Arts

Creativity That Connects

At Sage Ridge, the arts are not electives—they are a dynamic, essential part of a well-rounded education.

Through visual art, theatre, and music, students engage in hands-on, meaningful experiences that foster creativity, confidence, and connection.

Artistic growth supports academic and personal growth. Whether on stage, composing music with classmates, or creating artwork for an exhibition at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, our students learn to take creative risks, express ideas clearly, and collaborate with purpose.

Did You Know? Students involved in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. Arts participation enhances critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and executive functioning skills. Students with sustained arts involvement show greater social tolerance and leadership skills.

Visual Arts: From Imagination to Exhibition

Visual Arts at Sage Ridge School offers a comprehensive and dynamic program for students in grades 1-12, focusing on professional practices used in the art world and teaching students to be creative problem-solvers.

From foundational skills to advanced techniques, the program nurtures the whole child, emphasizing individual talent and teaching students how to translate their unique perspectives into their work.

Through engaging projects and thoughtful instruction, students develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills, which foster personal expression and artistic growth.

Our Visual Arts instructors empower students to be courageous, curious citizens who feel they can tackle any challenge that life brings.

Grades 1-5

Lower School Art Class with Ms. Buccambuso

In the Lower School, Sage Ridge students develop a strong foundation in visual art by exploring both the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design and applying these concepts to their own creative work.

They begin by experimenting with various art materials and techniques, learning best practices along the way.

Scorpions study color theory, the emotional impact of colors, and the basic illusion of depth in two-dimensional works such as painting, drawing and printmaking. Students also investigate art history from Prehistoric to Baroque periods and engage in three-dimensional art forms like sculpture and ceramics.

Sage Ridge students expand their understanding by focusing on art as a language of self-expression. They investigate realism through still-life artwork and painting techniques while learning about movements from Impressionism to Expressionism.

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Grades 6-8

Middle School artists interpret Starry Night by Van Gogh

In the Middle School, students deepen their understanding of art by exploring creative risk-taking, historical influences, and personal expression.

They meet the “rule breakers” of art history, covering movements from Cubism through Abstract Expressionism.

As students examine a variety of two- and three-dimensional media—including drawing, painting, printmaking, papier-mâché, clay, mixed media, and collage—they develop creative problem-solving skills while reinforcing their knowledge of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.

Students then take their artistic exploration further to focus on art as a visual language for self-expression. They are encouraged to experiment, innovate, and refine their creative interests while learning how to properly label and prepare their work for formal exhibition. Our Middle School students have the confidence needed to communicate their thoughts, interests, and beliefs through diverse mediums.

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Grades 9-12

In the Upper School, Scorpions delve deeper into their artistic pursuits through specialized courses such as Art Foundations, Media Arts, Studio Art Mash Up, Studio Art, Ceramics and Sculpture, and AP Studio Art I and II.

Advanced students gain real-world experience by curating and marketing their work, with opportunities to exhibit professionally at prestigious venues like the Nevada Museum of Art, the University of Nevada Reno’s Sheppard Contemporary Gallery, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, McKinley Arts & Culture Center, Reno-Tahoe International Art Show, City of Reno, local libraries, and the E.L. Wiegand Student Activity Center.

Sage Ridge visual arts students consistently excel, earning accolades in state and national art competitions, solidifying the program’s reputation for excellence.

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Music: From Rhythm To Performance

Music at Sage Ridge School offers a joyful and rigorous program for students in grades 1-12 that emphasizes creativity, cultural literacy, and performance-based mastery.

Students explore the elements of music through active participation in instrumental and vocal experiences, building musical fluency while discovering the power of music to connect and inspire.

From foundational skills in Lower School to advanced ensemble work in Upper School, the music program supports the development of confident, expressive musicians.

Courses are designed to meet students where they are while encouraging growth as individual performers and ensemble collaborators. Students are encouraged to explore multiple instruments, reflect on music's role in culture and history, and share their learning through performance and service.

Grades 1-5

Lower School student Anika Hogan sings for the Sage Ridge community at Coffeehouse

In the Lower School, students are introduced to the language of music through singing and learning the ukulele.

Instruction focuses on rhythm, melody, harmony, and musical form.

Students begin to understand how music is constructed and learn to perform both independently and with peers.

They explore the history of Western music, building confidence as young performers through informal classroom performances, known as “informances.” Assessments include original compositions and performance-based demonstrations of musical understanding.

