CMCSS Course Catalog

VISUAL ARTS I-COMPREHENSIVE I    G05H08 1 credit                             Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Comprehensive courses enable students to explore one or several art forms (e.g., drawing, painting, two- and three-dimensional design, and sculpture) and to create individual works of art. Initial courses emphasize observations, interpretation of the visual environment, visual communication, imagination, and symbolism. Courses cover the language, materials, media, and processes of a particular art form and the design elements used.

VISUAL ARTS-COMPREHENSIVE II G05H09 1 credit                                  Open to 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite:  Art I and teacher approval

Visual Arts: Comprehensive courses enable students to explore one or several art forms (e.g., drawing, painting, two- and three-dimensional design, and sculpture) and to create individual works of art. Initial courses emphasize observations, interpretation of the visual environment, visual communication, imagination, and symbolism. Courses cover the language, materials, media, and processes of a particular art form and the design elements used. Advanced courses encourage students to refine their skills while also developing their own artistic styles following and breaking from traditional conventions. Courses may also include the study of major artists, art movements, and styles.

VISUAL ARTS-COMPREHENSIVE III G05H10 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: Art II and teacher approval

Visual Arts: Comprehensive courses enable students to explore one or several art forms (e.g., drawing, painting, two- and three-dimensional design, and sculpture) and to create individual works of art. Initial courses emphasize observations, interpretation of the visual environment, visual communication, imagination, and symbolism. Courses cover the language, materials, media, and processes of a particular art form and the design elements used. Advanced courses encourage students to refine their skills while also developing their own artistic styles following and breaking from traditional conventions. Courses may also include the study of major artists, art movements, and styles.

AP 2-D ART AND DESIGN G05H30 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: Art II and teacher approval

AP 2-D Art and Design courses are designed for students with a professional or academic interest in two-dimensional art. These courses focus on a variety of concepts and approaches in drawing and 2-D design, enabling students to demonstrate a range of abilities and versatility with media, technique, problem solving, and scope. Such conceptual variety can be demonstrated through the use of one or several media. Students refine their skills and create artistic works to submit via a portfolio to the College Board for evaluation.

AP 3-D  ART AND DESIGN G05H29 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: Art II and teacher approval

AP 3-D Art and Design courses are designed for students with a professional or academic interest in three-dimensional art. These courses focus on a variety of concepts and approaches in 3-D design and creation, enabling students to demonstrate a range of abilities and versatility with media, technique, problem solving, and scope. They can demonstrate such conceptual variety through the use of one or several media. Students refine their skills and create artistic works to submit via portfolio to the College Board for evaluation.

AP DRAWING G05H24 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: Art II and teacher approval

AP Drawing is designed for students with a professional or academic interest in the art of drawing. These courses focus on a variety of concepts and approaches in drawing, enabling students to demonstrate a depth of knowledge of the processes, and a range of abilities, and versatility with media, technique, problem solving, and scope. They can demonstrate such conceptual variety through either the use of one or the use of several media. These courses enable students to refine their skills and create artistic works to submit via portfolio to the College Board for evaluation.

AP ART HISTORY G05H25 1 credit                                  Open to 10, 11, 12

Designed to parallel college-level Art History courses, AP Art History courses provide the opportunity for students to critically examine and respond to works of art within their historical and cultural contexts. In covering the art and movements of several centuries (not necessarily in chronological order), students learn to identify different styles, techniques, media and influences. Students formulate and articulate their reactions to various kinds of artwork to understand and appreciate themselves, others, and the world around them.

MEDIA ARTS HIGH SCHOOL I G05H05 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Media Arts courses introduce students to the creative and conceptual aspects of designing media arts experiences and products, including techniques, genres and styles from various mediums and forms, such as moving image, sound, interactive, spatial and/or interactive design. Topics may include aesthetic meaning, appreciation and analysis; composing, capturing, processing and programming of media arts products, experiences and communications; transmission, distribution and marketing; and contextual, cultural, and historical aspects and considerations.

MEDIA ARTS HIGH SCHOOL II G05H06 1 credit Open to 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Media Arts I and teacher approval

MEDIA ARTS HIGH SCHOOL III G05H07 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: Media Arts II and teacher approval

THEATRE ARTS I G05H16 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Theater courses help students experience and develop skill in one or more aspects of theatrical production. Introductory courses provide an overview of theatrical elements including acting, set design, stage management, directing, playwriting, and production. Students must have a firm grasp of stage skills and theatre knowledge in order to advance.

THEATRE ARTS II/III G05H17 / G05H18 1 credit Open to 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Theater Arts II and teacher approval

Theater courses help students experience and develop skill in one or more aspects of theatrical production. Introductory courses provide an overview of theatrical elements including acting, set design, stage management, directing, playwriting, and production. Advanced courses concentrate on extending and refining dramatic technique, expanding students’ exposure to different types of theatrical styles, genres, and traditions, and increasing their participation in public productions.

THEATRE ARTS IV G05H19 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: Theater Arts II/III and teacher approval

Theatre IV is an advanced class focusing on performance elements, staging, directing, and playwriting. Students will use the skills gained in previous classes in order to step into the role of director and producer. An emphasis is placed on script study and performance skills. At the end of the year, all advanced students will perform one final show for an audience that focuses on the best pieces from the year.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC (BAND I-IV) G05H81-G05H84 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Teacher approval

This full-year class serves as the marching band during the marching season and performs concert music for the remainder of the year. Students must attend band camp in the summer in preparation for the marching field show. The band performs at all home football games, local away football games, competitions on Saturdays, concerts, festivals, and community events. The class focuses on the development of fundamental and advanced performance techniques with an emphasis on standard wind literature. Students are required to attend after school rehearsals and all performances. The color guard is also part of this class. An audition, held in the spring, is required for participation in the color guard.

