The Arts

Dance is a unique art form that uses creativity and movement to communicate meaning and message. At Swan Christian College, students are given the opportunity to explore ideas and develop skills and creativity in dance. Dance also provides a creative outlet, increases activity levels, develops body awareness in students and improves critical thinking skills in the arts.

Middle school

Dance in Middle School explores a variety of dance styles throughout the course of the year including Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary dance styles. Students will explore their ideas through choreography and devise their own work. There are performance opportunities for students to present their work at events throughout the year. Year 8 Dance is a semester long course and Year 9 dance is a year long course. Students in Year 7 will have the opportunity to participate in co-curricular dance opportunities provided by the College.

Senior School

Dance in Senior School continues to build on the skills introduced in Middle School focusing on Jazz and Contemporary dance styles. Students continue to explore their ideas through set and devised choreography that communicates choreographic intent. Students will have increased performance opportunities to present their work at events throughout the year.

Co-Curricular opportunities include:

The Dance Showcase

The Showcase is an exciting evening which provides students with the wonderful opportunity present their classwork and skills learned each semester. Students will have the opportunity to audition and perform dance items created outside of class to be included in the Dance Showcase as well.

Dance Club

Dance club designed as a fun opportunity for students in Year 7-12 to learn something new and is open to students who may or may not take dance at school or outside of school. Dance Club will run according to student interest and availability of staff.

Fenceline Theatre

There are often opportunities for dance to be included in the many Fenceline Theatre productions throughout the year. For more information click this link: upcoming productions

The Music Department at Swan Christian College offers students the opportunity to explore a variety of creative experiences and forms of artistic expression while using and enjoying their God-given talents with each other and for the wider community. As well as selecting music as a class subject, students are welcome to join one of the College's many performing ensembles appropriate for their skills and interests.

Instrumental lessons are available through the College on all the major instruments from our team of professional music tutors.

Middle School

In Years 7 and 8, students undertake a short course (Semester) of study enabling them to explore music. This includes studying music from a variety of styles, performing music using instruments such as piano, voice, guitar and percussion and learning about how music is structured. In Year 9,  students may select courses in Music that further develop their musicianship and knowledge of theory.

Senior School

In Year 10, students may select further courses in Music to continue to develop their musicianship and knowledge of theory.

In Years 11 and 12, students are offered General Music and ATAR Music. The courses are dictated by the authority, details of which can be found at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/arts/music. The Music courses encourage students to explore a range of musical experiences, developing their musical skills and understanding, and creative and expressive potential. In ATAR this is realised through a choice of one of three defined contexts: Western Art Music, Jazz, or Contemporary Music.

Extracurricular

Students may also participate in the variety of extracurricular activities offered at the College before, during and after school hours. These include Choirs, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Guitar Ensemble, Worship Band, Rock Bands, String Ensemble and Drum Corp.

The school performing ensembles perform regularly at school and community events.

The Media Production and Analysis course at Swan Christian College provides students with an exciting and rewarding pathway to understanding the media. Through hands on learning and engaging investigation and research tasks, students become more informed both as viewers and producers.

Media and Society

The media plays an increasingly powerful role in our society, so it is important that we teach young people how to respond critically to the messages it presents. Through the course students gain a strong understanding of visual storytelling and have the opportunity to create compelling media that addresses important issues. Topics that have been addressed in student work include poverty (A Cambodian Story), homelessness (Struggle For Existence), and self-image (Priceless). Many artistic and humorous pieces of work can be produced including music videos, news stories, short films and documentaries.

Accolades

Our students have gained many accolades from the outside community including winning a prestigious WA Screen Award (finalists in the secondary school category from 2007-2010), and winning multiple web design awards in the RAC Fame competition (2008-2010). Using industry standard equipment students consistently create professional quality work that has paved the way for many of them to go on to further study and employment in the media industry.

The Visual Arts course encourages students to express original ideas and feelings creatively through resolved artworks. Students are given a themed project brief each term and work in a progressive and explorative manner to produce a highly resolved unique artwork. Each project has a focus on a different media in order to build strength in a variety of technical skills and processes. Students use the elements and principles of design to develop aesthetic awareness and consider the purpose of meaning through a Christian perspective to make informed evaluations of art.

This is a course for students who are interested in creating, designing, researching, explaining and evaluating ideas for the glory of God. It is for students who choose to take a practical approach to coursework by developing their creative abilities in the creation and production of functional products based on the needs of the designer from a Christian perspective. The course themes investigate the concept of symbolic representation and how it can be used to signify the individual nature and personality God invests in each person He has created. Students are encouraged to consider the construction of meaning based on experiences in the world.

This course requires students to apply organisational skills in the production of a folio that is one of the key components for assessment. Students are encouraged to see the folio as personal resource that should be taken care of as God encourages us to care for others and our materials. Students are assessed on practical skills, creativity, and the information compiled in the folio through a number of key projects throughout the year. They are encouraged and asked to comment on the Christian perspective on the many social issues raised.

Drama at Swan Christian College allows students to develop confidence and skills in collaboration, problem-solving, communication, and creativity, as well as engage in a variety of performance and presentation related skills. Our focus is to create a safe and rewarding environment for students to explore their God-given talents within a Biblical perspective of creativity.

