The creative arts are more than subjects at The Red Oaks School: they are a way of learning that is deeply imbedded in all that we do. The form is limited only by the fertile imaginations of our students and faculty. Students take their inspiration from all areas of the curriculum and express themselves through a variety of media, music, writing, theater, and dance. An essential part of the creative spirit is the ability to think critically. Students are exposed to the full spectrum of traditional, alternative, postmodern, and non-western forms. We explore the masters in full context of their culture, history, and personal traits. At The Red Oaks School, all are encouraged to voice their opinions and reactions to art at an appropriate level of thinking.

     Studio Arts
     Music
     Drama

“As an Art teacher, my main objective is to teach the children to see and think like an artist: perceiving the beauty and color of the world and developing a wonder and extended interest in art,” says Art teacher Maureen Palmquist. 

For our youngest students, the curriculum is designed to give children the opportunity to explore different media, develop ideas for expression, and understand and experiment with various sources of inspiration for creative work. This includes studying the work and life of great artists to see how they used the elements of art to create their own work.

As students progress in the elementary grades, work continues in understanding the basic elements of art and design. We study the masters to make connections with important themes in art and in the broader curriculum. As students progress, they are encouraged to exercise greater independence and to make choices in their own artistic and creative process.   

At all levels in the school, children are exposed to all types of media, including 2-D, 3-D, and computer-based art. All student work is valued and respected and is celebrated and showcased annually in the school art show.

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At The Red Oaks School, music fills the hallways and integrates with all aspects of the curriculum. Consistent with the Montessori philosophy, the program is decidedly student-centered and is based on the Orff Schulwerk methodology, which seeks to draw out the student's inherent affinities for rhythm and melody and allow these to develop in natural ways.

In the Early Childhood grades, the goal is to acquire a repertoire of experiences. Active music-making through vocal and instrumental improvisation, movement to music, and nonverbal communication all collaborate to foster self-confidence and a desire to learn.

In the Lower Elementary grades, students begin to identify and explore the elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, and form. Students experiment with these elements, developing their aesthetic awareness and critical thinking skills.

In the Upper Elementary grades, students delve deeper into the elements of expression: timbre, dynamics, articulation, and mood. Classes involve active listening, performing, and composing. Through composition, students make choices and experiment with the elements of music in a safe and supportive environment.

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“Drama with Mrs. Palmquist was more than stage craft and acting technique. It was about self-awareness and becoming leaders,” says Clara Mooney, 6th grader.

Drama is introduced as a formal arts subject in the 6th grade. Students meet once a week to explore the dramatic arts as a form of communication and personal expression. Each spring, Upper Elementary students present a dramatic production that integrates learning from throughout the year in a highly creative and collaborative venture. Students research history and culture, broaden their exposure to, and appreciation for, language, and implement principles of mathematics as they take on everything from set production and costume design to character development, scene study and acting. In recent years, this project has featured the comedies of William Shakespeare, with productions of A Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Tempest.

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