Arts
School should be joyful, not stressful. The arts bring joy to daily life at Aspen Country Day School, where children have daily opportunities to imagine and create. They build a solid foundation of understanding in the visual, performing, musical, and digital arts. They learn to communicate complex ideas using a variety of artistic languages, and to appreciate and analyze many art forms and their importance in our society.
Visual arts: creativity & skill
The art program builds a foundation in the visual arts so students have the skills to communicate ideas and feelings visually. While some students discover a continuing passion for art, all learn how to express themselves using a variety of mediums. Studies of famous artists and various styles of visual art are woven into the curriculum at each grade level so students graduate with a broad understanding of art’s significance in our culture.
PERFORMING ARTS: COURAGE & confidence
From the earliest grades, children learn to speak in front of an audience, to move around a stage with intention, to understand and recognize the structure of a performance, and to be a respectful and appreciative audience member. In Lower School, Shakespeare plays give students early exposure to classic works. In Middle School, performing arts classes build empathy and a powerful sense of community.
Music: Expression & enjoyment
Students learn the language of music by singing and playing Orff string, keyboard, wind and rhythm instruments. Music studies complement mathematics, reading, writing, and science, and encourage connections and higher-level thinking. Performances feature instrumental and vocal productions.
Technology: fluency & communication
In Lower School, students build practical skills and digital literacy. As they progress through the grades, students employ tech to create projects and presentations. They become adept at using evolving tools to document and present their understanding in academic subjects. They also use the digital arts to express their creativity in video, audio, and print.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CREATIVE ARTS: courses for fall 2025
PERFORMANCE THEATER: Students practice the fundamentals of acting, stagecraft, and theatrical production, with a focus on creative drama and improvisation. Students develop skills in character development, scene study, vocal and physical expression, and ensemble work. We also explore elements like set design, costume, and basic technical theater aspects. The course fosters creativity, collaboration, and self-confidence while providing an understanding and appreciation of the performing arts.
STUDIO BAND: Students work collaboratively on long-term performance and recording projects. This is a “no experience required course” that asks students to step out of their comfort zones and try new things. At the heart of this course is a hands-on, active approach to getting students excited about playing instruments, performing, and recording music together as a group. All students try out a variety of contemporary instruments including drums, bass, guitar, piano, organ, percussion, and vocals. Students learn arrangement and rehearsal skills while also building vocabulary that will help them communicate in diverse musical situations. Students will cover the fundamentals of multi-track recording by delving into microphone recording techniques, analog recording gear, and digital audio workstation software. Recordings are presented throughout the semester, and a culminating live performance will both simultaneously melt faces and mend broken hearts.
VISUAL ART: Students build technical skills and creative confidence through hands-on demonstrations, guided practice, and imaginative projects. Units focus on still life, landscape, portraiture, and concept-based work, balancing observation with personal expression. Students experiment with a wide range of two- and three-dimensional media—including pastel, ink, watercolor, acrylic, clay, plaster, and mixed materials—while studying the work of historic and contemporary artists. By semester’s end, students will have created a portfolio of projects that showcase both skill development and a growing ability to express meaning and personal voice through art.
DESIGN & BUILD: In this hands-on design class, students collaborate on creative, real-world projects that blend innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork. One major project includes building a tube amplifier from scratch, introducing students to circuit design and the principles of sound amplification. Beyond learning technical skills, students experience the full design process—planning, testing, and refining their work—while creating something with lasting value for the school community. The amplifier(s) will be put to use in classrooms, presentations, and music performances, giving students the pride of seeing their work in action.
Read more about the new Creative Arts program in Middle School