Department Overview:
The Performing Arts Department welcomes students from all backgrounds and levels of experience to explore the world of music, theater and dance. Newcomers to our programs will find an exciting range of introductory classes with no prerequisites. More experienced students have the opportunity to continue and deepen their work through ensembles and advanced classes. All department courses emphasize active ways of learning, culminating in student-generated work. We encourage all students to consider taking at least one performing arts course before they graduate ARHS.
Introductory Courses (open to ALL students, 9-12, no experience needed)
The following classes have no prerequisites and are ideal means of exploring the department’s offerings. See course descriptions below for more information.
Hip Hop Dance: Teacher-Led Theater for a New Era
Hip Hop Dance 2: Student-Led Music Production 1
Conjunto de Bomba Music Theory
Concert Choir Acting 1
Stagecraft Steel Drumming
Ensemble Courses
The music and dance ensembles are unique among ARHS course offerings as their culminating activities involve performances outside of the regular school day. At the start of the school year, every student enrolled in a performing ensemble receives a schedule for the year of after-school performances and after-school rehearsals of the ensemble. This schedule should be shared with parents/guardians and should be considered a key part of the student’s coursework.
9th and 10th Grade Ensemble Scheduling
We recognize that 9th and 10th grade students have many required courses, making participation in a two-term ensemble challenging. Guidance staff will work with all students to find solutions to fitting in their ensembles. We highly encourage students to continue with their ensembles with the knowledge that more elective spots will be open to them as they continue through high school. Ensemble students facing difficult scheduling options should check in with their ensemble director or the department head prior to finishing their scheduling requests.
Repeating Courses
A number of Performing Arts courses can be taken more than once for credit, and some courses look for student teaching assistants (done as an ALP) each year. See your instructor for details if you’re interested.
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Dance Courses:
Hip Hop Dance: Teacher-Led (641)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
Students in this class learn with the teacher every day, building skills and technique in the street dance styles of House, Hip Hop, and Locking. Groove, improvisation, and musicality will be steadily developed over time, as well as joy, community, and self-care. Because Hip Hop is a culture with historical roots, students will engage with the communities, values, and traditions that gave rise to these dances. All levels are welcome.
Hip Hop Dance: Student-Led (642)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
This class is for students who are a little bit comfortable with social and/or street dance, and would like to develop their style, improvisation, and technique. This comfort can come from dancing with family and friends, from watching videos and dancing on your own, or from taking a class. Students will take an active role in choosing which street dance styles to explore, working independently, and creating the class based on their interests. Because Hip Hop is a culture with historical roots, students will engage with the communities, values, and traditions that gave rise to these dances.
Conjunto de Bomba: An Afro-Puerto Rican Drum and Dance Ensemble (6351)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: None. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
Students learn how to drum, dance, and sing in the various styles of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba. This is an ensemble in which students build their skills in music and dance in order to present and teach Bomba in a variety of settings including elementary to college classes, special events, and community centers.
Dance Theater Ensemble (636)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: None. This course may be taken more than once for credit
In this performance class, students share and build upon their dance experience through creating, teaching, and performing original dances. Students build their improvisation and technique and in a diverse range of dance styles from the director, master classes, and classmates. Through studying and experimenting with advanced choreography skills, students develop into more effective choreographers, teachers, collaborators, and performers. The ensemble enjoys field trips and performing for a variety of audiences.
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Theater Courses:
Theater for a New Era (640)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
This unique, project-based course will give you numerous opportunities to create and explore live, interactive experiences with other people. Whether you’re designing an escape room, an immersive theater piece for an audience of one, an interactive project designed for smartphones, or assembling a creative public event, the skills you learn in this class will equip you to make original, exciting work long after the class is complete. Students should expect an active, hands-on course that includes learning through video games, field trips, working with professional theater makers, and much more!
Acting 1 (638)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
What makes a great stage performance seem so magnetic and “real”? Acting 1 is ideal for students interested in exploring that question in a fun, low-risk environment. Using a variety of exercises, games, and performance techniques in this class, students will learn how to bring their full selves to the characters they play. Daily in-class activities, from serious and silly, help prepare students for scene study and in-class performances. Perfect for students curious about acting & theater and for those wanting to bring some practical acting technique into their performances.
Acting 2 (639)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Acting 1 or permission of the instructor. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
In Acting 2, students focus more intensely on full-length plays as the vehicle for their work while being introduced to new acting methods. Building off of skills gained in Acting 1, students will pursue more “inside-out” techniques, particularly a method called Practical Aesthetics. In addition, students will explore “outside-in” techniques - methods of acting that focus first and foremost on physical explorations of character and story. Recommended particularly for all students interested in deepening their on-stage skills and/or attending college theater programs.
Stagecraft (637)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
In this course, students will use the ARHS stage to take on project-based activities in stage design, set building, sound and stage lighting. Students will divide their time between in-class units on these subjects and preparing sound, lighting and building for concerts, plays and other events that occur at the school. This is a physically active class that will require students to operate stage equipment and move heavy objects (stage lights, platforms, etc.) Design theory for the stage will be incorporated regularly into the practical work that students undertake. The ability to work safely on a range of individual and group projects is required.
