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A boarding and day school for boys in grades 6-9 Canaan, New Hampshire

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The Arts

Room to Grow

Cardigan Mountain School drama students performing in the school play

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Cardigan student playing the cello during a school concert

All Cardigan students can discover their creative potential. Whether it’s through visual arts, music, or drama, every student experiences the joy of making art and sharing it with others.

The arts are a part of every student's Cardigan experience. Through arts classes and other programs, both on and off campus, Cardigan seeks to enhance our students’ appreciation of the arts, spur creative thinking and imagination, and encourage artistic expression.

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Cardigan drawing in the art studio

Visual Arts

Students create projects ranging from two-dimensional drawings to three-dimensional sculptures, exploring mediums like drawing, painting, printmaking, and ceramics. Guided by a trained artist in a well-equipped studio, students focus on art concepts that enhance perception and hand/eye coordination, translating ideas into visual language. Emphasis is placed on tools and materials for each project, with art history integrated into the curriculum. Students learn about artists’ styles in relation to their own work. Sixth graders take one term of art, while seventh through ninth graders choose between art or woodworking for one term.

two cardigan digital photography students compare photographs

Digital Arts

Cardigan’s Digital Arts program offers students a creative outlet to explore modern artistic techniques in a dedicated digital art classroom located in Wallach. The program focuses on digital photography and photo editing, teaching students to capture compelling images and enhance them using industry-standard software. Through hands-on projects, students learn essential design principles, composition, and technical skills that bridge traditional art concepts with cutting-edge technology. The classroom is equipped with the tools needed to foster creativity and innovation, allowing students to develop a portfolio of digital work that reflects their artistic growth and technical proficiency.

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Music director leading the string ensemble at a school concert

Music

Cardigan students take music for one term each year, gaining an understanding of western music through performance and studies of genres, forms, and histories. They explore topics such as jazz, rock & roll, the American musical, and key classical composers from the Baroque to the 20th century using video and recordings.

Outside class, Cardigan supports a wind ensemble, string ensemble, and choir that perform regularly. Private lessons can also be arranged for students who want to advance their skills on specific instruments. This comprehensive program fosters musical appreciation and skill development through diverse experiences.

three cardigan actors on stage during the school play

Drama & Theatre Arts

The Drama Program at Cardigan provides boys with a first experience in all aspects of theater. The school boasts an exceptional theater facility in its 230-seat auditorium with a full proscenium stage, sound, and lighting equipment. The department presents three productions each year.

Boys are given opportunities to act, serve backstage, learn to work lights and sound, build and decorate sets, produce, and, in some cases, direct. During the nights of performance, the student stage managers and student technical staff run the entire show. The audition process gives boys an excellent opportunity to learn the skills required to get a part.