Visual and Performing Arts
The arts play an essential role at St. Timothy’s. We encourage both creativity and skill development through a comprehensive arts curriculum. Our staff works to cultivate an understanding and love of music, theater, and visual art through a positive environment that facilitates the creative process. Performing and visual arts disciplines span our students’ experience from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with opportunities for them to share their art with our community during seasonal concerts, on the stage, and in the art gallery.
All students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade participate in our visual arts program, a co-curricular class that encourages students to use imagination and creative ability as a form of self-expression. We use various media to increase students’ awareness of and appreciation for the role of art and design in their environment.
Middle school students have the opportunity to take visual art as an elective. They explore many visual arts tools, including photography, brushes, clay, and more. Our goal is to teach techniques and art history as students master the concept of design elements.
Our drama program is available to middle school students as an elective. Students take turns as actors, directors, program designers, and in other roles through our classes that encompass all aspects of theater production. Each student enjoys collaboration and creativity, no matter the role. Performances include a fall production on campus designed by students for students and a spring stage production.
Music plays a big role in our lower school curriculum to spark an early love of music.
- Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten emphasize music and movement while also focusing on music note values and rhythm.
- In addition to exploring instruments and spending more time on solfège, our first graders spend time learning about composer music and fun facts.
- Second through third grades gain a greater understanding of musicality and get to explore many instruments in class.
- Third-grade music also includes a unit on bucket drumming, which has become a fast favorite.
- Fourth graders love playing their ukuleles and learn from both the Rainbow Ukulele program and Ukulele Karate, which adds gamification to the learning experience.
Throughout the year, lower school students have opportunities to perform. Pre-kindergarten through second grade participate in the Pumpkin Parade in the fall. First through fourth grades participate in our beloved annual Christmas Pageant, and kindergartners perform in the Hat Parade in the spring. We believe these time-honored traditions give our students and families exciting events to look forward to each year.
Middle School Chorus is an optional year-long program for fifth through eighth grades. Practice is held twice a week, with additional after-school rehearsals around performances, which include a Christmas tour throughout Raleigh, performances at venues such as the Governor’s Mansion and the Capitol Rotunda, and the St. Timothy’s Band and Chorus Christmas Concert. The annual trip to the Kings Dominion Festival of Music, held in late spring, is another annual highlight.
St. Timothy’s offers students multiple band and ensemble opportunities. Our band program is available for all third- through eighth-graders. Students can participate in one of three band levels: Beginning Band, Symphonic Band, or the more advanced Wind Ensemble.
- Depending on interest, options may also include Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Flute Ensemble.
- Band practices are held in the morning before school and/or after school.
- The Band performs in two major concerts per year, a Christmas concert and a spring concert.
- Every year, select students audition for the North Carolina Bandmasters Association’s All District Band (Central District), and several are usually chosen to audition for the All State Honors Band.
- The Wind Ensemble also participates in the Concert Band MPA.