GUITAR I G05HA9 1 credit                                       Open to 9, 10, 11, 12   

Prerequisite: Student must provide their own guitar   

Guitar courses provide students an introduction to, and refine the fundamentals of, music and guitar literature and techniques, such as strumming and chords and may offer instruction in more advanced techniques. These courses may include bass, ukulele and other plucked string instruments. Formal and informal performances are typically included as well as experiences in creating and responding to music.

GUITAR II G05HA9 1 credit                                     Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite:  Guitar I and Teacher approval

Guitar course provides students opportunities to refine the fundamentals of music and guitar literature and techniques, such as strumming and chords and may offer instruction in more advanced techniques. These courses may include bass, ukulele and other plucked string instruments. Formal and informal performances are typically included as well as experiences in creating and responding to music.

GENERAL MUSIC G05H11 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

General Music courses provide students with an understanding of music and its importance in their lives. Course content focuses on how various styles of music apply musical elements to create an expressive or aesthetic impact. Students also have the ability for informal music performance and creation within the classroom. Instruction may include music theory, music history, and other studies in music.

CHORUS I G05HA1 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Chorus courses develop students’ vocal skills within the context of a large choral ensemble in which they perform a variety of styles of repertoire. These courses are designed to develop students’ vocal techniques and their ability to sing parts and include experiences in creating and responding to music.

CHORUS II G05HA2 1 credit Open to 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Chorus 1 and Teacher Approval

CHORUS III G05HA3 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: Chorus II and Teacher Approval

CLASS PIANO I G05HA5 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Piano courses provide students an introduction to, and refine the fundamentals of, music and keyboard including literature and techniques such as scales, chords, and melodic lines and may offer instruction in more advanced techniques. Formal and informal performances are typically included as well as experiences in creating and responding to music.

CLASS PIANO II G05HA6 1 credit Open to 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Piano I and/or Teacher Approval

CONTEMPORARY/JAZZ/CHAMBER ENSEMBLES I G05H93 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Teacher Approval

Contemporary Instrumental Ensemble courses can include jazz, rock, mariachi, chamber ensembles, and other courses outside of band and strings-specific courses. This course helps students perform a variety of contemporary styles, such as traditional jazz, jazz improvisation, rock, mariachi, chamber music, and others. At the same time, these courses cultivate students’ technique on instruments appropriate to the style(s) performed—brass, woodwind, string, percussion instruments, and/or electronic. Advanced coursework provides students with opportunities for growth through rehearsal and performance, improvisation, or creating and performing their own compositions.

CONCERT BAND I G05H85 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Teacher Approval

Courses in Concert Band are designed to promote students’ technique for playing brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments and cover a variety of band literature styles, primarily for concert performances and also include experiences in creating and responding to music.

CONCERT BAND II G05H86 1 credit Open to 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Concert Band I and/or Teacher Approval

GENERAL BAND I G05H81 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Teacher Approval

General Band courses help students develop techniques for playing brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments and their ability to perform a variety of concert band literature styles. These courses may emphasize rehearsal and performance experiences in a range of styles (e.g., concert, marching, orchestral, and modern) and include experiences in creating and responding to music.

GENERAL BAND II G05H82 1 credit Open to 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: General Band I and/or Teacher Approval

General Band courses help students develop techniques for playing brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments and their ability to perform a variety of concert band literature styles. These courses may emphasize rehearsal and performance experiences in a range of styles (e.g., concert, marching, orchestral, and modern) and also include experiences in creating and responding to music

GENERAL BAND III G05H83 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: General Band II and/or Teacher Approval

General Band courses help students develop techniques for playing brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments and their ability to perform a variety of concert band literature styles. These courses may emphasize rehearsal and performance experiences in a range of styles (e.g., concert, marching, orchestral, and modern) and also include experiences in creating and responding to music.

GENERAL BAND IV G05H84 1 credit Open to 11, 12

Prerequisite: General Band III and/or Teacher Approval

General Band courses help students develop techniques for playing brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments and their ability to perform a variety of concert band literature styles. These courses may emphasize rehearsal and performance experiences in a range of styles (e.g., concert, marching, orchestral, and modern) and also include experiences in creating and responding to music.

ORCHESTRA/STRING I G05H89 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Teacher Approval

Orchestra/Strings courses provide students an introduction to, and refine the fundamentals of, music and bowed-string instrument literature and techniques and may include more advanced techniques. These courses teach students the appropriate care, handling, and maintenance of musical instruments. Courses may also develop students’ technique for playing along with woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Formal and informal performances are included as part of string instrument instructional programs as well as experiences in creating and responding to music. Course description adapted from Secondary School Course Classification System: School Codes for the Exchange of Data (SCED)

MUSIC THEORY 9-12 G05H44 1 credit Open to 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Teacher Approval

Music Theory courses provide students with an understanding of the fundamentals of music and include the following topics: composition, arranging, analysis, aural development, and sight reading.