Arts & Music
Creative expression through diverse artistic programs.
Music Program
Concert band, choir, and individual music instruction help students develop musical skills and appreciation.
Visual Arts
Drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital art courses encourage creative exploration and artistic development.
Drama & Theatre
Theatre arts, stage performance, and dramatic studies build confidence, public speaking skills, and creative storytelling.
The arts programme runs for two kinds of students: those who intend to continue in the field, and those who need one part of the week that is not assessed against a university target.
Music
Concert band and choir rehearse as ensembles; individual instruction is available for students working on their own instrument. Beginners are placed where they can actually play — an ensemble that puts a first-year student in over their head teaches them to dislike it.
Visual Arts
Drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital work. Students building a portfolio for a design or fine arts programme should say so early: portfolio requirements vary by institution and are usually due before the general application, which surprises people every year.
Drama and Theatre
Stage performance and dramatic studies. The obvious benefit is confidence in front of an audience. The less obvious one — and the reason it is worth the time for students who will never act again — is that presenting under pressure in a second language is a skill that transfers directly to interviews and seminars.
Taking Arts for Credit
Arts courses carry credit toward the Dogwood Diploma; a Fine Arts or Applied Skills credit is a graduation requirement, not an elective add-on. Plan it into the timetable rather than leaving it to Grade 12 — that is when it competes with everything else.
Getting Involved
Speak with the arts teachers or the school office. Auditions, where they apply, are for placement rather than exclusion.