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The Arts are powerful forms of personal and social expression

They link imagination, thinking and feeling.  They provide essential learning for living and develop a wide range of both general and specific skills, which are significant in many aspects of life, including employment.  They are important for recreation and leisure.

The Arts cross boundaries.  They are a source of international communication and understanding.  They express and shape national identity.  Learning through the Arts enables students to appreciate and understand their own heritage and other cultures.  It provides opportunities to examine a range of values and perceptions.

The Arts are important to the growth of self-knowledge and self-worth.  They encourage students to investigate their own values and those of others, and to recognise the aesthetic and spiritual dimensions of their lives.  They enable students, as individuals and as members of a group, to understand, express and communicate present and past experiences.

Drama

Drama is offered as an option to all year levels at Rutherford College. Junior Drama is a half year course and explores the fundamental building blocks of their creative journey. In Senior Drama, students can gain NCEA credits towards their programme and is a University approved subject. 


During the 5 years of Drama study at Rutherford college students will:

  • Explore a range of creative concepts to produce Drama work. 
  • Develop their knowledge on drama techniques, conventions and elements 
  • Enhance their technical performance skills.
  • Collaborate and extend ideas in group situations. 
  • Respond and critically analyse performances.
  • Develop ideas and collaborate on a performance for live audiences.
  • Extend ideas and knowledge surrounding theatre in Aotearoa.


Music

Music courses are suitable for both male and female students of all backgrounds and levels of prior experience. Music provides excellent opportunities for success for students of all abilities.

Music is an option subject, offered to all students from Year 9 through to Year 13. In the junior school it is a half-year course. In the senior school, as a full year course, students are able to gain credits towards NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3. At senior levels, students can specialise or mix-and-match between Music Studies, Making Music and Music Technology. Music is a university entrance approved subject at Level 3.

Tuition in a wide range of instruments (keyboards, trumpet, drums, trombone, flute, violin, viola, guitar, bass guitar, clarinet and saxophone) is available from specialist visiting teachers.

During the five years of Music study at Rutherford college students will:

  • Develop their aural skills and sensitivity to music
  • Develop their knowledge of music theory
  • Develop knowledge of the elements of music
  • Compose original pieces of music using compositional devices and elements.
  • Extend their knowledge of the development of music in a variety of contexts
  • View and critically analyse a variety of music performances
  • Develop their performance and musical technique skills
  • Have opportunities to perform to a high standard in live performances
  • Use a variety of production technologies to enhance performances
Dance

Dance is suitable for students of any gender and no prior experience is required. Dance provides excellent opportunities for success for students of all abilities.

Dance at Rutherford College is offered to all students from Year 9 through to year 13. In the senior school, students are able to gain credits towards NCEA Level 1,2 and 3 and Scholarship Dance. Dance is a university entrance approved subject.

During the five years of Dance study at Rutherford college students will:

  • Develop concepts and produce significant dance works
  • Manipulate and use a variety of production technologies to enhance choreography
  • View and critically analyse a variety of dance performances
  • Develop performance and technique skills
  • Have opportunities to reach high standards of public performance
  • Extend knowledge of the development of dance in all its forms in Aotearo
Visual Art

Visual Art is offered as an option to all students from Year 9 through to year 13. Junior courses are about building basic skills and encouraging students to become excited about creativity. In the senior school, students are able to gain credits towards NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3. All Visual Art subjects at Level 3 are university entrance approved subjects.

During the five years of Visual Art study at Rutherford College students will:

  • View, explore and comment on a range of artworks as sources of inspiration
  • Generate ideas based on an awareness of established practices
  • Develop ideas by applying an ongoing, critical, self-review process
  • Develop and master a range of both traditional and digital media skills
  • Develop learning behaviours like perseverance and personal qualities like resilience
  • Produce quality outcomes by maintaining productive purposefulness