Fine Arts

At Urbana School District 116, the Fine Arts play a vital role in developing creativity, confidence, collaboration, and self-expression. Students have opportunities to explore art, music, dance and drama beginning in the elementary grades and continuing through high school, where they can participate in a wide range of curricular and extracurricular experiences. Through classroom instruction, concerts, performances, and showcases, students develop artistic skills while building critical thinking, communication, and leadership abilities. 

Most importantly, our program is based on process, not product. The learning process and exploration of the arts is our main focus. Teachers are able to create their own curriculum based on the National Core Arts Standards. This allows each teacher to teach the concepts based on their strengths, the strengths of their students, the materials available to them and what methods best support learning. 

Band, Orchestra and Choir Programs

Elementary: 5th grade students who participate in band are given 30 minute group lessons twice a week at their elementary school. through a “pull-out” program, which means that students are pulled from their regular class in order to have their lessons. Students who sign up for band are given the opportunity to learn to play the flute, clarinet, trumpet, or trombone. Students who sign up for strings are given the opportunity to learn to play the violin, viola, or cello. Students in these programs will have three concerts during the year: All-City Concerts.

SGC/UMS: Students in grades 6-8 have the opprtunity to participate in Band, Choir or Orchestra. In addition to these ensembles that meet during the school day, there is a Concert Band, Concert Choir, Concert Orchestra, and Jazz Band that meet before school. These ensembles are an enrichment opportunity for students who are excelling in their daily ensembles.  

UHS: UHS has two concert bands: Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony. These two bands also makeup the Pep Bands that perform at home basketball games. The Tiger Marching Band begins its season with band camp during the summer, and perform at home football games, parades, and competitions throughout the fall. UHS also houses Symphonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Urbana Singers, Concert Choir, and Honors Choir. In addition to these ensembles that meet during the school day, there are two A Cappella vocal groups, a Jazz Band, and a Jazz Combo. These ensembles are an enrichment opportunity for students who are excelling in their daily ensembles. These groups are selected by audition and/or invitation.

Evelyn Burnett Underwood (EBU) Instrumental Assistance Program

The Evelyn Burnett Underwood (EBU) Instrumental Assistance Program provides musical instruments to low income students who want to participate in an Urbana School music program. Student requirements include a desire to learn, an agreement to meet the expectations of the class, and a financial need.

Over the past 25 years, the EBU program has provided instruments for over 1,500 students who otherwise would not have been able to participate in the instrumental music classes.

The music department encourages all students to achieve their musical potential as members of Urbana’s excellent performing organizations. Support from all sides- district funding, administrative support, community support, teacher instruction, student and family responsibility and effort- is necessary for the accomplishment of this goal.  

You can make a donation to support the EBU Instrumental Assistance Program on our website: EBU Donations. Be sure to select “Evelyn Burnett Underwood Instrumental Assistance” in the drop down menu.

Students will use a variety of media to create and learn about art. Drawing, painting, watercolor, sculpting, print making, paper mache and clay are some possibilities of activities. As they develop their skills, students extend their understanding of how art elements and design principles combine to make meaning in art. 

Projects vary throughout the year based on different concepts, materials, and the strengths and passions of the instructor. Some schools also have after school choirs/music groups.

Highlights:

• Students create pieces for an art display during the Boneyard Arts Festival each year
• Students participate in Post Mark Urbana events
• USD collaborates with Urbana Public Arts program and the Krannert/Spurlock Museums

Dance

Students will explore using their bodies to move safely through space in time. They will learn the basic concepts of dance, such as shape, pathway, energy and level. As students grow, they will be able to recall and perform a prepared dance in front of others, respond critically, creatively, and constructively to a dance performance and make connections that compare dances across cultures, amoung various choreographers and/or across performance genres.

Highlights:

• Teachers across the district will guide students to participate in a district wide flash mob, set to a popular song and performed during the Boneyard Arts Festival

Drama

Students will use dramatic play to develop imagination, concentration and cooperation skills. As they grow, students will continue to refine imagination, concentration, cooperation, and transformation skills as they explore feelings, characters, and character reactions through a variety of theater games and vocal exercises. They inquire about characters and their circumstances through creative devices such as monologue, scene writing, costumes or props. They also share performance observations and discuss choices drama/theatre artists make to convey particular ideas or feelings. 

Highlights:

• Many teachers showcase what students have learned during assemblies/performances during the year
• Many schools have after school drama groups