Fine Arts Department

Philosophy

Thomas More Prep’s Fine Arts Department is focused on exploring, developing and nurturing the artistic gifts of each student in the disciplines of theater, music and the visual arts.  Through the study of fine arts, students acquire skills that are vehicles for self expression and communication now and in the future.   A wide array of courses and activities are offered through the fine arts department to give students the opportunities to explore various mediums during their time at Thomas More Prep.  The arts offer an extraordinary complement to the core academic curriculum for students. Students learn teamwork, project management and responsibility. They learn to conquer fear, and most importantly, they learn how to express themselves.  Many of the lessons in fine arts and music relate to the individual student and the passion they are trying to share with others.  It takes another artist and a skilled teacher to help. Take a minute and meet some of the people of the fine arts and music department.

I have been teaching for 11 years and enjoy bringing new thoughts, creativity and understanding to the students of TMP-M.  I graduated from Fort Hays State University with a degree in art education.  Each day brings a new sense of creativity to an already exciting life.  My goal as an art teacher is to enhance a student's life with a new beauty found through the fine arts.
                                                                       --Mrs. Angie Pahls

“Fine arts is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.”
John Ruskin

Music Philosophy

All  music students will rehearse, improve, and perform music to the best of their ability.  Their music knowledge will increase in vocabulary, performance area, and difficulty standards.   They will learn different genres of music, song, and dance and be able to distinguish between these.  The opportunity to perform and compete outside of the school at all levels will also be available.  This will result in awards and scholarship opportunities for continuing education.

Concert Band is offered both semesters and includes one concert each semester.
There is opportunity for KMEA District Honor Band, KMEA State Honor Band, ensemble playing, and regional and state music festival.

Marching Band is offered in the fall semester and provides an opportunity for parade marching for TMP and FHSU homecoming celebrations.  The marching band also provides pep band music for all home football games and takes a performing trip every two years.

Pep Band is offered both semesters.  Students enrolled provide  pep band music for all home basketball games and travel with basketball teams to some post season tournaments.

Jazz Band is offered both semesters.  Students enrolled provide special music for community organizations.  The jazz band has full instrumentation and sports a
special uniform provided for by the department.

Concert Choir is offered both semesters and gives one concert each semester.  Students enrolled have the opportunity for KMEA District Honor Choir, KMEA State Honor Choir, ensemble and solo singing, and regional and state music festival.

The TMP Singers is a select show choir group which is active throughout the school year.  Members are selected by audition only.  A main annual performance event is the dinner theater.  The group also sings and dances for many community events and takes a trip every two years.

Another select show choir group is the Monarch Ladies.  Like the Show Choir, they are selcected by audition, perform at the dinner theater and sing for a variety of community events.



I love teaching and working with high school students.  The greatest reward in teaching is to see a student grow musically and continue my love of music by spreading it to others.  It has been a great honor to work with our international students and to watch them combine musical talents together with our American students.  Music truly is the universal language of mankind.

 

Dramatics

TMP-Marian’s drama department offers students wonderful opportunities to shine on the stage.  Fall semester drama class gives students a taste of what it takes to produce a play or musical and the basics of acting and directing. 
The fall play and spring musical create diverse skill building for the students, such as stage acting and singing or playing instruments in the pit orchestra, makeup/hair, behind the scenes work building sets or painting design, and technology advancement in our state of the art sound and light booth.  Dramatic arts builds character and community as students and adults work together to bring the written page to life.