Creative and performing arts (CAPA)

Marrickville High School offers students a rich creative experience in the disciplines of:

• Drama
• Music
• Visual Arts

In the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), students discover a variety of art forms through a study of drama, music and visual arts.

Students study 100 hours of both Music and Visual arts during Years 7 and 8, as well as engage in one period per week of Drama. When they reach Year 9, they can further develop their knowledge and skills by choosing one or more of these disciplines as an elective. Students can then select from a range of CAPA courses in Years 11 to 12.

CAPA teachers ensure Marrickville students are always challenged and provided a range of immersive opportunities to work with local artists, theatre companies and performance groups.

We also run a comprehensive  extracurricular program  in the Creative and Performing Arts, including ensembles, clubs and band programs.

Drama

“Drama is an artform with a discrete body of knowledge including conventions, history, skills and methods of working. It is an integral aspect of our society and is taught in school curricula worldwide. Drama fosters an understanding of continuity and change, and of the connections between different times and cultures. It provides opportunities to explore social, cultural, ethical and spiritual beliefs, including the diverse values of Australian culture. Drama encourages a cooperative approach to exploring the world through enactment. The collaborative nature of this artform engages students in a creative process of sharing, developing and expressing emotions and ideas. It is a form of action in which students take on a role as a means of exploring both familiar and unfamiliar aspects of their world. They portray aspects of human experience while exploring the ways people react and respond to different situations, issues and ideas.”

Drama Years 7-10 Syllabus, 2003

At Marrickville High School, all students study Drama in Year 7 and 8. They are introduced to dramatic forms and styles such as puppetry, melodrama, improvisation and comedy. They engage in two whole-cohort projects across their two years studying Drama – a Theatresports Competition in Year 7, and a MarrickFest Film Festival in Year 8.

Students can select Drama as an elective in Years 9 and 10. In these years, students continue to develop their skills in performance and critical analysis through a series of case studies and performance opportunities, including the study of scripted drama, Ancient Greek Theatre, physical theatre, and realism. The Year 10 Drama course culminates in the performance of a full-length play in a professional theatre space.

Drama is available for all students to study in Years 11 and 12. The HSC course comprises of studies in:

•             Australian Drama and Theatre

•             Studies in Drama and Theatre

•             The Group Performance

•             The Individual Project (Major Work).

All classes and rehearsals take place in our Drama Studio and Dance Studio spaces, which are equipped with lighting bars, stage curtains and AV equipment.

A range of extracurricular programs in Drama are also offered by the school.

Music

All students should have the opportunity to develop their musical abilities and potential. As an artform, music pervades society and occupies a significant place in world cultures and in the oral and recorded history of all civilisations. It uses a unique symbol system that uses sound to imply meaning and convey information and has the capacity to cross cultural and societal boundaries. Music plays important roles in the social, cultural, aesthetic and spiritual lives of people. At an individual level, music is a medium of personal expression. It enables the sharing of ideas, feelings and experiences.”

Music Years 7-10 Syllabus, 2003

At Marrickville High School, all students study Music in Years 7 and 8. They explore foundational concepts in music theory, performance, and composition, using a range of instruments and digital technologies. Throughout these years, students engage in hands-on experiences with electronic keyboards, guitars, percussion, and music production software.

Students can select Music as an elective in Years 9 and 10, where they further refine their technical and creative skills through performance, composition, and analysis. They engage with various musical genres and traditions, incorporating digital and live music-making into their learning.

Music is available for students to study in Years 11 and 12 through the Music 1 course. The curriculum includes:

• Performance
• Composition
• Musicology
• Aural Skills

The faculty has a fully equipped music room containing the following equipment/resources:

• Classroom set of electronic keyboards
• Classroom set of acoustic guitars
• Classroom set of glockenspiels
• Drum Kit
• Amplifiers
• Electric Guitars
• Bass Guitar
• TV/DVD/Video
• Quality stereo system
• Acoustic Piano

The school has heavily invested in music technology in line with our ICT emphasis and each of the music classrooms contains:

• Computers with midi keyboards and recording facilities.
• "Cubasis" Music software program across the music computer network.
• "Printmusic" Music software across the music computer network.
• "Band in a Box" Music software across the music computer network.
• "Auralia".
• "Musician"

The Music department also offers a range of extracurricular opportunities, including bands and tuition.

Our students regularly perform at school events, assemblies, and community festivals, allowing them to showcase their talents and develop confidence in live performance settings.

Visual Arts

“Visual Arts has a significant role within the curriculum through providing learning opportunities designed to encourage students to understand the visual arts, including the different kinds of creative works they, and others, make. Visual Arts places great value on the development of students’ intellectual and practical autonomy, reflective action, critical judgement and understanding of art in artmaking and in critical and historical studies of art. Visual Arts plays an important role in the social, cultural and spiritual lives of students. It offers a wide range of opportunities for students to develop their own interests, to be self-motivated and active learners who can take responsibility for and continue their own learning in school and post-school settings.”

Visual Arts Years 7-10 Syllabus, 2003

At Marrickville High School, all students study Visual Arts in Years 7 and 8, where they are introduced to art-making, critical and historical analysis, and the study of artists through a conceptual framework. They explore a range of materials and techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital media.

Students can select Visual Arts as an elective in Years 9 and 10, where they expand their technical and conceptual skills, experiment with mixed media, and develop their own artistic style. They study a variety of artistic movements and engage in projects that encourage both individual expression and collaborative creation.

Students can study Visual Arts for their HSC. The HSC course comprises of studies in:

• Artmaking (exploring a range of media, techniques, and artistic practices)
• Critical and historical studies of art movements, artists, and contexts
• The development of a Body of Work for the HSC, showcasing individual artistic expression

Students have access to dedicated art studios equipped with painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and digital media resources. Marrickville High School supports students in exhibiting their work through school showcases and external competitions, fostering a strong culture of artistic excellence.

CAPA Extra-Curricular Activities

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