HIS Arts Program
HIS has a rich and varied arts program and encourages students, from the Primary Years through Senior High, to explore their talents and express themselves creatively. HIS offers instruction in Fine Arts, Music, Choir, Drama, and Musical Theater. All HIS Arts Program courses are goal oriented. Students have the opportunity to create and host gallery art shows, practice and present singing performances, and produce and star in stage plays and musicals. To enhance what is taught in the arts courses, professional artisans visit HIS during the school year to share their work with students and present a "real world" perspective on a career in the arts.
Fine Arts
All Primary Years through 6th-grade students have special art classes specific for their level, while secondary students can choose among various art classes. The art department emphasizes creating art using the creative processes and the language of art to communicate through a variety of media and techniques. This means the students experiment with different media: pencil, paint, chalk, charcoal, markers, clay. They gain skills and craftsmanship in using tools and techniques. Students also practice using the vocabulary of art and design in observing and interpreting well known art works. The students then apply this skill to their own art objects.
Art class strives to understand how art has shaped, preserved and influenced history and culture. In the end students learn to judge and evaluate art works using the language of art. The arts classes are always involved in school wide activities like decorating for Winter Celebration and keeping the halls decorated with lively art. Field trips are collaborative work with the elementary classes. The High School goes on field trips to the excellent Sapporo art museums which offer world renowned art exhibits.
Junior High and High School classes continue this process, gaining more skills and visual awareness and maturity to make connections between art, personal experience and the world. At HIS the terminal art class is the college level AP Visual Art studio. Colleges often require at least one credit in the Arts so secondary students are advised to take at least one class during their high school years.
Choir
Any student who loves music is welcome to join this course, but please remember that a successful choir will not come easily without hard work. The HIS Choir performs numerous times throughout the academic year and requires commitment. And since the choir requires a team effort, just like playing basketball, volleyball, or soccer, it is essential that students be serious about their roles. Therefore, it will be not enough merely to SAY that you are interested in the choir's success; you must demonstrate by your actions that you are dedicated to the goal. If you are strongly motivated, we guarantee you that you will have a wonderful experience.
Choir covers basic vocal skills, music theory, singing various styles of songs, and music history. Please note that there will be extra rehearsals before concerts and students are expected to attend these rehearsals.
Drama
Drama class has been a wonderful addition to the HIS curriculum. The program has been set up as a way for junior high school students to learn not only “on stage” skills, but also the behind the scenes skills involved in producing a play. Drama students initiate their year with monologue work, which for some students may be their first experience on stage. Voice projection, enunciation, stage positions, and blocking are also covered (even stage fright). Throughout the course of the year, the students grow from that first scary experience to being able to produce and perform a full-scale play. Each student not only takes on a stage role, but also a role behind the scenes - such as costumer, assistant-director, props manager, set designer, ticket sales, publicity, etc.
There is also a theory portion to the class. Each year, Mrs. Koga, the drama teacher, will correlate the drama program with the area of study in the Secondary literature and history classes. Drama students will learn the history and artistic rendering of the area under study and productions are chosen to fit.
Musical Theater
This course is a performance-based course focusing on the wonderful world of musicals and musical theater. You will explore and perform musicals that connect to the world survey theme and learn the vital role that support staff play in creating a production.
Music Explorer
Music explorer is for the Junior High students who love any kind of music. There are so many different kinds of music around the world like Pop, Rock, Jazz, Latin, Classic, Rap, Hip-Hop, Film music and World music. We will explore these musical styles through various practical ways by listening, playing instruments, researching, singing, dancing, improvising and composing.
Visiting Artisans
Each school year professionals working in the Arts are invited to visit HIS and share their experiences and artistry with the students. Past visiting artisans have included a concert pianist, a Noh drama actor, stage actors, and a choreographer. Some are HIS alumni! These visits are an inspirational, and educational experience for all students, and especially for those considering a career in the Arts.
