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Fine Arts Magnet

Welcome to Pershing's Fine Arts Magnet Department!

Pershing Middle School Fine Arts seeks to provide students an opportunity to flourish as artists and create meaningful connections with our community. We will empower and enrich the development of the visual and performing arts by instilling a sense of culture, pride, higher level thinking, and lifelong learning.

Students applying to the Fine Arts Magnet program will participate in an audition or portfolio review to demonstrate their interest and potential in one or more areas of the arts:

Visual/Creative Arts:

Performing Arts:

 Musical Arts:
  • Theatre (Tech)
  •  Visual Art
  • Dance
  • Gymnastics
  • Theatre (Acting)
  • Band
  • Choir
  • Piano
  • Guitar
  • Orchestra

 Auditions for one of these areas will have 4 components:

Visual/Creative Arts:

Performing Arts:

 Musical Arts:
  • Interview
  • Prepared Portfolio
  •  Performance Task
  • Area focused Assessment    
  • Interview
  • Prepared Performance
  • Performance Task
  • Area Focused Assessment

  • Interview

  • Prepared Solo

  • Scales

  • Sight Reading

Click on the links below to see magnet application departments.

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Band

Choir

Dance

Guitar

See the pdf for audition information.

🤸‍♀️Gymnastics - Leslie Henry, lhenry3@houstonisd.org

Pershing Middle School Gymnastics Program Rubrics

Students that participate in auditions for gymnastics will be rated on 4 components.  Components include Interview, Prepared Performance, Performance Task, and an Area Focused Assessment. Students will need to wear clothes that they will be able move in preferably a leotard and leggings.

  • Interview: 10 points
  • Prepared Performance: 30 points
  • Performance Task: 30 points
  • Area Focused Assessment: 30 points

 1. Interview Rubric – Magnet or Placement Evaluation
10 points total

Objective: Evaluate student communication, understanding of expectations, attitude, and motivation to join the program.

Explanation: Students will complete a short questionnaire during the interview to assess their background knowledge, interests, and goals related to gymnastics. Their responses will be considered as part of the overall evaluation.

 2. Prepared Performance Rubric – Individual Routine or Skill Presentation

30 total points

Objective: Evaluate the student’s ability to prepare, memorize, and perform a short routine or skill series independently.

Explanation: Students will create and perform a short gymnastics routine to music demonstrating their skills. Routines should include a forward roll, backward roll, cartwheel, handstand, gymnastics jump, turn, and leap.

**If students can perform more advanced gymnastics skills, they are encouraged to include them in their routine to showcase higher level ability and creativity. For example, handstand forward roll, walkovers, and roundoff back handspring.

 3. Performance Task Rubric – Classroom Gymnastics Evaluation

30 Points Total

Objective: Assess students’ effort, participation, safety, and application of skills during regular class activities and structured practice sessions. This will include flexibility, muscular endurance, and floor skills. 

Explanation: This rubric is used to evaluate students during daily gymnastics instruction. Emphasis is placed on consistent participation, correct skill execution, and safe practice habits of flexibility, strength and floor skills used in a gymnastics class.

 4. Area-Focused Assessment Rubric – Individual Skill Mastery

30 Points Total

Objective: Assess understanding and development of specific gymnastics skills on the gymnastics apparatus. Which includes bars, beam, and vault / springboard for girls. And includes rings, bars, and vault/springboard.

Explanation: This rubric evaluates a student’s individual progress in skill mastery, safety, and knowledge of correct technique on the gymnastics equipment.

Orchestra

Click here to download requirements

Piano

Click here to download requirements

Theater

Click to download audition requirements and scripts

Technical Theater

Click to see audition requirements

Visual Arts

PERSHING VISUAL ARTS AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

We look forward to meeting with you on your scheduled in-person audition date. Our audition consists of three sections: portfolio, interview, and drawing. All supplies will be provided during the audition. Please remember to bring in your personal art portfolio consisting of a minimum of three 2D artworks. All directions for each requirement must be followed. The rubric utilized to score each applicant is posted below.

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

A minimum of three 2D artworks such as drawings, paintings, prints, and mixed media pieces. Bringing a personal sketchbook is highly recommended and additional pieces are welcome.  

Anime or cartoon character drawings will not be accepted towards minimum portfolio requirement.

INTERVIEW

Students will be asked various questions by the art teachers and students will fill out a student response form.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

  • Why do you want to attend the Pershing visual arts program?
  • What was your favorite artwork? Explain?

DRAWING

Students will complete these drawings at the audition. All materials will be provided.

Part I - Students will create a timed #2 pencil drawing of a still life exhibiting strong direct observation skills, craftsmanship, composition, and good time management.

Part II - Students will create timed #2 pencil drawing of an imaginative, creature that comes out at night exhibiting strong creativity, composition and good time management.

RUBRIC

  • Interview                                 10 pts                          
  • Portfolio                                 10 pts
  • Performance Task                   40 pts
  • Area Focused Assessment      40 pts   

VISUAL ARTS TEACHER CONTACTS