Visual and performing arts
Requirements for FCUSD graduation: 10 credits of Visual and Performing Art or World Language
Requirements for UC/CSU a-g completion: 10 credits of a Visual and Performing Art
INTERMEDIATE DANCE Grades 9-12 Prerequisite: Beginning Dance
Meets requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This course will include an emphasis on intermediate to advanced skill development throughout the study of various techniques and styles of dance (Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Musical Theater and African). Students will have the opportunity to choreograph with the different styles of dance demonstrating the qualities and elements of dance. Students will showcase their cumulative knowledge in a recital at the end of the term. Intermediate Dance satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirements.
CERAMICS AND SCULPTURE 1 Grades 9-12 Prerequisite: None
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This course is designed to expose students to a variety of three-dimensional art techniques and mediums. An emphasis is placed on creativity and originality in solving the problems of working with a broad range of materials. Projects include, but are not limited to, sculpture and assemblage, ceramics, collage, papier-mâché, and mixed media projects.
CERAMICS AND SCULPTURE 2 Grades 9-12 Prerequisite: Ceramics and Sculpture 1
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
In this advanced course, the student will continue to develop an understanding, appreciation, and a more personal approach to the expression of ideas through the use and manipulation of three-dimensional design forms. Students will become more confident in their working knowledge of the traditional tools, techniques and materials for making sculpture, ceramics, glasswork and mixed media projects.Projects will be based on the elements and principles of design learned in Sculpture I such as line, shape, composition, mass, volume, surface texture, scale and proportion. This course will provide best practices as they pertain to the entertainment and public art industries.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This course is designed to introduce students to 2D animation, both traditional and digital. Students will learn about the history and evolution of animation, basic drawing skills, and animation techniques. This class will take students through the industry process of developing an animation; from story to character development, storyboarding to production, and everything in between! A large focus will be on traditional art and animation, however, basic Adobe Illustrator and Animate skills will be taught to develop characters and to complete a final Animatic. Animation 1 is a CTE Course: Concentrator.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This advanced course is designed to encourage students to further develop and explore skills they acquired in Animation 1. Students will have the opportunity to learn job skills, explore career options, and develop work for a professional portfolio. This class will take students through the industry process of pre-production, production, and post- production of creating a digital animation. This includes being part of a production team with specific job titles and responsibilities; in which students must collaborate with peers, pitch ideas, and produce a student or client based final animation using Adobe Animate and other Adobe software.Animation 2 is a CTE Course: Capstone
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will develop an understanding of the basic elements of art and principles of design by examining important works of art and experimenting with various techniques of drawing and painting. They will develop and expand aesthetic perceptions in order to form a base for making informed aesthetic judgments. Students will also acquire knowledge of the historical and cultural development in the visual arts. In addition to classroom projects, a sketchbook and notebook will be required. A checklist of requirements will be given to students at the beginning of each quarter.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will further develop knowledge and skills of the visual arts through completion of advanced projects. Students will continue to refine their skills and techniques and will begin to develop their own artistic style. Students will continue to expand aesthetic perceptions in order to make informed aesthetic judgments. Students will deepen their historical and cultural knowledge of the visual arts. Units on art criticism, printmaking and graphic design will also be introduced. In addition to classroom projects, a sketchbook and a notebook will be required
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will continue to explore the visual arts through advanced projects in drawing, painting, and printmaking. The course could provide students with an additional year of preparation prior to taking AP Studio Art. The assignments are more open-ended than in Drawing and Painting 2, and the quantity of work required is less than in AP Studio Art.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This course earns students a weighted grade
The AP Drawing program provides an opportunity for the visually gifted to excel and receive recognition on a national scale. It also makes it possible for highly motivated high school students to do college-level work. AP Drawing is not based on a written exam; instead the student is asked to submit a portfolio of work, either general or drawing, for evaluation toward the end of the school year. Portfolios are graded with a score of 0-5. Students receiving a score of 3 or better may receive college credit. A panel of specially trained high school and university art instructors evaluates the portfolios anonymously. Each of the three sections of the portfolio is graded separately and then combined into the final composite score.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This course is a visual art class where the emphasis is on approaching the world of photography as a means of artistic expression. Students who have nothing to "say" artistically will have a difficult time in this class. Students will study the masters of traditional and digital photography and learn to understand and evaluate photography as a creative art form. Through photography and the creative process, students will explore the elements of art, principles of design, composition, digital photography equipment, digital darkroom techniques, lighting and a variety of methods, techniques and processes used in fine art photography. See examples of student work HERE and HERE.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Advanced Fine Art Photography is designed for students who enjoyed their experience in the beginning Fine Art Photography class and would like to challenge themselves with a much more advanced study in the art of digital photography. As with Fine Art Photography, the emphasis is on approaching the world of photography as a means of artistic expression. Students who have nothing to "say" artistically will have a difficult time in this class. In this ADVANCED class, students will be concentrating on producing a "body of photography work" that represents their own artistic vision. Students will also be expected to advance their knowledge of the technical aspects of photography with the goal that the camera will eventually become such a natural tool for them that they can concentrate wholly on the art making process of photography. See examples of student work HERE and HERE.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/T/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students in this course will study film as both an art form and a means of communication. The students will study the art of filmmaking by analyzing the technical breakdown of a film from pre-production, production and post-production leading to a published film. Students will produce videos using all the steps of the production process in creative collaborative group work. Emphasis will be placed on core skills in story conceptualization, equipment use and editing. Knowledge learned in this class will prepare students for the advanced courses of Media Production. More linked HERE
