Not every child who learns to read and write will become a great novelist. Not every child who studies an instrument will compose a symphony, and not every young artist will see his or her work hanging in the Louvre. But that isn’t the measure of a meaningful education in the arts.
The student who reads well gains access to great literature. The student who studies music learns to listen with understanding and appreciation. And the student who studies art develops an eye for beauty, craftsmanship, and excellence. Through these experiences, students learn not only how to create, but how to recognize and appreciate what is good, true, and beautiful.
Classical education at Rockbridge Academy seeks to shape not only what students know, but what they learn to love—cultivating an appreciation for goodness, truth, and beauty.
In the Grammar School, students encounter these ideals through the study of art and music, exploring great works in their historical context while learning the foundational skills of each discipline. Their learning comes to life through school concerts and opportunities to display their work in the Rockbridge Academy Art Exhibit.
As students move into the Dialectic and Rhetoric years, they build on this foundation through electives such as choir, orchestra, drawing, painting, photography, and drama—developing their skills while growing in their ability to recognize, create, and appreciate beauty.