Fine Arts

Honors Advanced Studio Art 

Number: HS9306

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 10-12

Prerequisite: An Art I and and Art II (in any area) or teacher recommendation

This is a course designed for self-motivated and experienced 2D or 3d  art students. Emphasis is placed on developing and completing works for a college level portfolio. Planning, sketching, research, and written reflection are required. This course may be taken multiple times, and is recommended as a supplementary studio period for AP Art.

AP Studio Art

Number: HS9301

Yearlong/ 1 credit

Grades 10-12

Prerequisite: At least 3 visual/media art courses or teacher approval

College credit can be earned if you take the AP exam in May.

This year-long course enables highly motivated students to engage in college-level work in studio art. Students will engage in experimentation, develop skills in questioning, practice written reflection, and engage in a sustained investigation of materials, processes and ideas. Submission of AP portfolio is required. It is STRONGLY suggested that students signing up for this course sign up for another semester-long course in their area of concentration (2D, 3D or Media Art) for each semester to allow for adequate studio time. 

Media Art II: Animation – HS9137

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Photoshop and Illustrator or Video Production

This is an intermediate level course for students who wish to further their exploration of digital art through the study of animation. Students will learn the principles of animation and use Adobe Animate and Premiere Pro to create their own animated works, including (but not limited to) narrative short films, character animations, and GIFs.

Media Art II: Graphic Design – HS9142

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Photoshop and Illustrator

This is an intermediate level course for students who wish to further their exploration of digital art through the study of graphic design. Students will use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to explore composition and the principles of design as they relate to the four main categories of graphic design: identity, advertising, publications, and information. Topics and projects include, but are not limited to, typography, logos, and album covers.

Concert Band 

Number: HS9108

Year/ 1 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: MS Band or instructor’s consent. Requires attendance at all concerts/performances.

Concert Band is a performance based class open to all students that have had some previous experience playing a band instrument. Concert Band is an instrumental ensemble for students wishing to develop their instrumental skills and fulfill their enjoyment of music through performance.  This ensemble performs a variety of musical styles that will challenge the ensemble members and broaden their knowledge of instrumental music.  The band performs at several school concerts as well as other school and civic events.  Some after school rehearsals and performances are required. Students are encouraged to repeat this course. 

Percussion Ensemble 

Number: HS9143

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Requires attendance at all concerts/performances.

Percussion Ensemble is a performance based class designed for percussionists who are interested in expanding their musical knowledge beyond the band setting. In this course students will perfect the art of playing and maintaining all of the different percussion instruments including but not limited to, Timpani, mallet percussion, auxiliary percussion, and snare drum. Students will have the opportunity to perform drumline, percussion ensemble and band pieces. Students are encouraged to sign up for Concert or Wind Ensemble for Semester 2. Students are encouraged to repeat this course.

Wind Ensemble

Number: HS9107

Year / 1 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Audition or instructor’s consent. Requires attendance at all concerts/performances. 

Wind Ensemble is a performance based class designed for advanced level musicians. Students are selected by audition only. Auditions will take place each spring, please see Mrs. Kennedy for the audition material. Wind Ensemble is designed to challenge students with advanced musical abilities and interests. Students are exposed to challenging literature and expected to spend the additional time necessary to master these pieces. This ensemble performs at all school events, concerts and local civic events. Students are encouraged to repeat this course.  

Chorus

Number: HS9115

Year/ 1 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Required to participate in one performance per semester and may be required to sing individually or in small groups as part of a final assessment. 

Chorus is a non-auditioned performance based class in which students are exposed to various styles of music. All students at any level of musicianship are welcome. Students will learn and be expected to demonstrate basic sight singing, music theory, and aural skills as well as proper choral singing technique as we work together to prepare and perform three and four part music.  Students may participate in more than one chorus.

Select Chorus

Number: HS9116

Year/ 1 credit

Grades 10-12

Prerequisite: Acceptance by audition and/or instructor’s consent

*Participation in this course will take students out of class frequently (occasionally two or more times a week) and will include some evening and weekend events. 

Select chorus is a performance-based class for students seriously seeking to work at a more advanced level and perform more frequently than that of chorus. Through ear training, sight singing, music theory, and piano lessons, students will prepare 4+ part music for various performances throughout the year. Auditions for Select Chorus will take place in early spring before the new school year. Students in select chorus are expected to audition for the District 1 Honors Festival and the Maine All-State Festival. Students may participate in more than one chorus.

Auditioned Treble Choir

Number: HS9120

Year/ 1 credit

Grades 10-12 

Prerequisite: Acceptance by audition and/or instructor’s consent 

This course is a performance-based class for soprano and alto-voiced students seeking to work at a more advanced level and perform more frequently than that of chorus.  Through ear training, sight singing, and music theory students will prepare 3+ part music for various performances throughout the year. Auditions for the treble choir will take place in the spring before the new school year and at the same time as select chorus auditions. Students in treble choir will be highly encouraged to audition for the District 1 Honors Festival and the Maine All-State Festival. Students may participate in more than one chorus.

Ukulele

Number: HS9118

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of music through the ukulele:   reading and playing melodies using musical notation and tablature, chords, and scales.  Classes will consist of group and individual playing. Students  will demonstrate their knowledge and skills on the ukulele for the instructor, and sometimes for the class. Steady progress through consistent classwork/practice is expected.

