The Arts
Curiosity Meets Creativity
At Hammond, we believe in the power of the arts to free minds, spark imagination, and inspire creation without limits. From band and chorus to dance, theatre, and visual arts, every student has the chance to discover their own creative voice.
Our youngest learners write plays, design costumes, and compose original music. Middle schoolers explore visual arts and band through dynamic, nine-week workshops. In the upper school, students dive into stage and set design, theatre, dance, chorus, and band. At every stage, the arts aren’t just an option, they’re a vibrant part of the Hammond experience.
| LOWER SCHOOL |
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| Lower school students dive into hands-on, age-appropriate experiences that spark an early love for visual arts and music. It’s not unusual to find them writing plays, creating costumes and props, or composing their own songs. At Hammond, the arts are woven into every stage of learning, helping even our youngest students build creativity, confidence, and a well-rounded foundation for the future. |
| MIDDLE SCHOOL |
| Middle school students stay immersed in the arts all year long. In fifth and sixth grade, every student takes visual art and chooses between instrumental or choral music. By seventh and eighth grade, they explore their passions even further, selecting two of six semester courses: Drama, Choral Music, Instrumental Music, Dance, Technical Theatre, or Visual Art. |
| UPPER SCHOOL |
| Upper school students are encouraged to explore the arts from every angle, often participating in multiple disciplines. Many advance to higher-level tracks, while some focus their talents on excelling in a single area. Whatever the path, the goal is the same: to immerse every student in rich, creative experiences and ensure they graduate with a lasting appreciation for the arts. |
| LET THE BAND PLAY ON! |
| Students in grades 5–12 can take part in our instrumental music program, starting with traditional band instruments—woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Along the way, they build skills through hands-on learning, individual practice, performances, and competitions. Lessons in music theory and history deepen their understanding, while our state-of-the-art band room, with soundproof practice and recording booths, gives them the perfect space to rehearse and record in professional-quality environments. |
| TEACHING THE WORLD TO SING |
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At Hammond, we love to sing, so much so that it begins in pre-kindergarten and finishes with our premier auditioned choir, the Select Ensemble. Middle school students participate in choral education, while upper school students focus on choral performance.
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| TAKING A BOW |
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Dance promotes coordination, core strength, and flexibility. Students experience movement, develop and nurture respect for theatre decorum, and gain an appreciation for performance art. Dance is available to students in grades 7-12.
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All the World’s a Stage.
At Hammond, we start performing in pre-kindergarten—so stage fright isn’t in our vocabulary. From the very beginning, plays and performances build confidence and a tradition of public speaking that lasts long after graduation. In middle and upper school, students can audition for one of our plays or musicals—often all-school productions that bring our entire community together.
Every Class is a Work of Art.
In the lower school, painting, drawing, and sketching are part of everyday life. Our youngest artists work in a dedicated studio designed to spark creativity and nurture emerging talents. In middle school, students explore a rich palette of visual expression in one of four art studios on campus, with one-to-one art supplies that give them the freedom to create in multiple mediums. By their junior and senior years, students begin building their portfolios and can even earn college credit through our AP art courses.
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WHEN WE COME TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE WONDEROUS THINGS.
THIS IS HAMMOND THINKING AHEAD — The combination of our extensive programs, talented faculty, first class facilities, and sense of community. This is what helps us grow compassionate, articulate, and disciplined young people. — THIS IS HAMMOND.