Organizing arts in MYP schools

Schools often face complicated demands for resources and timetabling/scheduling. The following pathways
represent only some of the ways MYP arts can be organized. These examples represent various
applications of key principles of IB curriculum design.

• Balance: Students must study MYP arts as one of eight subject groups required in MYP years 1–3,
and the programme is designed for that study to continue in MYP years 4 and 5.

• Breadth: Students should have opportunities to explore many arts disciplines in order to introduce
them to the wealth of artistic expression in human experience.

• Depth: Students should be able to pursue sustained learning in at least one arts discipline so that they
can develop deep understanding and sophisticated skills over time, and be able to meet the highest
achievement levels for MYP arts criteria in the final year of their MYP experience.

Requirements
The MYP requires at least 50 hours of teaching time for each subject group in each year of the programme.

Students must engage in 50 hours of structured learning in the arts in each year of MYP years 1–3, as well
as in MYP years 4 and 5 if they opt to continue to study the subject. The required teaching hours can
extend across the study of various arts disciplines, as long as the total meets the minimum requirement for
the subject group.

For students pursuing IB MYP results that can contribute to the awarding of the IB MYP certificate, arts
courses of 70 teaching hours are recommended in each of the final two years of the programme (MYP
years 4 and 5).

All MYP schools must ensure that:

• in MYP years 1–3, students engage in a minimum of one visual arts discipline and one performing arts
discipline
• the sum of arts subject-group hours in MYP years 1–3 meets the minimum requirement of 150 hours,
of which a minimum total of 50 hours must be dedicated to visual arts and a minimum total of 50 hours
must be dedicated to performing arts. The remaining 50 hours may be allocated to any arts subject(s)
at the discretion of the school
• students must use the arts process journal in all MYP arts courses.

The requirement that students engage in a minimum of one visual arts discipline and one performing arts
discipline means that MYP schools cannot offer one integrated arts course. Modes of performance through
visual arts and performing arts offer students various opportunities to express emotion, idea and opinion
through very different skill sets that are difficult to merge into a single arts course. Through structured
learning in various art forms over the course of years 1–3, students can explore a variety of visual and
performing art forms and can best develop a variety of subject-specific and general approaches to
learning (ATL) skills.

Schools that do not offer MYP year 1 should ensure an equivalent distribution between the visual and
performing arts courses offered in MYP years 2 and 3.

Ideally students studying an art form in year 5 will have engaged in structured learning in the same art form
in earlier years of the programme, although that may not always be possible. In terms of good practice, this
structured learning is best delivered in the context of a formal course in the same arts discipline offered as
part of the school’s curriculum.

