS an arts education destination for students from all over Berkshire Country.

Consistent with the National Academy Foundation, local academies such as the F&PAA will require that students have several elements included as part of their successful completion of the F&PAA four year requirements. They include:

No auditions or entrance requirements are required to be admitted to the F&PAA. Students interested will be identified prior to the grade 9 and will begin the F&PAA sequence during grade 9. Students in the F&PAA will earn an Arts and Sciences graduation certificate with a particular designation suggesting they have completed the F&PAA requirements. Admission to “select” or honors level groups may be based on talent in an attempt to provide challenging experiences for advanced artists. However, every attempt will be made to accommodate all students interested in completing an F&PAA concentration.

A diverse arts program: The PHS F&PAA students have access to one of the most diverse and comprehensive Fine & Performing Arts departments in the country. With full time music, theatre and arts teachers, students will have the opportunity to explore art concentrations and develop a broad perspective.

Collaboration: The entire F&PAA staff has put together an arts program that not only develops the individual but also connects artists in various concentrations. Collaborative projects in theatre, art & music will match students from various concentrations to enrich the educational experience of each student. Other collaborative experiences will combine cross-departmental resources such as the Berkshire Treasures project (Horticulture & Art) and Dinner Theatre (Culinary, Theatre & Music).

Mentoring/Local resources: As the PHS F&PAA is set in the heart of Pittsfield, exposure to working artists, musicians and actors is readily available. Students will be required to “shadow” a working artist as part of their grade 10 experience and, later, in grade 11 and 12 will have the opportunity to have a mentor and/or intern relationship with a professional artist. In addition, the PHS F&PAA staff continues to maintain relationships with “artists in residence” and collaborative relationships with groups such as the Walden players, Berkshire Bach Society, BSO, Berkshire Choral, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Norman Rockwell Museum and the Berkshire Museum. Finally, students will be matched with an F&PAA instructor as their homeroom teacher during their high school career to provide both informal and formal guidance throughout their high school journey.

The business of art: The PHS F&PAA, in conjunction with the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, is developing a course as part of the AOHT sequence in which, students will have the opportunity to explore the arts from the perspective of business and marketing.

Performance: The PHS F&PAA maintains an aggressive performance schedule and students have the opportunity to perform and exhibit in a wide range of venues. Performances throughout the year will be capped by and end-of-year Arts Night. In addition, all students will prepare senior exhibits, performances or portfolios as part of F&PAA requirements.

College guidance: The PHS F&PAA staff has compiled a comprehensive list of colleges and requirements. Both arts and guidance staff will help each student to develop a postsecondary plan that supports their transition from high school to college, regardless of whether they decide to pursue their arts experience beyond high school or not.