BC MOEST - Fine Arts K-7

Fine Arts K-7: Glossary and Approaches to Instruction

abstract 1.   To do with, or existing in, thought rather than matter, or in theory rather than practice; not tangible or concrete; denoting a quality, condition, or intangible thing rather than a concrete object (e.g., freedom, love).
2.   In visual arts, an image that reduces a subject to its essential visual elements (e.g., lines, shapes, colours).

acoustic To do with the science of sound; also to do with non-electronic means of sound production (as in acoustic instruments).

ADSR See sound envelope.

aesthetic Pertaining to a distinct category of understanding that incorporates intellectual, sensory, and emotional involvement in and response to the arts; of or relating to a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or "artistic."s What is considered aesthetic varies greatly according to context.

alignment Body placement or posture. Proper alignment lessens body strain and promotes dance technique.

articulation The manner in which a tone or group of tones is started and ended; characteristics of attack and decay of tones or groups of tones.

artist's statement A written or spoken account concerning the aims, influences, and background of the artist¼s work. Such statements are often printed in art show catalogues.

assemblage A 3-D collage often constructed of found objects and involving mixed media.

background Those portions or areas of a composition that are in back of the primary or dominant subject matter or point of focus of an image.

balance 1.    A principle of design concerned with the arrangement of one or more of the elements so that they give a sense of equilibrium in design and proportion (e.g., balance of voices or instruments, balance of performers on stage, balance of shapes).
2.    In dance, see body and principles of movement.

beat The regular pulse of music.

body In dance, one of the five elements of movement. Refers to what the body is doing. Includes:

whole or partial body action--using the whole body (e.g., whole-body stretch) or using isolated parts of the body (e.g., gesture)
type of movement:

locomotor (travelling)--basic (e.g., walk, jump, slide, roll) or combined (e.g., step-hop, waltz-run or triplet, grapevine)
non-locomotor--on the spot (e.g., curl, stretch, spin)

dimension--small, large, narrow, wide
weight transfer--lunge, leap, roll
balance--on-balance, off-balance; supported, unsupported
shape--angular, curved, twisted; symmetrical, asymmetrical

body percussion A percussive sound created using the body (e.g., stomp, pat, clap, snap).

bordun An accompaniment based on the first and fifth notes of a scale; must be played below the melody on strong beats.

brayer A small roller used to ink relief blocks for printmaking.

cartoon Today the word usually refers to a humorous line drawing. Originally it meant a full-size preparatory drawing for a large wall or ceiling painting.

ceramics Any objects made from clay products and fired at a high temperature.

change positions An instructional strategy for exploring role relationships, body positions, or environments. Two students, seated in chairs facing each other, begin a conversation on any topic. During the course of the conversation, both students assume as many different positions as possible (e.g., standing on chair, sitting on floor, squatting back-to-back). Students hold each pose for at least 10 seconds before changing to another.

charcoal A drawing material formed by charring willow under intense heat.

choreographic form See form 1.

choreography The art of planning and arranging dance movements into a meaningful whole; the process of building a composition; also a finished dance work.

classroom instruments Pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments commonly used in the elementary classroom to create and perform music (e.g., claves, rhythm sticks, tambourines, hand drums, triangles, sleigh bells). (See also found instruments.)

clef In standard notation, the sign or symbol that fixes the location of a particular note on the staff and, hence, the location of all other notes. The most common clefs are the G or treble clef and the F or bass clef. Other clefs may set relative pitches (e.g., do clef).

cloze An instructional strategy used to test students¼ comprehension. It normally involves the use of a written passage (a paragraph of at least four or five sentences) in which every nth word is deleted. Students are required to fill in the missing words using contextual clues. This technique can also be used in music composition or in choreographic or performance contexts by eliminating every nth note or step.

collage 1.   In visual arts, a 2-D image created by gluing materials such as paper scraps, photographs, or cloth to a flat surface.
2.   In music, see voice collage.

colour An element of art and design that pertains to a particular hue; one or any mixture of pigments.