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MYP arts course structures
The MYP recognizes the following arts disciplines in which students can receive IB-validated grades.
• Visual arts (VA): Visual art and media (which can be taught together as integrated visual arts).
• Performing arts (PA): Drama, music and dance (which can be taught in various combinations as
integrated performing arts).
Structure of course
Combined subject groups in
MYP years 1–3
Intermittent course
(for example, the arts subject
group is offered for the first
semester and the design
subject group for the second
semester)
Modular arts course
(for example, a variety of arts
disciplines per semester,
trimester, quarter, term)
Integrated VA
Integrated PA
Discrete arts disciplines:
Visual art
Media
Drama
Music
Dance
Schools that finish in MYP year 5 should always ensure that students are able to meet the year 5 arts
objectives by the end of the course.
Description
In MYP years 1–3, if local circumstances impose scheduling constraints that
prevent the programme’s designed implementation, schools can combine
teaching and learning for a subject group into one or more other regularly
timetabled/scheduled subject groups. Any subject group that is not taught
independently must continue to meet MYP requirements. It is still the school’s
responsibility to offer both visual arts and performing arts courses when
combining the arts into other subject groups.
In MYP years 1–3, it is permissible to alternate the arts subject group with one
other subject group, provided that each subject group meets the required
minimum 50 teaching hours. Offered within an intermittent course, the arts must
provide a range of both visual arts and performing arts units and must meet the
allocated minimum required hours in each art form across MYP years 1–3.
Students may study a consecutive variety of arts disciplines, each for a set
period of time. These modules each focus on single arts disciplines, such as
visual art, music and drama. The arts disciplines offered in a modular fashion
must provide a range of both visual arts and performing arts. Each module may,
or may not, be taught by the same teacher, and the total hours in the subject
group must meet the minimum requirement of 50 hours. When reporting grades
to parents, it is a school choice whether to report the student achievement levels
for individual arts disciplines or for the arts as a subject group.
Integrated arts courses should consist of integrated visual arts disciplines or
integrated performing arts disciplines. For example, a school may include music
dance and drama in an integrated performing arts course. Students must
engage in both visual arts and performing arts over the course of MYP years 1–
3, although not necessarily simultaneously. Schools are not permitted to merge
performing and visual arts together into one integrated course.
Students may engage in the arts through the study of discrete disciplines.
Students may study one or more disciplines each year. Schools must offer both
visual and performing arts disciplines over the course of MYP years 1–3,
although not necessarily simultaneously.
Students are usually offered a choice of the same disciplines in years 4 and 5 of
the programme.
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Potential MYP arts pathways
If students opt for IB validation through eAssessment (ePortfolio) in MYP arts, the IB recommends a
minimum of 140 hours of teaching time over the final two years of the programme (70 hours in both MYP
years 4 and 5). In MYP years 1–3, the MYP arts subject group must meet the minimum requirements of
50 hours of teaching time each year.

If schools offer the courses listed below as “not recommended” or “not possible”, they may receive a
recommendation or matter to be addressed at programme authorization or evaluation.

Intermittent courses (including arts and one other subject group)

MYP year 1 MYP year 2 MYP year 3 MYP year 4 MYP year 5

Intermittent Intermittent Intermittent Choice of Continuation Preferred, as students

course course course MYP arts of the choice have sufficient opportunity
discipline(s) selected in to experience sustained
offered MYP year 4 learning in discrete visual
previously and performing arts.

Intermittent Intermittent Intermittent Integrated Continuation Suggested, as this offers

course course course VA and/or of the choice students the opportunity to
integrated selected in experience many arts
PA MYP year 4 disciplines; however, an
intermittent course does
not prepare students for the
interdisciplinarity of
integrated arts.
Intermittent Intermittent Intermittent Possible in schools not
course course course offering MYP years 4
and 5; this allows students
the opportunity to
experience the arts with
more flexibility in
scheduling/timetabling.
Intermittent Intermittent Intermittent Intermittent Intermittent Not recommended, as
course course course course course students rarely have
sufficient opportunity to
reach the highest
achievement levels of the
year 5 assessment criteria
owing to the lack of
sustained learning.
Arts subject Design PHE subject Not possible, as in MYP
group only subject group only years 1–3, all eight subject
group only groups must be offered
each year to meet
programme requirements.

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Modular arts courses
Modular arts courses in MYP years 1–3 offer students a variety of arts disciplines, each for a set period of
time (semester, trimester or term, depending on the school). As a subject group, the arts must meet the
minimum requirements per year.

The following table shows examples of some modular arts pathways.

MYP year 1 MYP year 2 MYP year 3 MYP year 4 MYP year 5

Modular arts Modular arts Modular arts Choice of Continuation Preferred, as students
course course course MYP arts of the choice have sufficient opportunity
including VA including VA including VA discrete selected in to experience sustained
and PA and PA and PA discipline(s) MYP year 4 learning in discrete visual
disciplines disciplines disciplines or offered and performing arts.
choice of previously
MYP arts
discrete
discipline(s)
Modular arts Modular arts Modular arts Integrated Continuation Suggested, as this offers
course course course VA and/or of the choice students the opportunity to
including VA including VA including VA integrated selected in experience many
and PA and PA and PA PA MYP year 4 disciplines, but a modular
disciplines disciplines disciplines course does not prepare
students well for the
interdisciplinarity of
integrated arts.
Modular arts Modular arts Modular arts Possible, as this meets
course course course programme requirements
including VA including VA including VA for MYP years 1–3.
and PA and PA and PA
disciplines disciplines disciplines
Modular arts Modular arts Modular arts Modular arts Modular arts Not recommended, as
course course course course course students may not have
including VA including VA including VA including VA including VA sufficient opportunity to
and PA and PA and PA and PA and PA reach the highest
disciplines disciplines disciplines disciplines disciplines achievement levels of the
year 5 assessment criteria.
Modular arts Modular arts Design or Not possible, as this does
course of VA course of PA PHE subject not meet programme
disciplines disciplines group (no requirements for MYP
MYP arts years 1–3.
course)

