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The Arts

T.A.Blakelock High School offers a wide range of Arts courses from Grades 9 to 12, including drama, music, media arts and visual arts. Whether you're new or experienced, these courses foster creativity, collaboration and critical thinking while preparing students for future pathways.

Dramatic Arts

The Dramatic Arts at Blakelock has something for everyone. Building on the foundations of the creative process and constructive behaviour, the program encourages personal growth, reflection, expression, risk-taking and excellence. We always push students to create new and original work within each course. 

Not an actor but want to explore your creativity? Check out some of our production and film courses for a more technological and hands on experience. Whoever you are, come learn in a fun and positive environment; we have a place for you.

Arts & Culture SHSM

One of the unique and highly rewarding opportunities you will have at Blakelock is the Specialist High Skills Major, or SHSM. The opportunity is offered at all Halton schools but only a select few have The Arts & Culture sector.

Here, it is offered for students looking to have an in-depth experience in the Performing Arts. If accepted to this program in grade 11/12, students receive intensive training with community artists and reach ahead initiatives to connect with industry professionals and post-secondary institutions.

The presence of this program in the school results in innovative technology offered to SHSM and non-SHSM students alike as well as experiences that inevitably filter down to all student in this subject area. Hosting the program here is ultimately enriching for all of our students. Just one more thing that makes Blakelock great.

 

 

Music

The music department at Thomas A. Blakelock High School is widely recognized for its excellence, creativity, and community spirit. Offering a diverse range of ensembles, including concert bands, jazz bands and choirs, the department provides students with rich opportunities to develop their musicianship and perform at a high level.

The Music Council also provides leadership opportunities and guides the initiatives of the students each year. Blakelock musicians regularly excel at regional and provincial festivals, showcasing their dedication and artistry. Beyond performance, the program emphasizes collaboration, leadership, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

With passionate teachers and an inclusive, supportive environment, the T.A.Blakelock Music Department continues to be a vibrant cornerstone of the school’s culture and success.

Visual Arts

The intention of our program is to help students develop their creative skills and to build the discipline necessary to achieve their artistic goals. Our program allows students to explore a variety of 2-D and 3-D media. Creating and using imagery effectively will expand all students' opportunities for communication and for success. We encourage each student to build upon their individual talents and abilities.  

Having the opportunity to be creative and reflective is beneficial for all students.  Engaging in the act of creation provides a means of processing human experience and affords a therapeutic benefit in the form of stress management. Our goal is to ensure that, whatever their pathway, students will be able to incorporate visual communication into their skill set. Students today are inundated with images. Teaching them to create, utilize, contextualize and effectively interpret those images is an important and transferable life skill.

The Arts Course Descriptions

Grades 9-12

This course provides opportunities for students to explore dramatic forms and techniques, using material from a wide range of sources and cultures.

Students will use the elements of drama to examine situations and issues that are relevant to their lives. Students will create, perform, discuss, and analyse drama, and then reflect on the experiences to develop an understanding of themselves, the art form, and the world around them.


Prerequisite: None

This course is designed for students in the ESL program and focuses on speaking and presentations. Students develop the skills needed for school presentations, college or university interviews and video applications, and allows students to develop their English vocabulary and pronunciation. The course helps students gain confidence and strengthen their English speaking and listening.

9th Credit - Full Year Course done on student’s lunch hour

This course emphasizes the performance of music at a level that strikes a balance between challenge and skill and is aimed at developing technique, sensitivity, and imagination. Students will participate in creative activities that teach them to listen with understanding. They will also learn correct musical terminology and its appropriate use.

This course is offered on Tuesdays at 3-4:30pm and Thursdays at 7-8am for the full school year.  Students must be able to attend these class times.

This course emphasizes the performance of music that aims at developing technique, sensitivity, and imagination. Students will participate in creative activities that teach them to listen with understanding.  They will also learn correct musical terminology and its appropriate use in written and performed music.

This course emphasizes the creation and performance of music at a level consistent with previous experience and is aimed at developing technique, sensitivity, and imagination. Students will develop musical literacy skills by using the creative and critical analysis processes in composition, performance, and a range of reflective and analytical activities. Students will develop an understanding of the conventions and elements of music and of safe practices related to music, and will develop a variety of skills transferable to other areas of their life.

This course provides foundations for further study in the elements and principles of design.  It focuses on expressive qualities of various materials, processes, techniques and styles of art-making.  Students will develop the language and process of art criticism.  They will also study the characteristics of particular historical art periods and cultures.  Western art from prehistoric times to the Renaissance and Canadian art will be studied.

