In our Primary Division children begin their creative journey. ISZL students have many opportunities to develop skills and gain valuable early arts experiences, which we hope will grow into life long passions!

Students at ISZL enjoy attending our wide range of activities. These clubs allow students to have fun together and to build new friendships. Most clubs run after school, but some are offered at lunchtime for our younger children. We are proud to offer a variety of activities as part of our clubs and activities programme for budding artists, musicians and performers.

Currently offered clubs in the Primary School include:

Art and Design, Sewing, Dance and Drama, Computer Art and Design, Photography, Wind Band, Guitar Ensemble, Zug Voices, ISZL Zug Campus Choir and String Orchestra.

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For students in Grades 4 - 8, the opportunity to learn a musical instrument of their choice (from a selected offering) is provided as part of the music curriculum. At ISZL, we believe that by learning a musical instrument or developing the singing voice, students have the opportunity to cultivate an appreciation of Music and the Arts and provide an outlet for artistic, emotional and creative expression. Learning an instrument or singing supports all aspects of learning and has a positive effect on the student’s other academic subjects.

On offer to students we have:

• Flute
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• French Horn
• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Double Bass
• Classical Guitar
• Voice

Students are encouraged to join an ensemble, orchestra, or choir as part of their instrument learning. Currently on offer to Zug Campus students are: Zug Voices, ISZL Zug Campus Choir, Wind Band, Guitar Band, and String Orchestra.

In addition to the ensembles and choirs, the Instrumental Music Team organise trips and concerts throughout the school year. These include: Guitar Band, Wind Band, and String Orchestra trips to Chalet Bergheim, the schools chalet in Wengen; ISZL Zug Campus Choir European Tours; AMIS (Association of Music in International School) choir and band festivals, local performances in Baar Pflegezentrum, and Seasonal and Summer Concert series.

ISZL Music School

In addition to the instrument lessons offered by the school, private instrumental music lessons are also offered.

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In Grades 2 and 3 students learn the recorder to understand musical notation that prepares them for learning an instrument of their choice from Grades 4 through 8.

As part of theatre in the primary school curriculum in grade 5 students are encouraged to be part of the primary school production. In the past these have been musicals such as: The Wizard of Oz, Scheherazade and Seussical the Musical.

As part of the Arts model students from Grade 1 to Grade 5 enjoy a 6 – 8 week art rotation twice a year. Links are made to the Unit of Inquiry and Transdisciplinary learning. Focusing on the strands of responding and creating the students work with the specialist art teacher to gain a deeper understanding of art from past to present and have an opportunity to work with artists in residence. Working in 2D and 3D the students learn and develop new skills in all aspects of art, experiencing a variety of media. From drawing, painting, printing modelling and construction students work independently, in pairs and small groups. In the Early Years students work with their class teacher on a variety of art experiences and projects throughout the year.

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things,
but their inward significance. - Aristotle

The arts are a universal form of human expression and a unique way of knowing that engage us in effective, imaginative and productive activities. Learning through the arts helps us to explore, shape and communicate our sense of identity and individuality. A focus on the individual enhances our self-confidence, resilience and adaptability. It encourages our sense of belonging and community through the recognition of identities.

During adolescence, the arts provide an opportunity for age-appropriate and holistic development of the social, emotional, intellectual and personal intelligences of the student.

Middle School students have opportunities to function as artists, as well as learners of the arts. Artists have to be curious. By developing curiosity about themselves, others and the world, students become effective learners, inquirers and creative problem-solvers. Students develop through creating, performing and presenting arts in ways that engage and convey feelings, experiences and ideas. It is through this practice that students acquire new skills and master those skills developed in prior learning.

Development in the arts is a dynamic process, and not necessarily linear. The student moves freely through a creative process towards a deeper understanding of the arts. MYP arts values the process of creating artwork and the point of realisation; the two elements combined tell us what students have experienced, learned and attempted to convey. In MYP arts, the four objectives have equal importance and value. Although the objectives can be addressed separately to scaffold learning, when used collectively they enrich teaching and learning of the arts. Thinking creatively fits naturally in Middle Years Programme arts, but can easily become a focus in other subject groups too. This objective is essential in modern education to address the need for student-centred learning and lifelong learning, looking towards a modern context of flexible employment and a higher demand for innovation and change in the workplace. As both an objective in the arts and an Approaches to Learning (ATL) skill across the programme, heightened awareness of thinking creatively encourages students to develop metacognitive skills and become self-regulated learners.