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Classroom Music Courses:
Music Theory (668y)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None
Chords, scales, intervals, composing for one or two voices, ear training, elementary counterpoint and sight singing are the principal content of Music Theory, which builds from simple structures through increasingly complex techniques, including composition of original works on digital keyboards and music composition software. A beginner’s knowledge of reading music notation is recommended but not required.
Music Production 1 (681)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None
In this quarter-long course, students will use the hardware and software in the Music Technology Lab to create original musical work spanning a variety of styles and genres. Through a series of listening exercises and composition projects, students will explore the unique musical characteristics of each genre and develop skills to compose their own melodies, beats, and chord progressions. Students will gain a basic proficiency on the MIDI keyboard and integrate basic music theory concepts into their work. They will also develop skills in recording, mixing, editing, and publishing music. No prior musical experience is required.
Music Production 2 (682)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Music Production 1 or permission of the instructor
Music Production 2 is a deep dive into the specifics of recording, mixing and mastering music. Through a series of projects designed to simulate real-life scenarios, students will develop the ability to hear nuances in produced music, and build a refined understanding of compression, EQ, reverb, and various effects. Time will be included at the end of the semester for independent work, and a field trip to a local recording studio. Recommended for any student who creates music on their own time, or anyone interested in pursuing music production professionally.
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Choir Ensembles:
Concert Choir (662x)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: None
Concert Choir is a mixed-voice choral ensemble open to any student at the high school who wants to grow as a singer. Students in the class will build techniques relating to breathing, posture, and tone production, and develop musical independence through ear training and sight reading. Repertoire includes songs from a variety of genres, including classical music of various periods, folk songs, spirituals, musical theater, and pop songs. No audition or performing experience is necessary.
Hurricane Singers (660C)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: An audition. Open to students in grades 10-12
This auditioned ensemble is a performance-based class open to students with treble voices in grades 10-12. Students will perform challenging music from a variety of genres, including pop, folk songs from around the world, gospel, and classical music. Through this study of repertoire, students will develop mastery of various musical skills, including melodic and rhythmic sight-reading, singing in multiple parts, and development of ensemble sound. The ensemble will perform in several evening concerts throughout the year.
Chorale (661C)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: An audition. Open to students in grades 10-12
Chorale is an auditioned, mixed-voice choral ensemble open to students in grades 10-12. Students will perform challenging repertoire from a variety of genres, with a focus on a cappella music from the past and present. Prior choral experience and familiarity with music notation is recommended. The ensemble will perform in several evening concerts throughout the year.
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Band Ensembles:
Steel Drumming (643)
Credits: 2
Prerequisite: None
Students will learn about the tradition of steel drumming by participating in a steel drum band. Students will learn to read music, learn about steel drums and the history of the instrument, and rehearse tunes as a group. Potential in-school performances for peers and staff.
Symphony Band (671x)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Previous experience on a band instrument or permission from the instructor. Open to students in grades 9-12
The Symphony Band is open to all students in grades 9-12 who have previous experience on a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument, OR have permission from the instructor. The repertoire performed includes, but is not limited to, classical music of all time periods, jazz, and pop music. Students will increase their level of performance skills, particularly in the areas of collaboration, expression, intonation, and interpretation. The ensemble gives 3-4 concerts each year. No audition is required. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
Wind Ensemble (672C)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: An audition. Open to students in grades 10-12
The Wind Ensemble is a select ensemble for woodwind, brass and percussion instruments in grades 10-12. The repertoire consists of a variety of works including classic band literature, contemporary compositions, and student-selected chamber music. The ensemble performs 3-5 concerts each year. Membership is by audition with the instructor. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
Jazz Workshop (664C)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: An audition. Open to students in grades 9-12
Jazz Workshop provides an intensive jazz education for students interested in learning or continuing their jazz skills, including improvisation, rehearsing in small ensembles, jazz theory, jazz history, reading jazz notation (scales and chords), and ear training. Styles performed include, but are not limited to, swing, blues, Latin styles, and funk. Frequent public performances are given, both on and off campus. Membership is by audition. Preference is given to students in grades 10-12. This course may be taken more than once for credit.
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Orchestra Ensembles:
Philharmonia (669x)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Prior experience on a stringed instrument. Open to students in grades 9-12
The Philharmonia is open to students in grade 9-12 who play the violin, viola, cello or double bass. The ensemble performs three evening concerts each year. In addition, the ensemble performs less formal daytime concerts in the Hampshire County area. The repertoire consists of varied musical selections, drawn from the classical orchestra tradition, from the Baroque to the contemporary, as well as music representing world music traditions and popular music of the United States.
Symphonic Orchestra (670A)
Credits: 4
Prerequisite: An audition. Open to students in grades 10-12
The Symphonic Orchestra is a select ensemble open to students in grades 10-12 who play the violin, viola, cello or double bass. The ensemble performs three evening concerts each year. The repertoire consists of quality orchestra music from the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, including concertos, movie scores.the finest music from the Baroque to the Contemporary periods. The student entering this ensemble must have played for at least one year in the Philharmonia or a similar orchestral ensemble. The student entering this ensemble should be able to perform music at the Grade IV or V level in accordance with the New York State Music Association Manual. Admission is based on an audition with the Director or participation in the Western District Senior Orchestra.