This course provides opportunities for students to explore dramatic forms, conventions, and techniques. Students will explore a variety of dramatic sources from various cultures and representing a range of genres. Students will use the elements of drama in creating and communicating through dramatic works. Students will assume responsibility for decisions made in the creative and collaborative processes and will reflect on their experiences.

Prerequisite: None

This course is designed for students in the ESL program and focuses on speaking and presentations. Students develop the skills needed for school presentations, college or university interviews and video applications, and allows students to develop their English vocabulary and pronunciation. The course helps students gain confidence and strengthen their English speaking and listening.

Prerequisite:  None

This course integrates two or more of the arts (dance, drama, media arts, music, and visual arts), giving students the opportunity to produce and present integrated art works created individually or collaboratively. Students will demonstrate innovation as they learn and apply concepts, styles, and conventions unique to the various arts and acquire skills that are transferable beyond the classroom. Students will use the creative process and responsible practices to explore solutions to integrated arts challenges.

This course emphasizes performance of music at an intermediate level.  Students will perform music representing many different styles and countries, and will play in small and large ensembles as well as solos. Students will write and perform two short compositions in specific styles in order to learn the elements of music and correct music terminology.

Grade 9 Music is strongly recommended.

Prerequisite:  None

This course emphasizes performance of music at a level that strikes a balance between challenge and skill. Student learning will include participating in creative activities and listening perceptively. Students will also be required to develop a thorough understanding of the language of music, including the elements, terminology, and history. This course is designed for students who wish to study music through singing, emphasizing the fundamentals of good singing through breathing, voice production, diction and ear training.

Prerequisite:  None



This course emphasizes learning through practice, building on what students know, and introducing them to new ideas, materials, and processes for artistic thinking and experimentation. Student learning will include the refined application of the elements and principles of design, incorporating the creative and design processes, and the relationship between form and content. Students will also learn about the connections between works of art and their historical contexts. Course objectives will be achieved through a comprehensive program or through a program, including painting, drawing and sculpture.   

Prerequisite:  None

This course requires students to create and perform in dramatic presentations.  Students will analyse, interpret, and perform dramatic works from various cultures and time periods.  Students will research various acting styles and conventions that could be used in their presentations, and analyze the functions of playwrights, directors, actors, designers, technicians, and audiences. 

Prerequisite: ADA1O1 or ADA2O1

This course is designed for students in the ESL program and focuses on speaking and presentations. Students develop the skills needed for school presentations, college or university interviews and video applications, and allows students to develop their English vocabulary and pronunciation. The course helps students gain confidence and strengthen their English speaking and listening.

Prerequisite:  None

This course requires students to create and perform in dramatic presentations.  Students will analyse, interpret, and perform dramatic works from various cultures and time periods.  Students will research various acting styles and conventions that could be used in their presentations, and analyze the functions of playwrights, directors, actors, designers, technicians, and audiences. 

Prerequisite: ADA1O1 or ADA2O1

This course requires students to create and perform in dramatic film.  Students will analyse, interpret, and perform dramatic film and television works from various cultures and time periods.  Students will research various acting styles and conventions that could be used in their own film creations, and analyse the functions of screenwriters, directors, actors, designers, technicians, and audience members. This course will prepare students to communicate story, character and information in creative film and video projects while learning to critically analyze the vast amount of video media being absorbed on a daily basis.

Prerequisite:  None

This is a beginning course in acoustic guitar in which students will learn the elements of music, chord patterns and scales in various keys in order to write and perform songs.  Students will perform appropriate works, particularly works in contemporary popular styles.  Independently and in groups, they will also plan, market, and produce a musical performance, making use of appropriate technology, and will evaluate the results.  Students must provide their own acoustic guitar; rentals can be arranged.

Prerequisite:  None

This course will offer students an introduction to working with digital audio.  In this course, students will learn how to use industry standard hardware and software to create loops, mix and master recordings.  Topics to be covered will include: Hardware (speakers, microphones, MIDI controllers and sequencers, launch pads, loop machines and turntables) Software (DAWs (Logic Pro X, Garage Band))

Prerequisite:  None

This course provides students with opportunities to develop their musical literacy through the creation, appreciation, analysis, and performance of music, including traditional, commercial, and art music. Note: This course runs Tuesday morning before school and Wednesday after school.

Prerequisite: AMU1O1 or AMU2O1

This course emphasizes the performance of music through all historical eras of time, as well as popular, Canadian and non-Western music. Performance is in small and large ensembles and solos, and includes appreciation and analysis of works performed. Students will attend and evaluate a live performance. Students will write and perform a study and a melodic piece to incorporate correct music notation and terminology.

