Arts & Music

BFA is the perfect space for young artists to flourish

Our ability to craft flexible schedules for our students makes Ben Franklin Academy an ideal learning community for students who have made serious extracurricular commitments, whether as artists, musicians, athletes, or entrepreneurs.

We know that students do their best work when they are encouraged to follow their passions, and so we work with families to craft academic schedules that allow students with extraordinary potential to complete their coursework on time, without sacrificing other important parts of their lives.

This approach has paid off over the years, as we’ve watched our graduates excel in the NBA, on the Broadway stage, and in businesses they started while at BFA. We’re most proud of the fact that so many of them return years later to tell us how much their time at BFA has contributed to their success.

BFA's Art and Music Faculty

Robin Olson

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2D Art
3D Art
Photography
Creative Writing
Music

2D Art

Painting: Painting explores color theory and basic painting materials & techniques with an emphasis on the development of visual perception. Students will utilize the elements of art and the principles of design as they experiment with watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and/or oil paints.

Drawing: Drawing explores basic drawing skills and the development of visual perception. Students will develop proficiency in the elements of art and the principles of design.

Sculpture: An introduction sculptural concepts, processes, and materials. Relief, subtractive, and additive processes can be explored while being exposed to historical and contemporary sculptors and techniques

3D Art

Metal and Jewelry Design: This course is a design and techniques course to familiarize students with the beginning metalworking skills of piercing, filing, cutting , riveting, soldering, and polishing various metals. Emphasis will also be placed on enhancing visual thinking, craftsmanship, and learning necessary vocabulary.

Ceramics: This course is a basic design and techniques course to familiarize students with the beginning hand building skills of p inch, coil and slab processes, to enhance visual thinking, and learn necessary vocabulary.

Photography

This course is a basic design and techniques course to familiarize students with the beginning photographic skills and language as well as enhance visual thinking skills. Students will use various pinhole cameras and 35mm cameras to produce photographs which can be enlarged, hand colored, sepia, and blue toned.

Creative Writing

Introduction to Creative Writing: This course serves as an introduction to prose fiction and poetry writing. The course focuses on a study of various forms and genres of prose fiction and poetry apart from, though not excluding, expository and persuasive essays. Literary works serve as models through analysis, application, and imitation. Composition exercises reflect an understanding of studied forms and an application of creative techniques.

Creative Writing, Poetry: This course serves as a complete introduction to elements of poetry writing. The course focuses on a study of various forms and genres of poetry, with extensive concentration on poetic technique. Literary works serve as models through analysis, application, and imitation. Composition exercises reflect an understanding of studied forms and an application of creative techniques. This course focuses on extensive and repeated revision of creative work.

Creative Writing, Prose Fiction: This course serves as a complete introduction to elements of prose fiction writing. The course focuses on a study of various forms and genres of prose fiction apart from, though not excluding, expository and persuasive essays. Literary works serve as models through analysis, application, and imitation. Composition exercises reflect an understanding of studied forms and an application of creative techniques. This course focuses on extensive and repeated revision of creative work.

Music

BFA students have the options to learn and develop musical skills in Saxophone, Guitar, and Piano during hour-long, individualized music lessons with Norm Ficke or Joe Gransden.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in BFA's Band as an extracurricular activity.