The Arts
The arts play an important role in our Somersfield experience, and our arts programme encompasses a mix of visual arts and music and aims to develop and support our student’s abilities across all divisions. Students learn the principals of each specialist area in Children’s House and primary levels and focus on more complex concepts within secondary school, all of which are taught using the Montessori and IB method.
Visual Arts
Beginning in Children’s House, Somerfield’s art program is designed to awake the confident, capable and creative artist within each child. Students are encouraged to explore their own artistic method with paints, fibers, clay, and other natural materials. Throughout primary and secondary, additional mediums are introduced and more structured design principles such as contrast, repetition, rhythm, variety, proportion, balance, unity and harmony. Throughout their educational journey, students gain a deeper understanding of the creative process, a variety of art forms, the sociocultural and historic contexts of art throughout history and its role in today’s world.
Music
Somersfield Academy begins musical instruction in Children’s House, following the Montessori approach of developing the child’s whole nature of body, mind and spirit. Students engage in song, movement and are invited to explore musical instruments. Throughout primary and secondary school, students continue their understanding of general music, playing instruments, creating and composing, learning notation, developing tone and technique, and learning music history. By graduation, students have gained an awareness and appreciation of music in all of its forms from a range of time periods, places and cultures.
