Visual & Performing Arts

ELEMENTARY

MPUSD students in Kindergarten through 6th grades have weekly music classes year-round at all MPUSD schools. Students perform for full school events at least twice a year.

This is one small reason why MPUSD has been honored with the designation, “Best Communities for Music Education,“ from National Association of Music Merchants for many years in a row. In 5th and 6th grades, instrumental lessons are available. Instruments are provided at no charge and include flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone, violin, cello, piano and guitar.

Annually all MPUSD 4th grade students attend the symphony, 5th grade students visit the Monterey Museum. Full-time art teachers are at each of the district’s TK – 8th grade schools and two of our TK – 6th grade schools; MLK School of the Arts and Marina Vista Arts Academy which are both recognized as Exemplary Arts Education Schools by the California Department of Education. 

An after-school musical complete with costumes, singing and dancing, happen each year at all MPUSD Elementary sites.  Many MPUSD elementary sites have after school classes such as African drumming, Brazilian Capoeira, guitar, painting and more throughout the year.

MIDDLE

Instrumental and vocal music is taught more rigorously at our middle schools with classes several times each week. Band, orchestra, jazz band and vocal arts are among the music class options.

Art is explored more rigorously as well, with ceramics, painting, and arts and crafts included several times each week. Art students exhibit throughout the community, at the Marina and Seaside libraries, the Monterey Airport, and compete in juried art competitions annually including, “Thinking Out Loud," at the Cherry Center in Carmel.

After-school musicals or theatre clubs are at all TK-8s and middle schools. VAPA type assemblies include a wide range of musicians, actors and dancers.

HIGH

In addition to band, orchestra, jazz band, and vocal music offerings, high schools also have drum corps, guitar, piano, percussion and more. Music competitions often include travel and trips to theme parks.

Music students perform at lower schools annually as well as at tree lightings and other community events. In art classes, students can either broaden their exploration to include fabric arts and jewelry making among other more common modalities within their art class or focus solely on ceramics, painting, or drawing.

Media Arts and Digital Music are available at the high school level. Drama courses expand to include backstage aspects such as lighting and sound operating. Classroom visitors include local Native American tribal leaders, Juilliard trained musicians and professionals in the arts of all kinds.

Some VAPA clubs occur before school and after school to work with our students’ schedules.