Music & Art - Overview

Music

The Smith School has one of the strongest music programs among independent schools in New York City. With a fully equipped practice and recording studio, students study music theory, performance, and studio production.

Students may participate in a wide range of music classes and performance bands. Individual and group instruction is also available after school.

Each semester, students perform in the school's auditorium for an audience of parents, teachers, administrators, and others. Several students also move on to performing in local New York City bands at a variety of city venues.

Music can also be incorporated into the core curriculum. One musically-inclined student, who was challenged by the core literature requirement, was asked to write an essay on the assigned book. He struggled with the project, so the teacher allowed him to write a song about the book. This he did with joy, and wrote and performed the song for the class.

Art

Like music, art is an important part of a well-rounded education. The Smith School offers a variety of art courses that teach basic skills such as illustration and painting. Other art media are explored, including ceramics, block printing, and photography.

The school's proximity to many fine museums and galleries is a valuable resource for many art-oriented students. Field trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) occur each semester. One Smith School student supplements her Smith School education with classes at MOMA.