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Fine Arts During the 2020-2021 Academic Year

Holy Innocents' Episcopal School believes that the fine and performing arts are more vital than ever, as they can support students' social and emotional learning during times of high stress. While the types of productions, concerts and audience experiences may need to shift to protect the health of students, faculty and families, we are presented with an opportunity to try new technology, new ensemble configurations, new venues and plays providing a meaningful experience to our students.  

So what does this mean for the theatre program at HIES? HIES has reviewed multiple guides, studies, expert resources and consulted with area schools to develop a plan that prioritizes the safety of all involved. 

Our plans include the following:

  1. As of now, GHSA still plans to move forward with the US One Act Play competition in the fall. We don't yet know where the competition will take place, but the HIES production is slated to be performed at the Sewell Mill Cultural Center in their outdoor amphitheater. Additionally, we will have a few small cast 10-minute plays. This festival will have limited audience seating and will be live-streamed and recorded.  
  2. We are looking to add a One Act Play experience for our Middle School students in the fall that would not have a live performance but would be filmed and live-streamed to Middle School students and families.
  3. We are exploring ways to present the Middle School production of A Wrinkle in Time as a recorded radio broadcast (along the lines of Live from Here with Chris Thile) and then distribute to our community via live-stream for a viewing party this fall.
  4. The MS/US musical, fifth-grade production and Middle School Play will all be moved to the spring and occur in succession. We will minimize sets, limit cast and crew sizes, and stagger rehearsal times and spaces. Some rehearsals and performances may take place virtually or outdoors. We will live-stream all productions and create at home "watch parties" to generate energy and enthusiasm for both the in-person and online experience.  

So what does this mean for the band, orchestra and choral ensembles at HIES? HIES has reviewed multiple guides, studies, expert resources, and consulted with area schools to develop a plan which prioritizes the safety of all involved. Our plans include the following:

  1. Our Primary School has created individual music bags for each student to minimize shared equipment.
  2. We have purchased Ipads for our Lower School music ensembles so that teachers have multiple modes in which to teach music literacy.
  3. We have purchased Yamaha recorders for all fourth-grade beginning band students and will begin the year learning how to read music and developing their sense of musicianship in the safest way possible.
  4. We will be purchasing Smart Music licenses for all students, which allows for online learning and greater independence for our musicians.
  5. We will be reducing section sizes to assure that we are able to safely fit our ensembles in our rehearsal rooms and utilizing the auditorium, outside, Parish Hall and any open classroom spaces to do smaller, socially distanced rehearsals.
  6. We will be layering in ukulele, keyboarding, world drumming, music history, songwriting, and sound design units into our Chorus class to create a dynamic and engaging course. Singing will be done either outside or individually and recorded for instructor feedback.  
  7. Concerts will look and feel different – from live-streamed events to small coffee concerts – we will be doing everything to keep performance central to our curriculum while adhering to the safety measures dictated by the CDC.  
  8. A new recording studio built in the Middle School Collaboratory over the summer will be leveraged by all ensembles to do small group recordings and learn the art of sound engineering.

So what does this mean for the visual art program at HIES? HIES has reviewed multiple guides, studies, expert resources and consulted with area schools to develop a plan which prioritizes the safety of all involved. Our plans include the following:

  1. We will be creating individual art kits for students that will minimize the sharing of high touch materials.
  2. We are purchasing document cameras for our VA faculty to allow for demos to occur for remote learners.