Fenceline Theatre Company

Fenceline Theatre Company is Swan Christian College's school-based theatre that operates under the premise of creating ‘space for students to create’. The theatre company, under the leadership of Jane Hille, provides students and alumni with the opportunity to gain professional theatre experience.

Click here to find out about our upcoming productions, or click here to find out more about our past productions. To access Fenceline's website, with more photos and information, please go to https://www.fencelinetheatrecompany.com.au.

Middle School

In Years 7 and 8, students are introduced to elementary skills in drama and performance. They are familiarised with performance skills, mime and play-building. Tasks encourage teamwork and co-operation, enabling all students to participate.

In Years 9 and 10, students are encouraged to further develop their skills in drama and try out new techniques in a variety of presentational styles. Students participate in showcases during the year, and the Year 10 course culminates in a student devised play for performance, allowing exploration in writing, improvisation, teamwork, organisation, as well as the design aspects of set, costumes, sound and lighting.

Senior School

In Years 11 and 12, Drama is offered at a General level. The course is dictated by the authority, details of which can be found at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/arts/drama

The courses cover many aspects of theatre production, including performance, styles, design, and management in the context of both Australian and World theatre scripts.

Outside of the classroom, Swan offers many opportunities for students to extend their skills and enjoy the exhilaration of performance through Fenceline Theatre productions.

Drum Corp                                                                                    

The Drum Corp is one of our dynamic ensemble groups. It enables students to explore the art of playing together different rhythmic patterns on a variety of drums. The ensemble is designed for students who love rhythm, beginners and rhythmically competent students. Students will be given an opportunity to play a range of popular rhythmic patterns, often experimenting with different styles to create a unique performance work. The Drum Corp performs at special College functions, Awards Night and at the Valedictory Dinner. In the past theyhave performed at the Oil and Gas Conference and with the Wanneroo Pipe Band. 

Concert Band

The Concert Band is being developed into one of the staple bands at Swan Christian College. It aims to develop the fine tone, musicianship and ensemble skills that are required to create a 'mint' ensemble. Students at different year levels, including Year 5 and 6 students, who play a woodwind, brass, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard or percussion instrument are encouraged to come along and are welcome to join at any time.

The band explores playing a variety of styles, including theme songs from film and stage shows, to excerpts from symphonic pieces and arrangements of rock and popular music. The aim is to meet the needs of different music skill levels and students will develop their confidence very quickly.

Jazz Band

This talented group of musicians who enjoy ‘all that jazz’ as their main repertoire have fun exploring other sub-genres, jazz standards, jazz fusion, cool jazz, swing and some hard be-bop, because as jazz artists they are constantly improvising and looking for ways to expand the sounds and rhythms of jazz. Performance is their name of the game. If you have a flair for improvising and can play a jazz instrument, “come along if you feel like…”

We encourage students who have experience playing the piano, drums, guitar, bass guitar, saxophone, trombone, trumpet and even a woodwind instrument to meet with our Jazz band conductor.  The Jazz band has many opportunities to perform both in schoo, and in the community throughout the year.

String Ensemble

The Junior String Orchestra is available to students who learn violin, viola, cello or double bass and have acquired the skills to play in an ensemble. Students will prepare varied repertoire in a fun environment, and develop their string technique and ensemble skills. The group performs as needed in assemblies, Junior School concerts and other College functions.

Swan Song

This is a vocal ensemble aimed to integrate Middle School students who would like to give singing in a group a try. We work on repertoire that is fun and exciting, but also provide a challenge as we endeavour to add some harmonies and counterpoint, and sing in a wide variety of styles. We sing contemporary songs that can be heard on the radio alongside songs that have a ‘contemporary worship’ background style as well as patriotic Australian songs that remind us about our fantastic country. All Year 7 to 9 students are invited to participate.

The Crew

This is our senior vocal ensemble. We aim to further excel in the skills that accumulated from Swan Song. We choose repertoire that stimulates the ears of the listener and the singers alike and work diligently and thoroughly to create a wash of interesting harmonies in Christian and secular repertoire.

Spiritus

This choir has huge potential and is going places. At Year 10-12, this is the ultimate choir to join as we work on very high standard repertoire that is performed by top choirs around the world. Songs are sung ‘A capella’ style, which means without any instrumental accompaniment - previously we have done items in Latin, Zulu and Romanian. This year we are looking to extend our borders further and further to countries that set a bench mark in A capella music. Students are required to audition to be a part of this ensemble students.

Private Instrumental Tuition Program

Private music tuition is available for Brass (trumpet and trombone), Drums, Flute, Guitar, Piano and Keyboard, Violin, Cello, Vocal, Woodwind (Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone), and Bagpipe. The Instrument Application Form is available at Student Services.

The program enables students to become actively involved in learning an instrument with specialist music teachers. There are opportunities for students to perform both individually or in a group, at either small evening gatherings, to encourage confidence in our learners, or in significant concerts for large audiences.

We have a major Music Evening for our private music students in the second half of the year, showcasing achievements and progress.

Instruments for Hire

The College has the following instruments available for hire: trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, cello, flute, violin, and clarinet. The Instrument Hire Form is available at Student Services.