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Arts

Arts Programming

Dance

The Dancer's Process

What does it take to be a dancer? This exploratory course is designed to provide students with the basic techniques needed to express themselves through the art of movement. Through the use of body conditioning, the understanding of the body in motion and the introduction of technique, terminology and concepts of dance, students will explore a variety of dance styles. Students of any level, beginner through advanced, will benefit from this class.

Drama

The Actor's Process

What are the essential skills needed to be an actor? This course provides beginning and intermediate actors the fundamental skills to create believable, compelling characters on stage. Through a variety of exercises, improvisational games, monologue and scene work, students will learn to develop physical, vocal, and mental agility. Through the student’s participation in live performance, analysis of plays, and the critique of professional actors in live performance, students will develop essential critical thinking skills. These skills will enhance their acting ability, will be invaluable for any profession later in life, and will provide a deeper appreciation for the Theater.

Media Arts

The Media Arts program offers students opportunities to construct, use, and interpret information that is available across multiple media formats. Through the use of the most contemporary tools for research and application, students develop the critical thinking skills necessary for lifelong learning.

Digital technologies and computer software are dramatically reshaping the learning environments of today’s world. Digital literacy is essential to every student’s academic success in this rapidly changing landscape, and courses in this program address he essential technology skills needed for success.

Students are given the chance to explore the technical side of personal computers and the networks that connect them, learning how to solve many of the problems that arise while using them. Students can explore:

  • Robotics
  • Architecture
  • Animation
  • Graphic Design
  • Publications
  • Photography
  • Cinematography
  • Audio Production
  • Electronic Music
They also have opportunities to explore and develop skills in digital design by experimenting with art, animation, and layout programs in Macromedia suite (Photoshop and Illustrator), and various open-source programs like GIMP.

In the Cinematography courses students work in small groups, learning to write, direct and edit short films. Students also learn to write effective screenplays by studying the traditional three-act story structure, character development, script formatting and the art of realistic dialogue writing.

In the Media Studio, students are asked to follow their own curiosity, develop new learning styles based on design thinking, and bring that interest to fruition either working in a group or as an individual. Students are challenged to look beyond the normal boundaries of the experience through projects and discussion of new innovations in technology.

Music Studio

The music offerings at Burr and Burton Academy are quite diverse. In addition to our traditional Large Ensembles we offer a wide range of courses that utilize a blended learning approach to instruction and learning.   By leveraging technology in the classroom, we can offer a wider range of courses and meet the needs of a diverse population of learners.  Our courses include:
  • Music Theory
  • Music Composition and Arranging
  • Classical Music History
  • Contemporary Music History
  • Applied Music
  • Film Scoring
  • Digital DJ
  • Electronic Music
  • Audio Production
  • Advanced Projects in Electronic Music

Large Music Ensembles

Large Ensembles
Like most schools, we offer the opportunity to perform in large ensembles throughout the year in preparation for 3 major performances.

  • Instrumental Music Ensemble (Band/Orchestra)
  • Vocal Music Ensemble (Choir)

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts provide opportunities for students to look at and participate in their world in a more meaningful way. By studying forms of visual communication students are able to decode media and human expression from across time and cultures while also reflecting on their own place and thoughts. These courses all focus on three important aspects of studying and making art; The process of creating and refining ideas, Technique; and the physical skills needed to express those ideas; and passion/ heart, the studio practice needed to persevere against challenges. These practices foster creative problem solving skills and critical thinking that translate across disciplines and serve all students not only as creators of visual imagery, but also as consumers of a visual and expressive world.
Through a studio atmosphere, students in Visual Art Classes will be exposed to various beginning through advanced art techniques. Students who have taken the class before can move onto the Studio Level or Advanced Projects.

  • Foundations of 2 and 3 D Design
  • Painting
  • Ceramics
  • Woodworking
  • Sculpture
  • Drawing
  • Multimedia
  • Fiber
  • Photography

Technical Theater

Technical Theater

This course introduces students to a basic understanding of principles of scenic design, lighting design, sound reinforcement, and other technical aspects of the theatre. Working closely with the Riley Center’s technical director and resident set designer, this select group of technicians develops the necessary skills to run all backstage operations for school and community productions, including set construction, tool safety, sound and light programming, and systems for theater management.
 

Offering every student a world of opportunities.

Burr and Burton Academy

57 Seminary Avenue
PO Box 498
Manchester, VT 05254
Phone: 802.362.1775, Fax: 802.362.0574