“I really enjoy my music class with Ms. Tessmer. She always cares about how we feel. She is a great teacher and I like how involved she is with us students. She makes coffee house fun and more interesting every time.” - Lincoln, 5th grade

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Grades 6-8

Middle School students perform at Coffeehouse for the Sage Ridge community.

In the Middle School, music deepens students' instrumental skills while fostering personal expression and musical analysis.

Using ukulele and guitar, students study chord progressions, music structure, and the elements of composition. They also engage in research on influential artists and examine music’s role in activism and cultural storytelling.

Projects include solo and group performances, artist presentations, and critiques of contemporary and historical musical works.

Students explore the intersection of music and brain development, and how musical study supports other academic disciplines.

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Grades 9-12

In the Upper School, students participate in ensemble-based courses focused on contemporary music.

Courses such as Music Foundations, Ensemble I, and Ensemble II introduce students to a variety of instruments—including guitar, drums, bass, keyboard, and vocals—while encouraging collaborative creation and live performance.

Students rehearse and perform songs as part of a band, lead all-school performances at events like Coffeehouse, Sage Ridge’s beloved quarterly student talent showcase, and create original recordings as culminating projects.

The curriculum emphasizes performance mastery, ensemble contribution, and the expressive and social dimensions of music. Students develop a lifelong appreciation for music while gaining skills that enhance focus, leadership, and creativity.

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Theatre: From Story to Stage

Theatre at Sage Ridge School provides a comprehensive and immersive program for students in grades 1-12, blending performance, design, and dramatic literature with ensemble-based collaboration.

Our program builds students’ confidence, empathy, and expressive range, encouraging them to take creative risks and discover their unique voice.

Through curriculum and productions, students engage deeply with all aspects of theatre arts, from acting technique and improvisation to directing, management, and technical design.

They study the history and philosophy of performance while learning how the skills they develop on stage translate to real-world communication and leadership.

Grades 1-5

In Lower School, theatre lays a strong foundation in creative expression and ensemble collaboration.

Grade 3 introduces tableau—students create frozen images to tell stories visually and practice group storytelling.
Grade 4 explores the basics of theatre through monologues, mini-scenes, and pantomime, focusing on accountability and audience connection.
Grade 5 centers on voice development. Students explore vocal technique through exercises, games, and solo performances, culminating in a showcase of monologues for peers and families.

Each year, Lower School students can audition for the winter Lower School play, directed by an Upper School student. The spring musical can include Lower School students, with younger Scorpions cast most recently in The Sound of Music and Shrek the Musical alongside Middle and Upper School thespians.

These experiences nurture creativity, listening skills, and self-confidence, while introducing students to the fundamentals of live performance.

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Grades 6-8

Middle School students build on foundational skills by exploring pantomime, character development, and formal acting technique.

Grade 6 focuses on pantomime and expressive storytelling through body language and movement.
Grade 7 emphasizes character creation and scene work using tools such as actor intention, obstacle/victory, and imaginative interpretation.
Grade 8, offered as an elective, introduces classical acting techniques—including the Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, and Alexander methods—and culminates in scene work and improvisational theatre.

Middle School students can audition for the fall play and spring musical, and may enter competitions through Nevada Thespians.

Scorpions learn to take direction, analyze text, collaborate as an ensemble, and use theatre as a tool for personal insight and social connection.

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Grades 9-12

Upper School Theatre includes a robust slate of semester-long electives designed to deepen students’ artistic and academic engagement.

Theatre Foundations (Grade 10) traces the evolution of theatre from Ancient Greece to the modern era, with hands-on projects like building theaters and writing scripts.
Theatre Composition (offered 2025–2026) introduces directing, stage management, and technical design. Students collaborate to write, produce, and perform an original show.
Advanced Acting Methods (offered 2026–2027) explores Stanislavski, Anne Bogart, Mamet, Suzuki, and other advanced techniques, preparing students for college-level and pre-professional performance.

Each year, an Upper School student directs Lower School actors in the winter Lower School Play. Upper School students can audition for two fully staged productions and may enter competitions through Nevada Thespians. Sage Ridge students regularly earn Superior ratings and qualify for the International Thespian Festival in acting, design, and stage management categories.

Our theatre program invites students to step into the story and emerge as confident communicators, thoughtful artists, and collaborative leaders.

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Curriculum

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Explore The Arts

Here, the arts are a powerful path to self-discovery, confidence, and lifelong learning. Whether your child is discovering clay for the first time or preparing for an AP Art portfolio, they’ll be taught by passionate, professional artists in a program that nurtures the whole child—mind, spirit, and imagination—for success on stage, in the studio and beyond. In learning to express themselves, our students discover who they are and who they can become.