At AGHS, we offer Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Art in Years 9 and 10.
DANCE
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YEAR 9
DANCE GENRES - 9DAN1
Do you want to express yourself and build confidence through dance in a safe and supportive environment? Join year 9 dance and you will explore dance elements and choreographic ideas through five dance genres: Hip-Hop Dance, Samoan Sasa, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, and Kapa Haka. You will learn to: work with others; create movement sequences; learn and rehearse dance sequences; and perform for an audience, in an end of course dance show.
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YEAR 10
DANCE GENRES - 10DAN1
If you want to experience learning and performing dance from a range of genres, then this course if for you. We will explore dance elements and choreographic ideas from Social Dance, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop- Dance styles. Work is mostly practical, alongside opportunities to watch, research, describe, and discuss dance. You will learn to: work with others; create movement sequences; refine creative ideas; learn and rehearse dance sequences; and perform for an audience, in an end of course dance show.
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PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE - 10DAN2
Offered in Semester 2 only
Have you ever wondered how and why different styles of dance came to be, or what dance might look like in the future? During this course you will explore: Dance Around the World; Dance as Protest (Hip-Hop); Dance and Technology (Just Dance & Tiktok); and Dance and Identity. Work is mostly practical, alongside opportunities to watch, research, describe, and discuss dance. You will learn to: work with others; create movement sequences; refine creative ideas; learn and rehearse dance sequences; and perform for an audience, in an end of course dance show.
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DRAMA
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YEAR 9
WHIRIA TE TĀNGATA - WEAVE THE PEOPLE TOGETHER - 9DRA1
Do you want to build confidence and new relationships in a safe and supported environment? In this drama course you will work in small groups to explore stories and bring them to life through mime, physical theatre, improvisation and process drama. It is a practical course, and you will participate in a wide range of drama activities to create and rehearse scenes and refine creative ideas.
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YEAR 10
DRAMA PERFORMANCE SKILLS - 10DRA1
Offered in Semester 1 and Semester 2
If you are interested in performing on stage or screen, this is the course for you! You will learn about the fundamental acting techniques of voice, body, movement and space. Through pulling apart scripts, building characters and improvising, you will explore the elements of drama and build a base of performance skills that will be used on stage and screen. The performance skills gained through this course are vital for all NCEA drama courses.
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BEHIND THE SCENES - 10DRA2
Offered in Semester 2 only
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in theatre and film, to bring the performance to life? In this course you will explore a range of theatre technologies such as make-up design, lighting and sound design, costume design, set design and props. You will also learn about the production team. Your skills and understanding will be put to use in a real performance context...you will become part of the design and tech team for a public show.
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! 10PERF1
Offered in Semester 2 only
This is a drama and dance specialization opportunity for students who have completed the Drama Performance Skills semester or the Dance Genre Mash semester.
Have you always wanted to be involved in the creation of a full-scale production? Do you want to perform on stage as an actor or dancer? This is your chance to apply the performance skills you have built in drama or dance, to a real performance project. Exploring a chosen theme, you will work collaboratively on the overall design aspects and structure of the performance, rehearse and refine it and then present it to a public audience.
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MUSIC
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Y9 PRACTICAL MUSIC – LEARN OR DEVELOP PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT - 9MUS1
This course introduces you to the art of musical performance. You will spend this semester developing your skills on a (or more than one) musical instrument. You will work independently or in small groups as required. Instruments may include Piano, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Drums and Vocals.
This course can be adapted to suit any student from a beginner to a more advanced musician.
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Y10 GENERAL MUSIC - 10MUS1
This course will introduce you to a broad range of music topics. Students will work on performance (mainly in groups); composition, song writing and music technology, a study of traditional and contemporary music, music theory and listening skills.
It is an advantage to be a member of a school group, although this is not a necessity.
This course can be adapted to suit any student from a beginner to a more advanced musician.
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Y10 PRACTICAL MUSIC - 10MUS2
This course will focus on the preparation and performance of practical music. You will spend this semester developing your skills on a (or more than one) musical instrument. You will work independently or in small groups as required. Instruments may include Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums and Vocals, or any individual instrument.
Solo and Group performance will be studied. Composing and Song Writing will also feature.
This course can be adapted to suit any student from a beginner to a more advanced musician.
It is advisable to study both music courses if you wish to continue music in Year 11.
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JUNIOR MUSIC SPECIALISM - JMUS3
For both Year 9 and Year 10 Students, Semester 1 and 2
This course is available to all Junior students who have a bit of prior knowledge and experience in both practical and theoretical music. This course is an appropriate choice for you if you want to further your musical experience, are a committed musician, and are interested in studying Music at Year 11 and beyond.
It is an advantage to be a member of a school group, although this is not a necessity.
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VISUAL ART
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VISUAL ART MATATAU - DEVELOPING SKILLS 9ART1
In this course you will first explore the concept of Taonga in a drawing. You will then explore the concept of Noa and Art in the everyday, producing a monochromatic still life painting. Finally, the class will work as a collective to complete a tapa cloth using woodcut printmaking.
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VISUAL ART ESSENTIALS - 10ART1
In this course you will learn a variety of art making essentials that will best prepare you for moving into NCEA visual arts. You will explore a variety of drawing skills with pencil and other dry media, and be introduced to artist model analysis informing a self portrait with paint. Finally you will experience the printmaking practice of etching.
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VISUAL ART EXPLORE - 10ART2
In this course you will learn to develop your ideas in art making, first by exploring mark-making and gesture using a variety of media. You will then learn about symbolism and the human body through sculpture. Finally you will create your own piece of propaganda using the process of reduction woodcut printmaking.
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VISUAL ART MASTERY - 10ART3
Offered in Semester 2 only
Students may be prioritised if they have taken 1 visual art semester in years 9 or 10 prior to taking this course.
This course is for students who wish to extend themselves in preparation for study of visual arts in future years.
In this course you will produce still life photographs of sweet treats which will lead to a water colour painting. You will then explore the history of art and how this informs the art world today. Finally, you will unpack the still life genre of Vanitas, planning and developing your own vanitas composition to photograph and paint while taking influence from established practice.
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