MUSIC

The seventh graders currently in the music portion of Enrichment are working on their composition projects. They are creating melodic question and answer phrases, plus an ostinato (repeating bass pattern) that will be played on the piano. The pentatonic scale is the basis for their pieces, and they will be using the black keys of the piano when they perform them for the class.

Band and Jazz Band put the finishing touches on their pieces for Winterfest, Dec. 10, 6:00 p.m. at Harkness Chapel, Connecticut College. Family and friends are invited to attend the concert and the buffet that occurs at Williams following the show.

Students in AP Music Theory are working on texture and textural reduction, which involves reading music and analyzing it for components such as primary melody, secondary melody, harmonic and rhythmic support, and harmonic rhythm.

The members of the Music Composition class performed some of their pieces at an all-school assembly on November 24. The formats included duets for piano and for guitar, percussion ensembles, solo piano with vocal, guitar/bass/drums, and more. Each piece was the result of various assignments that occurred during the first semester.

In Music Theory class, the students are actively engaged in refining their listening skills while continuing to study music theory essentials.

The Select Chorus prepared music for Winterfest, Thursday evening, December 10th at Harkness Chapel. They recently had the opportunity to perform a portion of one of their Winterfest selections, African Noel, with the Acafellas, as entertainment for the Grandparents Day assembly.

THEATRE

At the fall Acting Assembly, Mrs. Jane Martineau's students performed pieces highlighting the curriculum of Williams' acting classes. Students in the Technique class showcased their coursework, from Tenth Graders Lily Sparen and Samantha Mosey's monologues for developing articulation and projection, to group presentations of vignettes bringing phrases and haiku to life. Enjoy a slideshow of scenes from the Acting Assembly.

The Beginning Acting class studied sign language as an art form and reprised their performance of the Beatles' "When I'm 64." The Thespians, Williams extracurricular drama club, also had an encore performance of their puppetry piece first presented to grandparents. Both were first shared at Grandparents Day and may be seen in the slideshow of performances from that day.

DANCE

Ms. Parish ("Miss Bo" to Williams dance students) presented an assembly of dance works in progress from the first quarter, describing the technical aspect as well as the creative, academic elements of each project.
Enjoy a slideshow of the performances

• The Beginning Dance class presented a piece called "In-Tensity" choreographed by guest teacher Joan Wiegers. Miss Bo explained how the dance incorporates shapes, lifts, groups and improvisation.
• The Intermediate Dance class shared excerpts from a dance choreographed by Miss Bo titled "Let's Go Crazy." This fun, sassy work celebrates 80's jazz style dancing and the music of Prince, Michael Jackson and Madonna. The dancers created their own costumes to evoke the fashions of the 1980's.
• Shfting gears from the light pieces, Advanced Dance presented an excerpt from "Free Your Mind," a song and dance focusing on prejudice and race. Miss Bo explained how costuming in this piece makes a statement about differences and similarities among people.
• The Advanced II Dance class also worked with guest teacher Joan Wiegers and presented a stunning piece set to the song "Falling" from Cirque du Soleil's Quidam. As Miss Bo explained, Wiegers created this moving piece as a response to her experiences with lung and liver transplant surgeries for her son. "The piece is about falling into spaces in one's life that are unexpected, scary, etc." It has been performed at the Bates Dance Festival and by professional dancers at a regional dance concert in North Carolina.
• Finally, the Williams Dance Team performed a work choreographed by Alex Kydd ’10 set to the song "Nothing I Can Buy." The high energy piece concluded the program and gave the audience a taste of some of the exciting work to expect at Comphorea in February, 2010.

STUDIO ART

Art I completed the Origami Installation at the Friendship School in Waterford, then worked on two-dimensional design. Students learned the principles and elements of design through a variety of projects dealing with contrast, pattern, repetition and balance. We then moved onto linocut printmaking. We also held a "Buy Art Campaign" and sold our prints in the catwalk at the end of the quarter.

Art II worked on a collaborative project that utilized design principles and watercolor skills along with conceptual thinking in art. Under the theme of Harry Potter, each student in the class presented a unique idea for an art project. We chose three project ideas from the class to work on. These are large-scale installation pieces that were unveiled all around Williams during our "Unofficial Harry Potter day" on February 12.

Advanced Art and Portfolio Development worked on concept in art. Through the main idea of Ancestry, each student came up with a thesis to be developed through a series of artwork. The students chose different paths that explored their own ancestry. Students also learned time management in art and created their own deadlines for classwork. Diverse media were utilized for these projects, including acrylic painting, mixed media assemblage, silkscreen printmaking and ceramic relief sculpture. The Ancestry series exhibited in January 2010 at the Golden Street Gallery.

DIGITAL IMAGING

Jane Martineau
Drama
Coordinator of the Arts Program

Greg Bowerman
Art

Peter Emanuel
Music

Barbara Parish
Dance

Tekla Zweir
Art