Performing Arts
Music
Music education begins at the outset of each child's school career at Pembroke Hill. Musikgarten, a curriculum combining music with elements of movement and visual art, is introduced in the early childhood school.
In the lower school, a curriculum that is based on the music education methods of Carl Orff and Zoltan Kodaly secures accuracy in singing and essential elements of music, while developing each child's ability to improvise and compose. Students learn to play recorders and a wide range of classroom melody and rhythm instruments. Fifth graders may elect to participate in an extracurricular chorus, which performs in venues both on and off campus. Participating in the band becomes an option for students beginning in the fifth grade.
Middle school music classes offer students opportunities to explore elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, form, historical style and cultural context in sixth grade general music and in a combined seventh and eighth grade chorus. They can also continue on in band.
In the upper school, advanced studies in choral literature are offered through participation in the Concert Choir, the Chorale, the Madrigal Singers and Top Of The Hill, the vocal jazz ensemble. Additionally, required entry level courses and elective classes in music history and music theory further enhance the students' understanding of the architecture of music and its historical significance. In 2020-21, 20 percent of the upper school students sing in one of the school choirs. The vibrant instrumental music program continues in the upper school. The Pep Band performs at school functions such as athletic contests.
The Arts Focus program was created for those students who will advance their talents beyond secondary education or who show substantial talent and dedication to a particular arts area. Students electing an arts focus track may choose vocal or instrumental music as an area of study.
Theatre
Pembroke Hill offers both an inviting and comprehensive theatre arts curriculum. From entry level drama classes to musical theatre, advanced acting styles, theatrical design, playwriting, directing, dance and creative movement...students can discover and explore their creative voice. Pre-professional training and mentorship is available for students dedicated to advanced studies in the arts, both technical and performing. More than 100 upper and middle school students are involved in our extracurricular plays and musicals, on stage and on technical crews. Recent participation in Starlight's Blue Star Awards program has garnered five nominations and one award.
Beginning in the lower school, students are offered an extracurricular drama program for grades three through five in which students explore improvisation, movement and playwriting.
The middle school play is an extracurricular opportunity for students to participate in all aspects of theatre production. The performances vary from year to year from two one-act plays to full length productions. This is open to all middle school grade levels and is performed in the fall semester.
A choice in program direction in the upper school presents students with a required course in the Theatre Arts. The entire theatre program is aligned with national standards in theatre and speech education. Middle and upper school performances are held in either the 788-seat Hall Student Center Auditorium and the 108-seat blackbox Centennial Hall Auditorium.
Speech/Debate
The speech and debate program at Pembroke Hill School offers a multi-level approach to developing each student's ability to express himself/herself in a concise, creative and artistic manner.
More than 100 upper and middle school students participate in speech and debate classes and competition. PHS is annually a top-ranked National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) program, consistently one of the top programs in Missouri and has won three consecutive individual national championships in extemporaneous debate. The program recently earned the Leading Chapter Award as one of the top performing speech and debate programs in the country.
In seventh and eighth grades, students may take a Speech and Debate course, which introduces students to the techniques of oral presentation, speech writing and delivery, both prepared and extemporaneous. Additionally, this course introduces students to the elements of competitive debate, focusing on the principles and practices of Public Forum Debate (PUF debate), the format used for debate tournaments at both the middle school and high school levels. Debate pedagogy includes case preparation, critical thinking and research skills, the identification of logical fallacies, and more. Students will be exposed to current affairs topics and challenged to consider key issues from both sides. In this course, students will grow in their communication and critical thinking skills as well as their development of respectful and empathetic public discourse.
The upper school offers an introductory debate class, introducing elements of competitive speech and debate. These skills are enhanced in full year advanced classes and tournaments, in which students are expected to compete in a variety of local, state and national competitions.