Arts
Express yourself
Artistic expression, through painting, music, dance or theatre — promotes confidence, focus, perseverance, problem-solving, and accountability and gives students the freedom to share their feelings and passions.
Drama & Theatre
Being involved in a school production or taking a drama class challenges students to open their minds to a different way of storytelling.
Junior School Performances
Students in EC1 to Grade 5 are exposed to a variety of forms of expression. Whether singing in a choir, playing instruments, dancing or acting, students showcase their artistic skills in a variety of formal and informal performances. Students participate in at least one performance per academic year.
Middle School Play
Students in Grades 6 to 8 enjoy the benefits of weekly Drama classes where they begin to develop their Drama skills, while learning to work together. Topics include Mime, Improvisation, and Eastern Theatre. Students also create their own stories and work with actual scripts, design costumes and sets. Each unit ends with in-class performances to showcase the results.
The Middle School Play, which takes place in Spring, isa non-musical play open to students of all experience levels.
Senior School Production
In addition to the curriculum Drama classes offered throughout Senior School from Grade 9 through to the International Baccalaureate Theatre course, all students are invited to take part in the annual musical production in collaboration with the Music Department. The production is one of the main events in the school’s calendar and takes place in December, accompanied by a live 28-piece orchestra: Recent productions staged by International School Basel include Grease, High School, Musical, Oh What a Lovely War, Oklahoma South Pacific, West Side Story etc.
Music
The Music curriculum helps students develop an understanding and appreciation of music, as well as practical skills, so they find lifelong enjoyment, personal satisfaction and creative expression in music.
Music plays an important role in the development of trans-disciplinary skills, building self-esteem and confidence, and teaching the importance of teamwork, cooperation and responsibility.
The music programme enhances children’s intellectual and emotional development builds self-esteem and confidence, and teaches the importance of teamwork, cooperation and responsibility. Through music, students interact with other areas of the school and build links with the local community.
Junior School
- Grade 4 – 5 Choir
- Grade 2 – 3 Choir
- Junior School Orchestra (Grade 4 – 5)
- Junior School Musical (Semester 2)
Middle & Senior School
- Campus Choirs
- Chamber Music
- Jazz and Concert Bands
- Male-voice Ensembles
- Percussion Ensembles
- String Orchestras
- Symphony Orchestra
We are pleased to offer musical instrument, voice and theory tuition after school by qualified private music teachers. Lessons occur at the Aesch and Reinach Campuses.
We are proud to partner with...
Sinfonieorchester Basel musicians provide expert coaching to instrumentalists at International School Basel during Instant (Symphony) Orchestra projects. Our students are also given exclusive access to Sinfonieorchester Basel rehearsals. Members of the Sinfonieorchester adjudicate the two annual ISB Music Competitions.
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Meet our Students
Bibi - Grade 12
Tejas - Grade 12
Isabelle - Grade 12
Solene - Grade 11
Hannah - Grade 12
Emilija - Grade 12
The entire Music Program under the leadership of Mr. Norris has been excellent. He offers lunchtime music group rehearsals, after school music ensembles, Instant Orchestra short term ensembles, special outings to concerts, ongoing solo recital opportunities, AND competitions both on site and off-site. Mr. Norris is to be commended for his energy, enthusiasm, and his ability to engage others in creating such a strong community at ISB.
Grade 12 Parent (United States)
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Visual Arts
Visual arts are an integral part of everyday life, permeating all levels of human creativity, expression, communication and understanding.
International School Basel offers a variety of opportunities and experiences for students to develop, engage and respond to the world around them through artist workshops, field trips, university visits, internships and art exhibitions.
Visiting artists and university representatives are regularly invited to to demonstrate various art mediums and discuss careers in the arts. Students are also invited to take on visual arts internships and propose new ideas to enrich the walls of our campuses with art murals.
Age-Appropriate Activities
Primary Years Programme (EC 1 - Grade 5)
We connect students’ visual arts learning with themes of the PYP. Children learn through the creative process and begin to demonstrate conceptual understanding through various art forms. Students experiment with a variety of art mediums, techniques and processes through independent and group work.
Middle Years Programme (Grade 6 - 10)
Students build on their creative capacity and skills to make their ideas visible. They learn to analyse and understand how art is created and the purpose and function of art in cultures around the world. Students experience art and interact with it through discussions, visiting artists, workshops and field trips.
Students develop a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates their individual visual explorations — both technical and conceptual — and display their work in an annual Exhibition. Students work independently to develop their creative goals and subject/theme of their artwork while being guided through the course.
