The variety of programs offered expose students to their potential areas of strength. In most cases, art and music have been cut from public education. Western’s programs in the arts open up new worlds to our students, and allow them to discover their special talents. These programs inspire our students to be stretched and think creatively in all aspects of their lives, and appreciate more fully the beauty in the world around them. Students analyze and evaluate the cultural and moral values expressed in art that creatively communicates God’s truth.
Elementary students are able to weekly participate in the following instruction:
- Annual ACSI Choral Festival
- Annual ACSI Art Fair (K-8th)
Music at Western Christian in Claremont – Where we make a joyful noise!
Regular music instruction is part of the school curricular goals for grades Pre-K-5. Children meet once a week for music classes, which includes general, vocal and instrumental topics.
The Pre-K through 2nd grade music curriculum focuses on learning musical “road signs”, including reading the treble clef and performing basic rhythmic patterns, understanding instrument families and recognizing the unique timbre of sounds through great listening examples, and of course, building vocal repertoire through praise songs, new age-appropriate music, multi-cultural selections and folk songs.
The 3rd grade through 5th grades students put their musical knowledge into practice by playing the recorder; a woodwind instrument reaching as far back as the Renaissance Period. As students continue to hone their musical skills, they will have the opportunity to increase their specific knowledge of classic masterworks and their composers. While learning more advanced musical vocabulary, which includes dotted and tied rhythms, and major and minor scales and chords, they will also try their own hand at basic composition.
After-school chorus is offered for students in grades 1-8. WCS has a Primary Choir, and a Secondary Choir. These choirs perform at special events, in addition to the regular school-wide performances.