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Integrated arts courses
Across MYP years 1–3, schools may offer integrated visual arts and integrated performing arts, although
not necessarily as simultaneous courses. As a subject group, the arts must meet the minimum
requirements per year.

The following table shows examples of some integrated arts pathways.

MYP year 1 MYP year 2 MYP year 3 MYP year 4 MYP year 5

Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Continuation Preferred, as students

VA and VA and VA and VA and/or of the choice have sufficient opportunity
integrated integrated integrated integrated selected in to experience sustained
PA PA PA PA MYP year 4. learning in visual and
performing arts.
Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Continuation Suggested, depending on
VA and VA and VA and VA and/or of the choice the specialities of the staff
integrated integrated integrated PA or selected in and the class sizes, to
PA PA PA discrete arts MYP year 4 maximize effective
disciplines teaching and learning.
Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Continuation Possible, as this offers
VA and/or VA PA VA and/or of the choice students the opportunity to
integrated integrated selected in experience many
PA PA MYP year 4 disciplines, but does not
offer sustained learning in
MYP years 1–3.
Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Not recommended, as
PA VA VA VA VA students may not have
sufficient opportunity to
experience both visual and
performing arts.
A single A single A single A single A single Not possible, as schools
integrated integrated integrated integrated integrated must offer separate visual
arts course arts course arts course arts course arts course and performing arts
courses.

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Discrete disciplines
Schools offer two or more disciplines across MYP years 1–3, comprising visual arts and performing arts.
Students study these disciplines throughout the entire school year. As a subject group, the arts must meet
the minimum requirements per year.

The following table shows examples of some discrete discipline pathways.

MYP year 1 MYP year 2 MYP year 3 MYP year 4 MYP year 5
Multiple VA Multiple VA Multiple VA A choice of Continuation Preferred, as students
and PA and PA and PA discipline(s) of the choice have sufficient opportunity
discrete discrete discrete offered in selected in to experience sustained
disciplines disciplines disciplines MYP MYP year 4 learning in visual and
years 1–3 performing arts.
One visual Continuing Continuing A choice of Continuation Suggested, as students
arts and one the the either/both of the choice are exposed to both VA
performing disciplines disciplines discrete selected in and PA, although this limits
arts as from MYP from MYP discipline(s) MYP year 4 students to the study of
discrete year 1 year 1 offered in only two arts disciplines
disciplines MYP
years 1–3
Visual art Music (Band) Music A choice of Continuation Possible, as students can
(Orchestra) any MYP arts of the choice experience many arts
Drama Media
discrete selected in disciplines, but less than
Dance
discipline(s) MYP year 4 ideal since there is not
sustained learning in MYP
years 1–3.
Visual art Music Music Music Music Not recommended, as
students may not have
sufficient opportunity to
experience both visual and
performing arts.
General Band, with Band, with Band Band Not recommended, as
music, with 15 hours of 15 hours of students may not have
20 hours of structured structured sufficient opportunity to
structured learning in learning in experience visual arts.
learning in VA (1 unit) VA (1 unit)
VA (2 units)
Dance Music Drama Visual art Media Not possible, as students
have not engaged in visual
arts in MYP years 1–3.
Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Not possible, as this does
not meet programme
requirements for MYP
years 1–3.
Visual art Drama Visual art or Visual art or Not possible, as this does
drama drama not meet programme
requirements for MYP
year 3.