concept attainment An instructional strategy used to illustrate an idea. The teacher prepares a list of examples that portray a concept (e.g., 2/4 time metre, principles of unity) and a list of examples that do not portray the concept. On the board or overhead, the teacher records the examples one at a time in a positive-and-negative chart format, alternating between correct and incorrect examples. This pattern is continued until students are able to articulate the concept.

context Circumstances influencing the creation and interpretation of a dance, drama, music piece or visual artwork. Includes social, cultural, historical, and personal circumstances. (See alsodramatic context.)

contour The shape of a melody as defined by the rise and fall of the sequence of pitches.

contrast 1.    In dance and drama, pairs such as darkness and light, sound and silence, and movement and stillness.
2.    In visual arts, a principle of art and design that juxtaposes strongly differing uses of one or more of the elements for effect.

contrast charts An instructional strategy--any tool students use to compare and contrast two or more issues or art forms and to arrange the observed similarities and differences. Contrast charts can be used by individual students, small groups, or the whole class. Examples of contrast charts include:

Venn diagram--two or more partially overlapping circles or ovals, in which the characteristics are recorded in terms of applying to one (A) or the other (B) or both (C) sets.

Same-Different chart--a two-column chart often used to focus brainstorming of the similarities among and differences between two ideas. Contrast charts can also be represented in formats such as dramatizations, models and manipulatives, computer spreadsheets, music compositions, and movement sequences.

cooldown Slow, stretching activities to help students' heart rates return to normal and to help students reflect on the process they have just undergone. Warmup activities can be adapted for use as cooldown exercises.

creative process An ongoing and circular process of exploration, selection, combination, refinement, and reflection to create dance, drama, music, or visual artworks.

critique Constructive analysis of the effectiveness of a work or the appropriateness of the choices made by the creator or performer, based on established criteria appropriate for the context (e.g., students' work or professional work; polished performance or work-in-progress).

cubism A 20th-century style of art based on the simultaneous presentation of multiple points of view.

dance drama Individual or group drama based on movements that tell a story, with music as either stimulus or accompaniment. (See also form 1.)

depth The real or simulated distance from the point of an image that seems closest to the viewer to the point that seems farthest from the viewer. Simulated depth may be created by perspective, overlapping, size, tone values, colours, and so on.

design In visual arts, the organized arrangement of one or more elements and principles (e.g., line, colour, or texture) for a purpose. (See also principles of design.)

design elements See stagecraft.
dialogue pairs An instructional strategy for developing commitment to role. The class is divided into A and B pairs, and one topic is assigned to the As and another to the Bs (e.g., shoelaces and alphabet soup). As and Bs talk to their partners at the same time, telling one another, without pauses, everything they know about their topic, maintaining eye contact as appropriate. Partners switch topics at a signal. As an extension, students mirror movements as they converse.

diorama An instructional strategy generally used to design or illustrate the set for a dramatic or dance presentation, or a scene from daily life. Traditionally in the form of a box with a peephole, dioramas can take many forms, as appropriate for the purpose (e.g., an open space to illustrate a stage set outdoors).

distortion An image-development strategy used to misrepresent and pull out of shape all or part of the components of an artwork.

docent A person trained as a guide and lecturer who conducts groups through an art gallery or a museum.

docudrama A drama structure based on actual historical documents or artifacts; a drama that illustrates a real-life event.

drama elements Focus, tension and contrast, symbol, form, and balance.

drama structures A medium for the expression of dramatic meaning (e.g., improvisation, tableau, role drama, story theatre, dance drama, mask, mime, puppetry, scriptwork, audio-visual); may involve the integration of a variety of media and the incorporation of other art forms (e.g., music, visual arts, dance, poetry).

dramatic context The setting for dramatic work that includes the who, where, and when of an activity.

dramatic interactions Interactions of people and forces within a selected environment and event.

dramatic play A make-believe situation in which the learner can explore actions and reactions in a spontaneous way.

duration The length of time a pitch is sustained, from the attack to the release.

dynamics 1.    In dance, one of the five elements of movement. Refers to how the body is moving. Includes:
energy, intensity, power--strong, light; tense, relaxed
flow--sustained, suspended; lyrical, staccato
2.   In music, the degree of loudness or softness.

