An arts placement workshop is an opportunity for you to show what skills and knowledge you already have in your discipline. For example, if you have extensive studio training or private lessons, you may be placed into advanced classes.
In addition, at this time, you will meet with our school counselor and/or academic teachers to determine the most appropriate placement in science, math, social studies, and english classes.
Arts Placement Workshop Expectations
For Instrumental Music placement, student artists should perform a solo musical selection a minimum of 3 minutes in length.
All instrumentalists will be asked to play two different major scales on their instrument.
- Pianists, Woodwinds, Strings, Brass and Percussionists – Prepare a solo work – this should be a selection written specifically for your instrument. Please do not bring in parts from a band piece or selections where your instrument is playing a secondary role.
- Singer/Songwriter guitar – prepare an original work that demonstrates your specific style
- Guitarists – demonstrate your best technical work, ideally demonstrating strumming technique in various strumming patterns and melodic finger picking technique
- Drummers – prepare a variety of styles (rock, Latin, swing, etc.) and a variety of beat patterns
For Vocal Music placement, student artists should prepare one of the following. You may sing a cappella or provide sheet music for accompaniment. Memorization is encouraged, but not required.
- Classical Art Song (24 Italian Art Songs, First Book of [voice part] solos)
- Broadway Show Tune
- Jazz Standard (composed by George Gershwin, Cole Porter or similar)
For Dance Placement student artists should perform a 2-minute solo of their own choreography. This may be any style (ballet, modern, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, etc.) but must be original choreography. The dance must include the following movements and/or elements:
- Jumps – to show elevation.
- Kicks (battement) – to show flexibility and range of movement through the hips and legs.
- Turns – Your turn does not have to be in one spot, it could move around the space or in levels
- Balance – does not have to be one leg/foot, it can be a balance on one or two points of your body
- Space – do not create a dance that moves only from side to side or forward and back. Be creative and see what other directions you can move in, as well as using all parts of the “stage.”
**include 2 steps/movements from each category (ie. 2 jumps, 2 turns, 2 balances etc.) If you have training in a specific style of dance, it is to your advantage to showcase that style in your choreography.
For Musical Theatre placement, student artists should prepare ALL of the following:
- Vocal Music – 16 bars of a Broadway Show tune- you should perform to a pre-recorded track (YouTube/karaoke or recorded piano) for accompaniment.
- Theatre – choose and prepare one of the theatre monologues | Download
- Dance – perform 32 bars of choreography from this YouTube video.
For Theatre placement student artists should perform one of the provided monologues: Download PiM Theatre Monologues. Theatre students should be ready to discuss characterization goals and obstacles the character has in the monologue as well as in the play as a whole.
For Visual Arts, your Placement Workshop will consist of the following:
- 3 to 5 samples of best work.
Students may also take a knowledge test.
For Filmmaking and Photography, your Placement Workshop will consist of the following:
- If you have any video or animation work to show we would like to see a 2-3 minute example of your filmmaking. This can be a highlight reel or a single short film.
- 5 to 6 sample photos.
- 3 – 4 graphic design works or samples of drawings from a sketchbook.
