The Performing Arts department of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is home to approximately 350 professional, certified music and theatre arts teachers and ranks nationally in the top 5 arts education programs. We offer an extensive array of classes in the areas of general music, band, orchestra, choral music, and theatre arts, which are all an essential part of learning.
The Performing Arts curriculum is the North Carolina Course of Study, which is directly aligned with the National Standards for Arts Education. All elementary students participate in weekly general music classes. Middle school students have the opportunity to explore the arts through an arts education wheel encompassing the various disciplines. Additionally, they may elect specific courses in band, orchestra, theatre arts and chorus. High School opportunities include courses in all disciplines as well as additional advanced level courses and in-depth study through Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate Classes.
Partnerships between the Performing Arts Department, Charlotte's ArtsTeach, and Community Arts Organizations allow visiting artists the opportunity to share their expertise and experience in the classroom. In addition to regular Performing Arts classes, students participate in field trips, on-site endeavors, and workshops by local artists and organizations.
Each year, all 4th and 5th grade students attend a Charlotte Symphony performance. This year's presentation theme is Sounds of Enchantment: Myths, Legends, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales in Music. Each performance is preceded by in-depth presentations held in the classroom and designed to enhance musical knowledge and experience. They also provide an opportunity for students to meet and hear a professional musician play and to give students a chance to ask questions about what it means to study and perform music.
The goals of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools are supported by the Performing Arts in all academic areas. The arts are infused in all content areas and provide motivation for students and linkages of understanding across the curriculum. The Performing Arts also provide an outlet for self-expression and artistic pleasure by engaging a student's attention and encouraging their creativity and individuality.
Strong instructional programs, a wealth of community resources, and the potential for continued growth combine to make the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools a premier model for Performing Arts programs in the new millennium.