Arts in the MYP stimulate young imaginations, challenge perceptions and develop creative and analytical skills. Involvement in the arts encourages students to understand the arts in context and the cultural histories of artworks, thus supporting the development of an inquiring and empathetic world view. Arts challenge and enrich personal identity and build awareness of the aesthetic in a real-world context.

MYP Arts Guide 2014

The clubs and activities for our older students are organised and supported by our teachers. We are proud to offer a variety of activities as part of our clubs and activities programme for budding artists, musicians and performers.

Currently offered clubs include:

Guitar Band, Wind Band, ISZL Zug Campus Choir, String Orchestra, Arts & Crafts, Creative Writing, Calligraphy and Visual Arts.

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At ISZL, we believe that by learning a musical instrument or developing the singing voice, students have the opportunity to cultivate an appreciation of Music and the Arts and provide an outlet for artistic, emotional and creative expression. Students show great dedication to their instrumental and vocal development by carrying out frequent practice sessions at home and may be a member of the school bands, choirs or orchestra. All students in Grades 4-7 have weekly instrument lessons in small groups. In Grade 8, students who already play one of the instruments taught by ISZL have the opportunity to continue with one instrument lesson a week. The purpose of the Grade 8 Instrumental Music Programme is to consolidate music skills and knowledge and to continue to build on these in preparation for the High School. Students who do not already play one of the instruments taught by ISZL will attend Quiet Uninterrupted Study Time sessions.  

On offer to students we have:

• Flute
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• French Horn
• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Double Bass
• Classical Guitar
• Voice

Students are encouraged to join an ensemble, orchestra, or choir as part of their instrument learning. Currently on offer to Zug Campus students are: Zug Voices, ISZL Zug Campus Choir, Wind Band, Guitar Band, and String Orchestra.

In addition to the ensembles and choirs, the Instrumental Music Team organise trips and concerts throughout the school year. These include: Guitar Band, Wind Band, and String Orchestra trips to Chalet Bergheim, the schools chalet in Wengen; ISZL Zug Campus Choir European Tours; AMIS (Association of Music in International School) choir and band festivals, local performances in Baar Pflegezentrum, and Seasonal and Summer Concert series.

ISZL Music School

In addition to the instrument lessons offered by the school, private instrumental music lessons are also offered.

Learn more

As part of the ISZL Middle Years Programme (MYP), Middle School students follow the MYP 1 - 3 curriculum for music.

As part of the ISZL MYP Arts program in the Middle School students follow the MYP 1 - 3 curriculum for Performing Arts. Each year there is also a Middle School production that students can become involved with.

As part of the ISZL MYP Arts program in the Middle School students follow the MYP 1 - 3 curriculum for Visual Arts. Student will explore many different media and be encouraged to produce a variety of art pieces.

In Grade 11 and 12 students have a choice of IB Arts courses and Advanced Placement Arts courses. It is also possible to choose a mixture of IB and AP courses ( for instance we have had students who have been very focussed on applying to Art School who have taken the IB Visual Art Course as a certificate and also the Advanced Placement Studio Art course. NB: it is important to discuss choices with the Arts staff and college counselling team).

We offer:

• IB Diploma Visual Arts, Theatre, and Music
• Advanced Placement Studio Art ( 2D Design, 3D Design and Drawing portfolios)
• Advanced Placement Art History

We are proud to offer a variety of activities as part of our clubs and activities programme for budding artists, musicians and performers.

These include:

Jazz Band, Life Drawing, Photography, Sinfonia, Choir and the School Production.

Learn more

In Grade 9 Music Students will develop their knowledge and skills through engagement in various composing, listening and performance-based activities. They will learn how to change and manipulate musical elements when arranging an existing song of your choice. The song-writing unit allows them to acquire skills in melody writing, word-setting and using musical layers, textures and structures. They will explore how traditional music is composed and performed in India and will utilise software packages such as GarageBand and Sibelius to create their own music. They will have the opportunity to develop their creativity, imagination and expressive skills whilst at the same time acquiring knowledge and understanding of music theory, styles and cultures.

