Aesthetics

Aesthetics Department

The Aesthetics Department champions the development of students’ talents to promote lifelong passion in the arts. The arts is taught based on the principle of mastering important life-skills that are relevant at any time and age. A kaleidoscope of programmes; the visual arts, music, and dance enrichment lessons – carried out during CnME periods for lower secondary students, provided numerous opportunities for students to be exposed to global cultures and gain a deeper mastery of the arts. For the Assembly programme this year, a string quartet delighted the students with a rousing medley of popular songs. The exposure to varying art forms heighten students’ cultural awareness, while informing them of the opportunities available in the music and art scene.

The Lower Secondary Music curriculum utilizes well-founded pedagogical methods like self-directed and collaborative learning, to motivate students to achieve instrumental mastery and performance competency. Secondary 1 students were equipped with knowledge of musical theory through online platforms and innovative music lessons such as Creative Ensembles that cultivate students’ creativity and confidence. Secondary 2 students developed their musical abilities in an Arrangement Module, making use of the mobile app Garage Band on the iPad. Opportunities are also abound for deserving students to perform at school platforms; during post-exam activities and lunchtime performances.

Lower Secondary students studying Art benefit from the Revised Lower Secondary Art Syllabus by first brainstorming Big Ideas and seeing how Art relates to them and their surroundings. Not only do students start to perceive, they also find ways to communicate and appreciate Art in general. Students explore the skills of appreciation and critique, learn the Elements of Art and Principles of Design extensively. Secondary One students get to enjoy both Fine Arts as well as Digital Art through the year. They learn how to relate Art to their own life by exploring its role in their student’s life, society and culture. Secondary Two students went through Inquiry-Based Learning by studying and understanding Visual qualities within their school life context through artistic processes such as planning of color scheme and using acrylic painting and collage as mediums. They also explored painting on canvas using mixed media. As such, Lower Secondary students are able to express themselves through their artmaking, realise a higher quality of life as a result of their understanding and appreciation of art. Both levels experienced and enjoyed visual-literacy-building activities aiming to turn on the power of art within their ability to create.

Secondary 3 students in the Higher Art programme had gone through a series of modules to develop their skills. They experimented with 2-D and 3-D mediums, engaging in activities such as charcoal figure drawing and relief sculptures.

The students were encouraged to develop both their technical and conceptual skills at the same time. Visits to higher institutes of education for art had also been organised for the students to have a glimpse of what their future could be. In order to expand their artistic knowledge, the students went on learning journeys to the museums.

Lessons in Art & Design (A&D), Design & Technology (D&T) and Food & Consumer Education (FCE) are varied and compelling, with focus on teaching disciplinary skill sets. The core of A&D is creative creation with different mediums using inquiry-based learning. Through the study of elements of art and design principles, Secondary 1 students were able to find new forms of expression with colour pencil and digital media. The Secondary 2 students experimented with collage and painted their alter egos on canvas; where they mimic styles of artistic movements. Student artworks will be exhibited during the ArtsFest, a school-based art event, at the end of the year. Artworks by our Higher Art students, the crème de la crème, are also present in our art studios for appreciation.

Through D&T, students are exposed to design processes that involve analysing situations and proposing solutions with consideration of needs, requirements and constraints of resources and technology. Students also enjoy the hands-on approach to expand their creativity as well as discover their own strengths and areas for growth.

Food & Consumer Education lessons place much emphasis on authentic learning experiences through exploration of nutrition and health; diet-related diseases, and their impact on our lives. Students are engaged in robust discussion on food resource and money-management topics; as well as consumer issues that they face on a personal level. Through real-life case studies, students benefit from experiential learning; as they discover the various health issues that may arise from current dietary and lifestyle habits. Discourse through Dialogic Talk; enhanced by the use of various ICT tools and platforms; helps them develop greater literacy in the subject.

Aristotle once said, “educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” The Arts lend depth to students’ imagination. Imagination develops creativity; an increasingly crucial skill set in an uncertain and changing world. At Nan Hua High, we strive to give students a strong foundation in the Arts to maximise their potential and talents.