Arts

Winter and Spring Concerts (School-Wide)

All students participate in two concerts each year. For the Winter Concert, all classes sing a song and/or play pieces on the handbells or the recorder. 

The Spring Concert coincides with the End-of-Year Ceremonies and Graduation. Students sing songs together and the Middle School IV graduates sing a graduation song.

The Musical (School-Wide)

The school musical incorporates all aspects of the arts including music, drama, visual arts, and movement. Each year, Cambridge School selects and produces a spring musical that is performed by students on an authentic stage complete with state of the art technology. In addition to the pure enjoyment of being a part of a stage production, children benefit from the experience of working cooperatively with their peers and building self-esteem as they gain theatrical skills and musical aptitude. Whether on stage or behind the scenes, every student plays a role in delivering a first-rate performance. The result of performing in front of family and friends provides the students a sense of accomplishment, both as individuals and as members of a larger group.

Handbell Choir

The handbell choir program is used at Cambridge because handbells involve a highly organized and complex system of counting and reading, where each student is responsible for one or two notes in an entire piece. Students must count the entire piece, and listen to the piece as a whole, to know exactly when they need to play their individual bell or bells. Teamwork is at the core of the class. Every person has to know the parts of everyone else for the score to work. The class includes score analysis, repertoire, and performance.

Private Lessons (Available School-Wide)

Individual instrumental lessons are offered and occur during one lunch period each week for 30 minutes (Students have 15 minutes to allow them time to eat). The following lessons are currently being offered:

• Piano
• Guitar
• Voice

Research continues to support the cognitive benefits of studying an instrument. To learn more, watch this TedEd video.

Fine Arts (School-Wide)

The Fine Arts program at Cambridge School stimulates creative thinking and encourages students to feel comfortable using art as an effective and meaningful form of communication. Students with different learning styles often display a strong aptitude for the visual arts.

Our program works to help students:

• Develop confidence in their creative expression by building skills in a variety of media

• Work with tools appropriate to their abilities and skill level in order to develop manipulative skills needed for artistic expression

• Understand basic design elements, including lines, shapes, colors, textures, space, and light

• Explore more advanced design principles, including pattern, rhythm, balance, contrast, emphasis, and unity

Our Fine Arts program also allows students to create bridges between art and the world around them through a theme-based integrated curriculum. For example, students design and create set backdrops and stage props that are used in their all-school musical production.

Projects are designed to offer enough structure for students to feel creatively safe as well as the freedom for them to make their own discoveries.

Students build a connection to the art community through museum/gallery visits, field trips, and visiting artists.

Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) BRAVO (Middle School)

Each year two Cambridge School students are selected to participate in Listen Up!, one of the PSO BRAVO! education programs, through which the Princeton Symphony Orchestra invites middle school students to listen to live classical music and respond artistically and in words.

As part of the program, students attend a pre-concert talk with the composer. They then get to work illustrating their interpretation of the piece through visual media such as painting, drawing, or collage. The resulting exhibition is held at the Arts Council of Princeton and then at Richardson Auditorium during a subsequent PSO concert.

Visual Arts Show (School-Wide)

In May, student artwork is exhibited at the annual Visual Art Show. The show presents student artwork created during fine arts, graphic design, and architecture classes. Through direct instruction, hands-on learning, and natural talent, students create intricate pieces that are proudly displayed around the school. Student artwork has also been exhibited at the Straube Center Art Gallery, The Arts Council of Princeton, and a local art studio.

Stage Crew (School-Wide)

Students can join Stage Crew as an extracurricular activity. Stage Crew members are responsible for the design and construction of the props and sets needed for the School Musical. Crew members in Middle School have the opportunity to work backstage on the night of the performance moving sets and props.