In Grade 10 students will continue to acquire knowledge and skills through engagement in various composing, listening and performance-based activities. During the year they will explore how musical ideas and motifs can be developed, learn about impressionism and acquire a larger range of techniques to use in creating their own music. The final unit explores the world of composing for film and they will learn how to compose their own movie soundtrack.

In the IB Diploma students studying Music will learn how to explore and appreciate music from a wide variety of styles, cultures and historical periods. They will gain skills in analysis, communication, reflection and critical and creative thinking through active music- making. Through the study of a wide range of music, they will discover different aspects of musicianship and be able to specialise in their preferred field, whilst having the opportunity to work with music technology and investigate music that they are interested in.

Grade 9 Drama enables students to explore a number of different styles and genres of theatre. Working with a partner, they rehearse and perform a scene from a published script consolidating and strengthening their characterisation and directorial skills. Ensemble skills are explored through class exercises before being implemented in a short extract of Greek Theatre. Focusing on the art of mime as a form of communication, students have the opportunity to transform into the likes of Marcel Marceau and showcase their own solo devised scene. Likewise with Performance Art, while exploring a topic of your choice, students will consolidate and build upon performance skills discovering the powerful and provocative nature of performance and its use in advocacy.

Grade 10 Drama focuses on the physicality of performance through total theatre, physical theatre, acting for film, improvisation and clowning. Students will undertake a number of group projects which lead them through the skills of devising and collaboration. The primary focus is on the physicalisation of text and character and they will have the opportunity to work with scripts, as well as creating their own scenes, built upon research on a number of topics. Experimentation and exploration will be instrumental in helping you to produce exciting, original and creative performances. Students must be open to new ideas, excited about taking risks and eager to push the boundaries of conventional theatre.

A dynamic and collaborative two-year course, IB Theatre is a multifaceted theatre-making course which gives students the opportunity to make theatre in different domains as creators, designers, directors and performers. At both SL and HL they will explore theatre in a variety of contexts and understand how these contexts inform theatrical practice. Personalization is a key facet to this course enabling students to choose their topics of study through the Research Presentation and Director’s Notebook. They will also have the opportunity to engage in the processes of transforming their own ideas into action through the student led and devised collaborative project with their peers. At HL students will undertake an additional solo performance on a theatre practice of thier choosing.

A range of genres, mediums and concepts are embedded into the Grade 9 Visual Arts course. It is designed to increase understanding of the broader historical and contextual aspects of the subject whilst developing a foundation of skills in drawing, painting, sculpting and printmaking. Students are guided through each unit with an emphasis on building their confidence in using a variety of materials whilst also widening their conceptual understanding. The course will enable them to develop a collection of technical skills ready for the more independent nature of the Grade 10 Visual Arts course that encourages students to decide on the direction of your own art practice

In Grade 10 Students will be challenged to be creative and expressional in producing artwork through self initiated lines of artistic inquiry. Building upon their foundation skills developed in Grade 9, they are led through units designed to exercise the capacity to access and understand their personal influences. The units sequentially introduce the essential aspects of visual art practice through their development workbook and final pieces. They will have the chance to work with a range of media in both two and three dimensions and draw inspiration from fellow practitioners. They will explore and research artists and cultures that they are interested in and build on their work. They will gain further international awareness through more global topics and they will seek to move beyond duplication when creating conceptual and visual pieces.

The IB Visual Arts course is designed for passionate artists who are committed to a serious study of exploring and experimenting with media, ideas and artists influence. Students will have the opportunity to prepare a portfolio for university entrance and the IB Diploma. They will build and develop their technical abilities in a wide range of 2 and 3 dimensional media to create resolved artworks.

In AP Studio Art Students will learn to explore the elements and principles of design through the direct application of them in their own creations. They will examine both why and how designers use visual devices for a wide range of graphic design and illustrative functions. As a creator, they will produce both a ‘Breadth’ portfolio of 8 (3D) or 12 (2D Design or Drawing) designs across a range of media and a ‘Concentration’ portfolio that will demonstrate their ability to visually investigate a theme of their choosing. They will enjoy creative freedom in a supportive and creative environment.