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Revised: July 8, 1998

BC Ministry of Education Home Page

abstract	1. To do with, or existing in, thought rather than matter, or in theory rather than practice; not tangible or concrete; denoting a quality, condition, or intangible thing rather than a concrete object (e.g., freedom, love). 2. In visual arts, an image that reduces a subject to its essential visual elements (e.g., lines, shapes, colours).
acoustic	To do with the science of sound; also to do with non-electronic means of sound production (as in acoustic instruments).
ADSR	See sound envelope.
aesthetic	Pertaining to a distinct category of understanding that incorporates intellectual, sensory, and emotional involvement in and response to the arts; of or relating to a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or "artistic."s What is considered aesthetic varies greatly according to context.
alignment	Body placement or posture. Proper alignment lessens body strain and promotes dance technique.
articulation	The manner in which a tone or group of tones is started and ended; characteristics of attack and decay of tones or groups of tones.
artist's statement	A written or spoken account concerning the aims, influences, and background of the artist¼s work. Such statements are often printed in art show catalogues.
assemblage	A 3-D collage often constructed of found objects and involving mixed media.
background	Those portions or areas of a composition that are in back of the primary or dominant subject matter or point of focus of an image.
balance	1. A principle of design concerned with the arrangement of one or more of the elements so that they give a sense of equilibrium in design and proportion (e.g., balance of voices or instruments, balance of performers on stage, balance of shapes). 2. In dance, see body and principles of movement.
beat	The regular pulse of music.
body	In dance, one of the five elements of movement. Refers to what the body is doing. Includes: whole or partial body action--using the whole body (e.g., whole-body stretch) or using isolated parts of the body (e.g., gesture) type of movement: locomotor (travelling)--basic (e.g., walk, jump, slide, roll) or combined (e.g., step-hop, waltz-run or triplet, grapevine) non-locomotor--on the spot (e.g., curl, stretch, spin) dimension--small, large, narrow, wide weight transfer--lunge, leap, roll balance--on-balance, off-balance; supported, unsupported shape--angular, curved, twisted; symmetrical, asymmetrical
body percussion	A percussive sound created using the body (e.g., stomp, pat, clap, snap).
bordun	An accompaniment based on the first and fifth notes of a scale; must be played below the melody on strong beats.
brayer	A small roller used to ink relief blocks for printmaking.
cartoon	Today the word usually refers to a humorous line drawing. Originally it meant a full-size preparatory drawing for a large wall or ceiling painting.
ceramics	Any objects made from clay products and fired at a high temperature.
change positions	An instructional strategy for exploring role relationships, body positions, or environments. Two students, seated in chairs facing each other, begin a conversation on any topic. During the course of the conversation, both students assume as many different positions as possible (e.g., standing on chair, sitting on floor, squatting back-to-back). Students hold each pose for at least 10 seconds before changing to another.
charcoal	A drawing material formed by charring willow under intense heat.
choreographic form	See form 1.
choreography	The art of planning and arranging dance movements into a meaningful whole; the process of building a composition; also a finished dance work.
classroom instruments	Pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments commonly used in the elementary classroom to create and perform music (e.g., claves, rhythm sticks, tambourines, hand drums, triangles, sleigh bells). (See also found instruments.)
clef	In standard notation, the sign or symbol that fixes the location of a particular note on the staff and, hence, the location of all other notes. The most common clefs are the G or treble clef and the F or bass clef. Other clefs may set relative pitches (e.g., do clef).
cloze	An instructional strategy used to test students¼ comprehension. It normally involves the use of a written passage (a paragraph of at least four or five sentences) in which every nth word is deleted. Students are required to fill in the missing words using contextual clues. This technique can also be used in music composition or in choreographic or performance contexts by eliminating every nth note or step.
collage	1. In visual arts, a 2-D image created by gluing materials such as paper scraps, photographs, or cloth to a flat surface. 2. In music, see voice collage.
colour	An element of art and design that pertains to a particular hue; one or any mixture of pigments.
