Bringing Arts Back to Life
The mission of the Gilbert Christian School Fine Arts Department is to develop a God-glorifying appreciation for and expression of the musical and visual arts by nurturing and training skillful excellence in each of these disciplines.
About Our Programs
The fine arts program is an integral part of the school’s educational process. We believe that the arts provide an opportunity to develop a student’s God-given artistic abilities. They also help students learn important skills such as teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. The focal point of the GCS fine arts department is Christ-centered promotion of the arts contributing to the overall development of our students.
Drama
GCS THEATRE ARTS PRESENTS | Beauty and the Beast
Check out this clip from the latest show HERE.
Band
Mission
The mission of the band program is to develop in students a God-glorifying appreciation for and expression of the musical arts by nurturing and training skillful excellence in the study of flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, and other concert band instruments.
About Our Program
Band is an elective option for 4th through 8th grade students enrolled at the Greenfield campus. The classes are taught by grade level, and 4th through 6th grade classes meet twice per week and daily for the 7th and 8th grades. Students in band have the option of playing flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, or percussion (mallets and drums).
As a performance-oriented class, students will perform in multiple concerts and community events each year.
Choir
Mission
In our media-filled world, everyone is a consumer of the arts. In all levels, our goal is to inspire students to be educated consumers of the arts by giving them the tools they need to understand and make use of the music around them. Singers will participate in a rigorous choral curriculum focused on music literacy, vocal technique, and presentation skills. As they become more capable and confident with their singing voices, students will be better equipped to bless their families, communities, and churches through music. In addition to musical skills, students will learn the value of good rehearsal technique, self-discipline, excellence, teamwork, and respect from a Christian worldview.
High School Choir Info
Orchestra / Strings
Mission
The mission of the Orchestra program is to develop in students a God-glorifying appreciation for and expression of the musical arts by nurturing and training skillful excellence in the study of violin, viola, cello, and bass.
Orchestra is an elective option for 4th through 8th grade students enrolled at the Agritopia campus and 9th through 12th grade students at Gilbert Christian High School. The classes are taught by grade level, and 4th through 6th grade classes meet twice per week and daily for the 7th and 8th grades and High School. Students in orchestra have the option of playing the violin, viola, cello or bass.
As a performance-oriented class, students will perform in multiple concerts and community events each year.
Have questions or concerns with instrument acquisition? Click the button below to download some of our favorite tips and tricks!
Visual Arts
Art Classes
Based on the premise that everyone can learn to draw well in a very short time, this class introduces five basic perceptual skills necessary for drawing: the perception of edges and contours, space (positive & negative), relationships (perspective & proportion), light and shadows, and unified composition. This class is designed, by the end of the first semester, to enable the beginning drawing student to see and draw “realistically” as an artist naturally does. It includes the application of the fundamental design principles such as balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, and unity by integrating the basic elements of visual art: light & dark, space, shape/form/mass, line, texture, and color. Once the core perceptual drawing skills are learned, the class begins to explore basic techniques & drawing media such as graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, mixed media collage, watercolor and acrylic painting. Various drawing techniques and other materials are introduced. This class ends with an introductory painting unit demonstrating basic color concepts.
Intro to Creative Design (Art 104)
This art class is a basic guide to visual fundamentals and introduces the students to two dimensional design and three dimensional creative design. It focuses on applied arts such as handmade Book Design, Ceramics, as well as fine arts such as Collage, Assemblage, Painting, and Sculpture. Students review six foundational design concepts and elements of visual art, found in the design of nature itself: light/darkness, space, shape/form/mass, line, pattern, and color, while applying five principles of design: balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, unity. First semester, students will apply the fundamental visual design elements and principles as they create multiple mixed media compositions–using such material as matte medium, torn and cut paper, collage elements and paint on wood panel and paper. Projects are often derived from the Genesis Creation account as a guide and inspiration to creating a series of compositions and design projects. Second semester projects emphasize the same fundamental design elements and principles applied to 3–D design, beginning with handmade book/box design, Ceramics, followed by Sculpture projects using Ceramics, wood, metal, paint, paper, pencil, and other materials. Some allusions to art history are incorporated into the class lessons.
Art 2- (ART 202)
This class expands the student’s drawing and painting skills. It is designed to enable the drawing student to continue to develop the ability to see and draw as an artist does, through engaging in more in-depth, prolonged, drawing, painting, and mixed media projects. It includes application of the fundamental design principles such as balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, and unity by integrating the basic elements of visual art: light & dark, space, shape/form/mass, line, texture, and color. Students explore drawing media including graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, and mixed media during the first semester; painting media such as watercolor and acrylic are introduced in the second semester. Various drawing and painting techniques are simultaneously introduced while learning the use of various media and material. As students develop artistically, students are also taught skills in sketching, preparing painting and drawing surfaces, and preparing their art for presentation. Some elements of art history are incorporated into the introduction of certain art projects.
Creative Design 2 (Art 204)
This art class further develops each student’s skills and understanding of visual fundamentals in two-dimensional design and three-dimensional creative design. It focuses on applied arts such as hand-made Book Design, Ceramics, as well as fine arts such as Collage, Assemblage, Painting, and Sculpture. 1st semester, students will apply the fundamental visual design elements and principles as they create themed, larger mixed-media compositions–using such material as matte medium, torn and cut paper, collage elements and paint on wood panel and paper. Projects are often derived from biblical passages as a guide and inspiration to creating a series of compositions and design projects. The 2nd semester emphasizes the same fundamental design elements and principles applied to 3–D design, beginning with handmade book/box design, Ceramics, followed by Sculpture projects using Ceramics, wood, metal, paint, paper, pencil, and other materials. Some allusions to art history are incorporated into the class lessons.
Every child is an artist in their own way. Art is a mix of storytelling and emotional expression. Creativity itself is from God but art comes from a person’s own heart and their personal experiences in life. In art class, students are challenged to tap into that creativity inside to see where their unique artistic talent lies.
Here at GCS, art classes begin in 2nd grade meeting once a week. This is the beginning of building a strong foundation of art using color, line, shape, form, all mixed with creativity. In 3rd grade, we add value, texture, space and perspective. These two grades cover the Elements of Art which are the tools used to create any artwork. Then 4th grades cover the Principles of Design: balance, movement, scale, emphasis, pattern, rhythm, proportion, and unity. These basic principles are utilized by an artist to arrange the elements in a project. This helps with compositional layout of their artwork and sets them up to see different possibilities in their artwork.
The next two years are about Art History. 5th grade looks at the early artists that used their art to tell a story. Then the art world shifts and in 6th grade, it is more about self and emotional expression. We study the artists that have mastered their craft, learn about how and why they created their artwork. Students are inspired by each artist to create their own unique drawings/projects each week.
Art is all around you…a person just has to take the time to learn how to be creative and once you “see it” you will never be the same.
Life is Art…paint yours colorfully!