Guitar 

Number: HS9114

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of music through the guitar:   reading and playing melodies using musical notation and tablature, chords, and scales.  Classes will consist of group and individual playing. Students  will demonstrate their knowledge and skills on the guitar for the instructor, and sometimes for the class. Steady progress through consistent classwork/practice is expected.

Piano Lab

Number: HS9113

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Piano Lab is a performance-based class open to beginner and advanced beginner piano students. Through online sites, a modern electronic piano lab, small group and individual instruction, and hands-on practice, students will learn the basics necessary to play the piano.  Students will learn and apply knowledge of musical notation, symbols, and terminology to perform music with greater complexity as the course progresses. Students should expect to perform for the class 3-4 times throughout the semester.

Build & Play A Strumstick 

Number: HS9136

Semester / .5 credit (Note: This is a Career & Tech class that offers elective credit and does not meet a Fine Arts requirement)

Grades 9-12

This class is designed for students who have little to no musical or shop experience. In the class you will learn to design and build a strumstick instrument utilizing typical shop machinery. After the instrument is built you will learn to play it. This instrument is designed for the “non-musician” and is used as an introduction to music performance and notation. You will be exposed to a variety of genres, develop basic understanding of music, music theory, history and notation through learning to play the strumstick. Students will be given pieces to play and encouraged to find their own as their skills progress. Steady progress through consistent classwork/practice is expected.

Modern Band

Number: HS9134

Grades 9-12

Semester / .5 credit

Modern Band is a performance-based class focusing on playing/performing pop/rock/country and other “modern” genres. Students who choose this course will need to be highly motivated and self-sufficient as they will be required to learn to play several instruments, including bass guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard, and drum set. Vocalists are encouraged to join. Students will learn to read and play basic chords and use aural and positive communication skills to collaboratively create music for performance. Students will be expected to participate in 1-2 performances throughout the semester.

Music Appreciation

Number: HS9110

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

This class is designed for little or no training in music to learn more about how music works and how to talk about it. The class will serve as an introduction to music history, notation, theory, criticism, and aesthetics. The course will include a review of music history from what is known of its earliest beginnings through the 21st Century. Students will gain a greater appreciation of music through learning to play a number of instruments, culminating in a final small group performance. 

Students will have the opportunity to attend music performances throughout the semester.

Music Theory 

HS9139

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite:  Band, Guitar, Chorus, Select Chorus, Piano Lab, Music Appreciation, or instructor’s consent.

This class will introduce students to the fundamentals of written music and basic to intermediate music theory and will be particularly beneficial for students who are planning on pursuing music as a career.  Students will learn and apply knowledge of musical notation, symbols and terminology.  Students will analyze music using their understanding of pitch, rhythm, form, texture, and harmony.

Songwriting

Number: HS9209

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 10-12

Study the craft of writing music through analyzing songs in a variety of styles and genres. Students will learn about the creative craft of writing music by acquiring familiarity with music terminology, technology, melody writing, and lyric writing. Students will learn through classroom discussions and examples as well as project-oriented assignments. 

Level 1 (no prerequisite)

Unified Theatre

Number: HS9128

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Unified Theatre is a special focus theatre course in which students of all abilities participate in improvisational theatre games and hands-on drama activities that develop and improve on important life skills including self-awareness, empathy, effective communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and flexibility. The course welcomes students who would like to develop these skills as well as students who would like to role model these skills. Students are not required to perform in front of an audience.

Theatre I

Number: HS9103

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Theatre I is an introductory course in which students will participate in a variety of theatre-based experiences. They will develop skills in creative expression and interpretation through improvisational theatre games, script analysis, character development, and scene work. They will also have a chance to experience a live theater performance. The culmination of this work will be performing in a children's play that tours to SAD 6 elementary schools. Participating in the many aspects of theatre will provide a greater understanding of theatre as an art form, theatre’s role in society, and theatre’s ability to make us better human beings.

Stagecraft 

Number: HS9105

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Stagecraft provides a hands-on learning experience creating the scenery, lighting, props, and costumes for various theatrical productions. It is designed for students who are interested in learning about theatre but do not want to perform. Students will learn how to analyze and interpret dramatic literature and express that understanding through design and construction of scenery, props, lighting, and costumes. Students will learn to use technology to research, develop, and document design choices. Students will be exposed to the various possibilities for careers available behind the scenes in entertainment industries. 

Film Appreciation 

HS9129

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

This course is for the student that has an interest in learning about the development of film as an art form. An in-depth study is made of the “cinematic language” used by filmmakers to tell stories. The student will view, analyze, and critique various films as they learn how to watch movies as an active viewer, interpret “cinematic language,” and understand the impact of film on society. Students will need to be willing to collaborate with classmates on formative and summative projects.

Level 2 (prerequisite required)

Theatre II 

Number: HS9104

Semester / .5 credit

Grades 9-12

Prerequisite: Theatre I 

Theatre II is designed for students who wish to further their knowledge of theatre, with an emphasis on the writing and development of an original performance piece. Students will continue to develop acting skills through work with monologues and will explore directing as a new unit of study. The class will be guided in writing their own performance piece about issues that are relevant to the class. This project culminates in an evening performance for the community. Students who have not taken Theatre I but have extensive theatre background must obtain written permission from the instructor prior to registering.