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At Ranney School, artistic expression is a critical everyday element of a balanced education, helping us define who we are, see things in exciting new ways, and communicate important ideas. With exceptional instructors and impressive facilities, our programs in drama, music, visual art, public speaking and creative writing are designed to nurture the full range of artistic talent in every child. In every grade level, Ranney’s arts curriculum combines a broad foundation in the history and theory of art, music and drama with rigorous instruction in technique. It is complemented by an eclectic array of extracurricular opportunities on stage, and in the studio. The result is a vibrant, creative community in which artistic achievement is valued as highly as academic and athletic performance.
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| Creative Writing and Design Students in Lower, Middle and Upper School have the opportunity to write for, edit, design and publish their own literary magzines. Lower schoolers publish Panther Paw Prints. The Middle School publication, The Mag, and the Upper School’s RVSP have both won impressive awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
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| Drama Drama studies begin early. By second grade, students are performing in lavish musical productions for audiences of parents and peers. Recent Lower School presentations have included “Dear Edwina”, “School House Rock, Jr.”, and “Mulan, Jr.” Students’ growing knowledge of theater is supplemented by field trips to local performances.
Middle and Upper School students may audition for two productions each year – a dramatic play in the fall and a musical in the spring. In addition to providing opportunities for students to perform on stage, school productions allow students to sharpen their backstage skills in set design, stage management, lighting and costume design. Recently, the Ranney Thespian Society presented Lewis Carroll's, "Alice in Wonderland" and Gilbert and Sullivan's, "Pirates of Penzance". “Coffeehouses” in fall and spring provide a less formal venue for Middle and Upper School performers to try out skits, monologues, vocal or instrumental numbers or their most creative stand-up act.
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| Public Speaking Vocal expression and stage presence are the focus of our award-winning Middle School Forensics program, which engages students in dramatic interpretation and develops remarkable poise and confidence. Ranney's Forensics program is as competitive and as organized as any of our varsity sports. While the program intensifies in Middle School with participation in interscholastic Forensics competitions throughout the school year, preparation for these contests really begins in fourth and fifth grade with membership in the Lower School Forensics activity. By the time our aspiring actors and orators reach Middle School, they have already been primed for the additional vocal training and instruction in public speaking skills they will receive from our award-winning Forensics coaches. In Upper School, Forensics takes the form of debate.
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Visual Art Using a variety of media, the elementary level art program introduces the basic principles of artistic expression: shape, line, balance, design, contrast and the color spectrum. Studio based activities are enriched by the study of great works of art. Graphic Design is introduced in the fourth and fifth grades using Ipads and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as part of a comprehensive technological integration in the arts. Lower School students have been the recipients of Artsonia’s competitions numerous times in the past two years receiving awards in graphic design. The arts faculty and classroom teachers collaborate to integrate the art curriculum with academic studies to enhance and reinforce both curriculums.
The Middle School art program encourages self-expression through the study of two-dimensional design techniques in painting, drawing and printmaking, and three-dimensional projects in construction and sculpture. Middle School students continue to develop their technology skills with intermediate level use of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator in the development of graphic design and innovative computer based imagery. An annual contest offers the opportunity to explore advertising art for publication in a local newspaper.
A range of challenging electives in Upper School allows students to pursue the visual arts to the Advanced Placement level in areas that include ceramics, glassmaking, printmaking, and Digital Photography. Students in the Upper School continue with more advanced techniques in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and In-Design as they develop digital sketchbooks and Portfolios. Students participate in numerous competitions throughout the year and have been the recipients of many awards from the Monmouth Festival of the Arts. College visits for Upper School students include trips to Art Schools such as the Rhode Island School of Design and college representatives visit Ranney School to introduce our art students to their programs as well as evaluate their portfolios. In many cases, these courses result in extensive portfolios appropriate for college submission. |
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| Vocal and Instrumental Music In the elementary grades, focus is on creative expression combined with cultural awareness, and features age-appropriate instruction in fundamental skills. In general music, young students sing for pleasure and learn beginning scales and chords. Classroom games help to teach musical concepts, composers and vocabulary. In grades 2 and 3, all students learn the beginnings of instrumental music by playing the recorder. By grades 4 and 5, they may choose to take group instruction for one period each week in violin, flute, trumpet or trombone.
The performing arts program in Middle School combines creative music-making activities with recitation. Students learn musical concepts by working with classroom instruments and develop listening skills as they trace the history of American popular music. Middle School students have their own band and chorus, and an active Upper School chorus expands this program to older students. Middle School students who have been enrolled in band or chorus for at least one semester and are in good academic standing are eligible for candidacy to the Tri-M Music Honor Society. In the past, Ranney's Upper School band and chorus students have performed in front of the prestigious Lincoln Center in New York City.
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