Prerequisite: AMU1O1 or AMU2O1

This course in vocal music develops students’ artistic knowledge and skills through the performance of music and the preparation of musical performances.  Students will perform appropriate works, particularly works in contemporary popular styles.  Students will present to the class a topic of personal music interest, and will explore the history of popular music.  Independently and in groups, they will also plan, market and produce a musical performance, making use of appropriate technology, and will evaluate the results.  

Prerequisite:  None

This course focuses on studio activities in one or more of the visual arts.  Students will create art works that explore a wide range of subject matter, and will evaluate art works, providing grounds for their aesthetic judgments.  They will also examine historical and cultural contexts of Western art (including Canadian art) and art from various world cultures to support their study of specific media.  

Prerequisite: AVI1O1 or AVI2O1

This course emphasizes learning through practice. It specifically targets studio skills, providing opportunities for participants to develop their technical skills, while incorporating art history and criticism as resource material. Students will explore the principles and elements of design through a variety of media, while simultaneously developing an appreciation of career opportunities and the artwork of crafts artisans.

Prerequisite: None

This course requires students to experiment with forms and conventions in dramatic literature, and to create/adapt and present dramatic works. Students will do research on dramatic forms, conventions, themes, and theories of acting and directing from different historical periods, and apply their knowledge of these in analysing and interpreting dramatic literature, including Canadian works and works from various cultures in the late twentieth century. Students will also examine the significance of dramatic arts in various cultures.

Prerequisite: ADA3M1

This course focuses on creating theatre for public audiences.  Students will create original and published plays, exploring genres, character work, acting, and directing styles.  This is for any student who is interested in creating and performing theatre.

Prerequisite: ADA3M1 or ADD3M1

This course requires students to create and perform in dramatic film. Students will analyse, interpret, and perform dramatic film and television works from various cultures and time periods. Students will research various acting styles and conventions that could be used in their own film creations, and analyse the functions of screenwriters, directors, actors, designers, technicians, and audience members. This course will prepare students to communicate story, character and information in creative film and video projects while learning to critically analyze the vast amount of video media being absorbed on a daily basis.

Prerequisite: ADA2O1, ADA3M1, ADV3O1

This course emphasizes the appreciation, analysis, and performance of music including art music, jazz, popular music, and Canadian and non-Western music. Students will concentrate on developing interpretive skills and the ability to work independently. They will also complete complex creative projects.

Prerequisite: AMG3M1

This course is an extension of the Grade 11 course. In this course, students will learn to do foley, set up live recordings and create soundtracks for films. Topics to be covered would include: Hardware (speakers, microphones, MIDI controllers and sequencers, launch pads, loop machines and turntables, amplifiers, external sound cards) Software (DAWs (Logic Pro X) and Video editing software).

Prerequisite:  None

This course provides students with opportunities to develop their musical literacy through the creation, appreciation, analysis, and performance of music, including traditional, commercial, and art music. Note: This course runs Tuesday morning before school and Wednesday after school.

Prerequisite:  AMU3M1

This course emphasizes the performance of music from all historical time periods, as well as jazz, popular and Canadian music. Performance is in small and large ensembles and solos, and includes analysis of written works. Students will attend and evaluate a live performance. More advanced notation and terminology are studied. Creative work includes writing and performing a piece in Twentieth Century style, and an Independent Study Unit.

Prerequisite:  AMU3M1

This course emphasizes the appreciation, analysis, and performance of many styles of music, including art music, jazz, popular music, and Canadian and non-Western music. Students will concentrate on developing interpretive skills and the ability to work independently.  They will also complete complex creative projects.  Students will also study the music from different cultures from around the world specifically:  the powerful and beautiful drumming and song of West Africa and Cuba, as well as the passionate and exciting world of Japanese Taiko Drumming.

Prerequisite:  AMV3O1, AMU3M

This course emphasizes the refinement of media arts skills through the creation of a thematic body of work by applying traditional and emerging technologies, tools, and techniques such as multimedia, computer animation, installation art, and performance art. Students will develop works that express their views on contemporary issues and will create portfolios suitable for use in either career or post-secondary education applications. Students will critically analyze the role of media artists in shaping audience perceptions of identity, culture, and community values. 

Prerequisite: AVI3M1, AWD3O1

This course focuses on the refinement of students’ skills and knowledge in visual arts. Students will analyse art forms; use theories of art in analysing and producing art; and increase their understanding of stylistic changes in modern and contemporary Western art, Canadian (including Native Canadian) art, and art forms from various parts of the world. Students will produce a body of work demonstrating a personal approach.   

Prerequisite: AVI3M1

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