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This string ensemble provides the student with an opportunity to review and expand technique and music reading as well as the production of musical tone on the violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Music listening skills and music appreciation will be included, and musical heritage will be explored. Emphasis is placed on individual and ensemble performance. Local performances are an important component of the grade for the course. This course can be repeated for all four years of high school.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This class is devoted primarily to concert style music and broadening of the student’s musical interests and abilities. There is no audition necessary for this ensemble. Students must play a band appropriate instrument. Students in Concert Band will participate in concerts, clinics, master classes, and music competitions. Concert Band focuses on preparing student musicians in the areas of ensemble balance and blend, tone production, individual technique on their instrument and general musicianship. This course can be repeated for all four years of high school.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ENSEMBLE Grades 9-12 Prerequisite: Previous experience and audition by instructor
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This is a performing arts class where the emphasis is on performance. Students from the guitar program, band, orchestra, and choir can learn how to perform in small ensembles that address the growing trends in our music world today. This course is designed to provide continuing and more challenging musical instruction to new and existing music students. Students will learn how to apply their previous musical ability and knowledge in more contemporary ensembles. The course will present a strong emphasis on love performance, improvising, song writing, song arranging, editing and recording. Students will learn applicable music theory that accompanies being a successful member of a smaller music ensemble. The course will also present the history and significance of music found in our contemporary music world.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This course is designed to provide vocal instruction and general musicianship skills for all choral students. There is no audition necessary for this ensemble. Instruction will include continuing music literacy and music theory and will emphasize differences in musical styles as they relate to the history of music and the interpretation of specific pieces. Emphasis will be placed on improved ensemble singing skills such as pitch matching, tone production, reading rhythms and ear training. Students will be required to attend one local performance during the year as audience members. Course requirements include at least two evening concerts and one adjudicated festival per year. Students will perform two, three and four-part music at levels 3.0 to 4.0. This course can be repeated for all four years of high school.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will study the many styles and techniques that are found in guitar playing. Students will learn how to read music notation, guitar tablature, play chords, accompany other musicians, as well as improvise. Students will also learn applicable music theory that accompanies being a successful guitarist. There will also be a strong songwriting and recording component.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will study the many styles and techniques that are found in guitar playing. Students will learn how to read music notation, guitar tablature, play chords, accompany other musicians, as well as improvise. Students will also learn applicable music theory that accompanies being a successful guitarist. There will also be a strong songwriting and recording component.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
This is a performing arts class where the emphasis on performance. Students will be performing various repertoires that are found in guitar ensembles or guitar orchestras. Students will further their study of the many styles and techniques that are found in guitar playing. Students will continue to read music notation, guitar tablature, play chords, accompany other musicians, as well as improvise. Students will also learn applicable music theory that accompanies being a successful guitarist at a more advanced level. The course will also continue to present the history of the guitar, its significance in the music world, and how the instrument is featured in many of the music cultures around the world. There will also be a strong songwriting and recording component. Students will be able to further grow and explore through the guitar curriculum by performing in small ensembles that are relevant to the guitar player.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Master Guitar Ensembles is a performing arts class where the emphasis is on performance. Students will be performing various repertoires that are found in guitar ensembles or guitar orchestras. Students will further their study of the many styles and techniques that are found in guitar playing. Music students will be able to expand their knowledge and technique by being part of this larger ensemble as well as smaller ensembles. This course is designed to provide continuing and more challenging musical instruction to new and existing music students. This course will present a strong emphasis on live performance, improvising, song writing, song arranging, composing, and recording. Students will continue to read music notation, guitar tablature, play chords, accompany other musicians, as well as improvise. Students will also learn advanced music theory that accompanies being a successful guitarist at a more advanced level. The course will also continue to present the history of the guitar, its significance in the music world, and how the instrument is featured in many of the music cultures around the world. Students will be able to further grow and explore through the guitar curriculum by performing in small ensembles that are relevant to the guitar player.
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Drama 1 is an introductory theatre class. We will be studying theatre not only from an actor’s perspective, but we will also be studying the many diverse aspects of theatre production such as theatre history, set design, lighting, costuming, make-up, script writing, script analysis, and directing.
DRAMA 2 Grades 9-12 Prerequisite: C in Drama 1
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will enhance their knowledge of stage presence, stage movement, technical design and theory. They will demonstrate skills in acting, stagecraft and technical design through in-class and public presentations and plays. Evening performances may be required.
DRAMA 3 Grades 9-12 Prerequisite: C in Drama 2
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will enhance their knowledge of stage presence, stage movement, technical design and theory. They will demonstrate skills in acting, stagecraft and technical design through in-class and public presentations and plays. Evening performances may be required.
DRAMA 4 Grades 9-12 Prerequisite: C in Drama 3
Meets graduation requirements: FA/EL
Meets UC a-g requirements: f
Students will enhance their knowledge of stage presence, stage movement, technical design and theory. They will demonstrate skills in acting, stagecraft and technical design through in-class and public presentations and plays. Evening performances may be required.