concept attainment	An instructional strategy used to illustrate an idea. The teacher prepares a list of examples that portray a concept (e.g., metre, principles of unity) and a list of examples that do not portray the concept. On the board or overhead, the teacher records the examples one at a time in a positive-and-negative chart format, alternating between correct and incorrect examples. This pattern is continued until students are able to articulate the concept.
context	Circumstances influencing the creation and interpretation of a dance, drama, music piece or visual artwork. Includes social, cultural, historical, and personal circumstances. (See alsodramatic context.)
contour	The shape of a melody as defined by the rise and fall of the sequence of pitches.
contrast	1. In dance and drama, pairs such as darkness and light, sound and silence, and movement and stillness. 2. In visual arts, a principle of art and design that juxtaposes strongly differing uses of one or more of the elements for effect.
contrast charts	An instructional strategy--any tool students use to compare and contrast two or more issues or art forms and to arrange the observed similarities and differences. Contrast charts can be used by individual students, small groups, or the whole class. Examples of contrast charts include: Venn diagram--two or more partially overlapping circles or ovals, in which the characteristics are recorded in terms of applying to one (A) or the other (B) or both (C) sets. Same-Different chart--a two-column chart often used to focus brainstorming of the similarities among and differences between two ideas. Contrast charts can also be represented in formats such as dramatizations, models and manipulatives, computer spreadsheets, music compositions, and movement sequences.
cooldown	Slow, stretching activities to help students' heart rates return to normal and to help students reflect on the process they have just undergone. Warmup activities can be adapted for use as cooldown exercises.
creative process	An ongoing and circular process of exploration, selection, combination, refinement, and reflection to create dance, drama, music, or visual artworks.
critique	Constructive analysis of the effectiveness of a work or the appropriateness of the choices made by the creator or performer, based on established criteria appropriate for the context (e.g., students' work or professional work; polished performance or work-in-progress).
cubism	A 20th-century style of art based on the simultaneous presentation of multiple points of view.
dance drama	Individual or group drama based on movements that tell a story, with music as either stimulus or accompaniment. (See also form 1.)
depth	The real or simulated distance from the point of an image that seems closest to the viewer to the point that seems farthest from the viewer. Simulated depth may be created by perspective, overlapping, size, tone values, colours, and so on.
design	In visual arts, the organized arrangement of one or more elements and principles (e.g., line, colour, or texture) for a purpose. (See also principles of design.)
design elements	See stagecraft.
dialogue pairs	An instructional strategy for developing commitment to role. The class is divided into A and B pairs, and one topic is assigned to the As and another to the Bs (e.g., shoelaces and alphabet soup). As and Bs talk to their partners at the same time, telling one another, without pauses, everything they know about their topic, maintaining eye contact as appropriate. Partners switch topics at a signal. As an extension, students mirror movements as they converse.
diorama	An instructional strategy generally used to design or illustrate the set for a dramatic or dance presentation, or a scene from daily life. Traditionally in the form of a box with a peephole, dioramas can take many forms, as appropriate for the purpose (e.g., an open space to illustrate a stage set outdoors).
distortion	An image-development strategy used to misrepresent and pull out of shape all or part of the components of an artwork.
docent	A person trained as a guide and lecturer who conducts groups through an art gallery or a museum.
docudrama	A drama structure based on actual historical documents or artifacts; a drama that illustrates a real-life event.
drama elements	Focus, tension and contrast, symbol, form, and balance.
drama structures	A medium for the expression of dramatic meaning (e.g., improvisation, tableau, role drama, story theatre, dance drama, mask, mime, puppetry, scriptwork, audio-visual); may involve the integration of a variety of media and the incorporation of other art forms (e.g., music, visual arts, dance, poetry).
dramatic context	The setting for dramatic work that includes the who, where, and when of an activity.
dramatic interactions	Interactions of people and forces within a selected environment and event.
dramatic play	A make-believe situation in which the learner can explore actions and reactions in a spontaneous way.
duration	The length of time a pitch is sustained, from the attack to the release.
dynamics	1. In dance, one of the five elements of movement. Refers to how the body is moving. Includes: energy, intensity, power--strong, light; tense, relaxed flow--sustained, suspended; lyrical, staccato 2. In music, the degree of loudness or softness.