Artists hone their foundation by employing the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor. These courses are Prime specific, unless otherwise designated as open to students from all primes. Students should focus their Applied Arts choices in their prime arts area, but may explore outside of their prime in some cases.
17 M/W SESSIONS (21 HRS 15 MIN POSSIBLE)
Music Business
Teaching Artist: Athena Hiotis
Contact: ahiotis@aacps.org
Mondays & Wednesdays at Studio 39
2 days per week
Music Primes or students pursuing music
This class serves as a blueprint for how the music industry works; how musicians can have a thriving career in music whether it's in business or performance; and for an important mindset shift that allows for them to make money doing it!
Artists should walk away with a confident, detailed understanding of the fundamentals of the industry, how business works, and how to utilize their skills as musicians to be successful.
3D Props
Teaching Artist: Johnny Weissgerber
Contact: jweissgerber@aacps.org
Mondays & Wednesdays at Studio 39
2 days per week
Theater, Visual Art Primes Welcome
Artists will create 3-dimensional objects based on images using a large variety of materials.
Artists will apply both assemblage and sculptural methods to generate facsimile props.
Visual Art
Teaching Artist: Barbara Bustard
Contact: bbustard@aacps.org
Mondays & Wednesdays at Studio 39
2 days per week
Visual Art Primes
Artists will learn the process of constructing ceramic pieces using the slab technique and will learn the technique of creating inlay in clay to create slab piece inlayed with colored slip and using molds, create bowls, platters, etc.
Pieces will be photographed for portfolio building, and may be displayed in the gallery.
Writing for the Stage/Screen
Teaching Artist: Francesca Chilcote
Contact: fchilcote@aacps.org
Mondays & Wednesdays at Studio 39
2 days per week
Theater, Creative Writing, Film & New Media Primes Welcome
This class approaches comedy writing through scripting as well as improvisation. Beginning with basic improvisation training, students will learn to “Yes, And” each other in the writer’s room, and explore the value of improvised dialogue. After honing their comedy chops through game play, students will begin to improvise longer form scenes based on proposed scenarios, and eventually identify the themes, characters, and the world of their story.
The instructor will introduce group writing techniques, Dan Harmon’s story circle (adapted hero’s journey), Michael Schur’s “candy bag”, and guide the students as they write in the medium of their choice: play, screenplay, or tv pilot! The writing sessions will be conducted through breakout sessions in small groups with laptops, improvisation sessions guided by the instructor and the other writers, and group edits.
19 TU/TH SESSIONS (23 HRS 45 MIN POSSIBLE)
Choreography and Performance
Teaching Artist: Jasmine Caffee
Contact:
Tuesdays & Thursdays at Studio 39
2 days per week
Dance Primes only, or significant dance training.
The study and performance of choreography using three approaches: learning excerpts from the repertoire of selected choreographers, analyzing through reconstruction of classic repertory works, and understanding the choreographic process by working in a creation from initial concept to finished dance.
A key aspect of the course involves the creation and performance of dance works in order to practice technique, understand compositional structure, and engage in creative activity with culminating performance opportunities for participants.
The ensemble will record choreography for portfolio use. They may also be invited to perform as part of the Fall Festival, or to represent the Apex Arts Dance Program in invited performance opportunities.
Creative Writing
Teaching Artists: Margaret Heemstra & Lynn Schwartz
Contact: mheemstra@aacps.org, laschwartz@aacps.org
Tuesdays & Thursdays at Studio 39
2 days per week
All Primes welcomed and encouraged.
The Creative Habit (7 Sessions)
Dates: August 30 - September 20
We’ll identify the creative self in each of us and explore how to establish the most effective process for our ongoing artistic work. Learn to create a healthy and powerful working practice, an inspirational workspace, and techniques to combat barriers to creativity such as writer’s block, procrastination, and the inner critic.
Publishing 101 (4 Sessions)
Dates: September 22 - October 4
Learn the ins and outs of publishing. Whether you hope to have a novel, collection of stories/poetry, or art/photography/design book published, you’ll need to know your options. Let’s examine how to submit a manuscript and understand what is expected in the publishing process, including professional etiquette, proper email style, and the agent query letter. We will explore effective book promotion and how to best pitch your ideas in an interview or email. We’ll also learn to use a variety of creative exercises designed to help you develop and maintain a positive and professional attitude toward your work.
The Craft of Emotion: Discovering the Emotional Truth of Your Story (8 Sessions)
Dates: October 6 - November 10
We can read a novel, watch a performance, or view a work of visual art, but this will not be memorable unless the artist has conveyed a strong, underlying emotion. Even when a story is beautifully written, it may not be enough to make the reader care. The key lies with the emotional impact your story has on the reader. We’ll explore specific techniques to apply to your writing so that a reader will experience their own emotional journey – making them invested in your characters’ struggles, discoveries, and triumphs. These techniques can be applied to stories told on and off the page.
Visual Art
Teaching Artist: Mary Rosoff
Contact: mrosoff@aacps.org
Tuesdays & Thursdays at Studio 39
2 days per week
All Primes welcomed and encouraged.
The Japanese term “sumi” means “black ink”, “e” means “painting”. It indicates one of the art forms in which subjects are painted with black ink in all possible gradations ranging pure black to the lightest shades achievable by dissolving ink in water.
In this class you will explore techniques of this painting style and learn to master the four basic brushstrokes and create beautiful brush paintings of your own.