Music Appreciation is designed to be an introduction to various musical genres, both western and non-western, including classical, jazz, rock, world music, and popular styles.  There are no prerequisites, and the course is open to musicians and non-musicians alike.  Topics include how music affects culture around the world; how music is used in myriad situations, from communication to mood setting; the role and process of scoring music for entertainment such as movies and live theater; the influence of globalization on music; and how music is conveyed by written and aural means.  This class will survey music of the past and the present, delving into music’s vast history to inform the modern ear and mind.  The Music Appreciation class will also build basic musicianship skills through sight singing and fundamental music theory concepts.

Instrumental Music is designed to allow students to discover the world of music through hands-on work with instruments.  This class will introduce beginners to music fundamentals including playing by ear, playing from music notation, ensemble performance, and improvisation.  Students will learn beginning composition, and will compose and perform their own songs. Instrumental Music students perform in the winter and spring concerts, and students enrolling in this class must commit to occasional practices and performances outside of regularly scheduled class time.

This course will introduce students to the historical background and cultural relevance of various dance forms and traditions through technique classes, lecture, video footage, written assignments, and practice. Students will have the opportunity to observe dancers and choreographers from local dance companies, including the San Francisco Ballet and the SFB Trainee Program, and will study dance styles including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, African, Hip Hop, Salsa, and select social dances. Students in this course will perform in the SHC Dance Showcase held each May.

This course will cover the basic elements of digital photography and design. Students will study the formal, expressive and aesthetic properties of photographic art. They will closely examine the history and development of photography including its relationship to the scientific/technological and European cultural views of the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will analyze the works of African, American, Asian and European and Latin American photographers, with special attention to cultural similarities and differences in representation. Student will be able to link photography to other art forms and disciplines. Students will learn to use manual settings on digital cameras, Adobe Photoshop Elements to save and edit images electronically and various techniques of printing and displaying black and white and color images. Students will learn the basic composition and technical elements of photography and design such as rule of thirds, depth of field, image orientation, color and lighting. Students will produce work that demonstrates an awareness of these elements and work towards development of a distinctive personal style. 

Design 1 introduces students to 2-dimensional design elements, principles and techniques.  Students utilize a range of media such as charcoal, ink, acrylic, pastel, paper, and print materials to explore and combine design elements such as line, shape, texture, motion, value, and hue. A series of individual and collaborative assignments focusing on key design principles such as unity, focus, scale, balance, rhythm, and abstraction provide a vocabulary for creative expression and the foundation for the development of a personal style.  In Design 1, students gain exposure to various design techniques including, but not limited to, drawing, collage, typography, print-making, screen-printing, and digital graphic design.  Cultural and historical references accompany each assignment to give students a contextual understanding of design and inform students’ conceptual development of projects. Design 2 progresses to an investigation of 3-dimensional design.  Students deepen and expand their understanding of design elements and principles by applying them to more complex assignments focused on industrial, furniture and architectural design.  Utilizing sketching, sculpting, prototyping, finished model-making, graphic installations, site interventions and 3-d digital imaging techniques, students build visual communication skills through conceptual assignments and projects based on real-world design challenges. In conjunction with projects in assorted media, students take part in critiques of designers’ works to understand historical precedents and trends in contemporary design.

This course introduces students to various media and projects to build a foundation for creating visual art. Students will explore both traditional and contemporary art through drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, graphics, collage, and mixed media. Course work includes museum visits, written reflection and critique, and projects.

This course provides the beginning actor with a thorough introduction to the actor’s craft. Explorations in improvisation, theater games, pantomime, dramatic criticism, reader’s theater, monologue work and scene preparation are followed by more advanced acting techniques such as the use of detailed action, motivation/objectives, subtext, sense memory, and emotional recall. Students will learn aspects of technical theater and create original works on stage and in the classroom setting. All students will perform in class, participate in peer- and self-critiques, and complete reading and writing assignments regularly.

This course satisfies graduation requirements for both Religious Studies and Visual & Performing Arts. The course explores the timeline and events in the rise of Christianity, while developing critical skills and aesthetic vocabulary in order to understand how art was (and is) a vehicle for religious expression. Students will study important historical works of art and will create art in a variety of mediums as they respond to the methods, materials, and styles of those works. As they deepen their ability to perceive and to analyze art, students will be expected to articulate their own artistic opinions.

Note: this course meets UC Visual and Performing Arts criteria ("f") and satisfies SHC’s Religious Studies graduation requirement.

Please note that some of these courses will meet during the daily block 1-6 rotation and others will meet during blocks 7 or 8.  Please read each description and check with your counselor. 

This course expands on essential tools and concepts of digital photography. Students develop their understanding of the principles of art and design found within imagery and text used in advertising and design, as well as those in fine arts. Historical contributions, social implications, and cultural significance of image-making serve as a cornerstone for all artistic processes explored. The curriculum is focused on generating creative ideas to organize, develop, and refine photographic works into complete artistic expressions that communicate the students' understanding of themselves relative to modern media and culture.

Prerequisites: Photography 1,2 or instructor approval of portfolio and Photoshop 

            proficiency test

This course will be scheduled during blocks 1-6. 

Acting 3,4 is an intermediate-level theatre course designed to expand students' foundational acting skills through technical methods, historical context, and performance. Students will deepen their understanding of acting techniques, scene study, monologues, classical performance, and technical design elements. This course prepares students for advanced study in theatre and offers opportunities to apply learned techniques in formal performances.

Prerequisite: Acting 1,2 or audition.

THIS COURSE IS PENDING UC A-G APPROVAL. 

This is a year-long course designed to build upon foundational skills developed in the prerequisite Fundamentals of Dance course. Students will continue their exploration and mastery of classical and contemporary dance techniques, with a focus on Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop. Additionally, the course will incorporate Pilates for strength and flexibility, as well as an in-depth exploration of dance vocabulary and a structured B.A.S.T.E. (Body, Action, Space, Time, Energy) unit to deepen understanding of the fundamental elements of dance. Students will engage in historical research on dance pioneers to broaden their cultural knowledge and understanding of dance evolution.

Through technical training, creative projects, and historical research, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of dance technique, performance skills, and the artistry involved in movement. Throughout the course, students will engage in live and online performances, participate in improvisational exercises, and explore new ways to approach movement in different environments. The culmination of the course will be a Final Performance Unit where students will collaborate with a choreographer to create a piece that will be showcased at the annual dance showcase.

Prerequisites: Dance 1,2 (Fundamentals of Dance Technique) or audition.