Art & Music

RECOMMENDED ART & MUSIC COURSE SEQUENCE

ART

90903W STUDIO ART

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

This course is for the student who wants to create art using multiple art mediums such as pencil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic paints, and plaster.  The class is designed to develop personal expression while exploring the roles and importance of art and artists in society, culture, and history.  Projects will include portrait paintings, animal sculptures, abstract dip art, and more.  Other assignments focus on artist research and art criticism.  Art projects are graded using a detailed rubric. 

90930W  STUDIO ART AROUND THE WORLD

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will study various arts and crafts derived from different cultures.  Projects will consist of drawings, paintings, and sculptures such as sand paintings, masks, and kites.  Other assignments focus on artist research and art criticism.  Art projects are graded using a detailed rubric.  This course is perfect for the creative beginner.

90904W  DRAWING I – THE STUDY OF FORMS

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Designed for beginners, this course is for students who want to learn the fundamentals of drawing.  The course begins with a review of the Art Elements learned in the Foundations of Studio Art.  Seeing and responding to forms such as spheres, cubes and cylinders are the core of the curriculum.  Gallery Assignments, Aesthetic issues of Art Criticism, Current Events in regards to the illustrator, and Art Media analysis are ways in which Common Core and Reading Apprenticeship strategies are applied.

90907W  DRAWING 2 – THE STUDY OF SPACES AND FACES

  (Grade 10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite:  Drawing 1)

Designed for artists, this course is for students who want to learn more of the fundamentals of drawing.  The course begins with a review of the Art Elements learned in the Foundations of Studio Art and Drawing 1.  Seeing and responding to spaces such as natural, industrial, and urban landscapes are the core of the curriculum.  Students will master Formal Perspective through Architecture and Interior Design.  Seeing and responding to the figure with gestural and contour techniques are also a major component of the course.  Students will analyze the proportions of the face in regards to portraiture.  Gallery Assignments, Aesthetic issues of Art Criticism, Current Events in regards to the illustrator, and Art Media analysis are ways in which Common Core and Reading Apprenticeship strategies are applied. 

90922D  ADVANCED DRAWING DUAL ENROLLMENT-HONORS CREDIT

(Grade 11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite:  None, nominal per credit cost)  

This course is designed for the academic student looking to broaden their dual enrollment transcript or the advanced drawing student.  Students will continue to develop a variety of foundation skills including the drawing of forms, spaces, and figures.  This course requires the ability to write and discuss major topics from our visual culture.  The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards (ISBN: 0-87477-424-1) is a required reading for the course.  Gallery assignments, aesthetic issues of art criticism, current events in regards to the illustrator, and art media analysis are ways in which Reading Apprenticeship strategies are applied.

90912W  CARTOONING 1

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Cartooning is telling a story through a picture or series of pictures that show the passage of time.  In this course, students will gain the skills necessary to create their own original characters, comic strips, comic books, and graphic novels.  Methods and techniques from Western superhero comics and from Japanese anime will be examined.

90913W  CARTOONING 2

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Cartooning 1)

This course is a continuation of the cartooning class, and is for students who want to create characters and illustrate their own stories for comic books, graphic novels, and animation.  We will be creating our own super heroes, humorous characters, caricatures, and political cartoons, as well as illustrations and concept art that could someday be used in video games, television and movies.

90919W  PAINTING 1

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite:  None)

This course will guide the student through the medium of acrylic paints with inspiration coming from the study of artists throughout history.  Students will explore various art genres, such as realism, surrealism, and abstract art, and develop numerous painting techniques, such as brush strokes and blending.  Students will use these methods to create portraits, landscapes, and still life compositions.  Other assignments focus on artist research and art criticism.  Art projects are graded using a detailed rubric.   

90921W  PAINTING 2

(Grade 11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Painting 1)

Students will transition to heavy body acrylics and work on improving acrylic skills learned in the Painting 1 course, while exploring new advanced techniques and methods needed to create an impressive acrylic painting.  Students will be expected to master blending techniques using value and color and create paintings which are personally expressive, unique, and stylized.  Other assignments focus on artist research and art criticism.  Art projects are graded using a detailed rubric. 

90924W  WATERCOLOR PAINTING 1

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

This course will guide the student through the translucent medium of watercolor.  Students will explore and develop the handling and control of watercolor processes and learn numerous painting techniques and methods needed to create a successful watercolor painting.  Learn how to apply washes such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, graduated washes, masking, and brushwork texture.  Students will utilize these methods to create still life, landscape, and portrait compositions effectively.  Other assignments focus on artist research and art criticism.  Art projects are graded using a detailed rubric.

90925W  WATERCOLOR PAINTING 2

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Watercolor Painting 1)

Students will work on improving watercolor skills learned in the Watercolor Painting 1 course while learning new advanced techniques and methods needed to create an impressive watercolor painting.  Students will be expected to master blending techniques using value and color while also including convincing texture and details.  Students will paint subject matters including still life, landscapes, and portraits which are expressive and unique.  Other assignments focus on artist research and art criticism.  Art projects are graded using a detailed rubric.

90932W  CERAMICS 1 – POTTERY

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

In this course, students will design and create functional utilitarian objects in clay.  We will create objects using all of the major construction techniques including pinch, coil, soft and hard slab, and the pottery wheel.  Each major project will be reinforced with art history, art criticism, and aesthetics.  It is recommended that students take this course before taking Ceramics 2.

90934W  CERAMICS 2 – CERAMIC SCULPTURE

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Ceramics 1 – Pottery)

In this course, students will design and create ceramic sculptures using the major construction techniques including pinch, coil, soft and hard slab, the pottery wheel, and direct sculptural methods.  Each major project will be reinforced with art history, art criticism, and aesthetics.  It is recommended that students take Ceramics 1 before taking this course.  

90938W  DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 

(Grades 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit) 

  (Prerequisite:  None)

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to photographic composition, camera basics, and digital image editing.  Students will study the history of photography, learn about the Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, understand and demonstrate concepts of photographic composition, and edit their images with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.  This course is an excellent choice for those students planning to major in art, graphic design, desktop publishing, video, communications, or just want to create a more aesthetically pleasing photograph. 

90940W  INTRO TO ANIMATION 

(Grades 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite:  None)

Animation is an art form that has been around for over a century. In the past decade it has been considerably prominent in many fields most noticeably in that of the entertainment industry.  It is a rapidly growing and constantly changing field and includes people with backgrounds ranging from visual arts to science and computer programming.  Animation is a method in which rapid sequences of still images are manipulated to create the illusion of motion.  There are many methods to do this.  In this course we will experiment with different media from traditional hand drawn flipbooks and clay sculpted stop motion to computer rendered projects.  We will explore the history and evolution of this art form.  Students will gain knowledge of the principles of animation and apply it in their work.  They will be involved in learning how to plot, script, storyboard, present, and create animations.  The class will consist of demonstration, viewing of related works, hands on experimentation and critique. 

90942W  DIGITAL ARTS 

(Grades 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite:  Drawing 1, Painting 1, Digital Photography, or Animation)

This Digital Art course deals with controlling computer technology to produce an artistic image. In class, students will be introduced to the teaching of digital arts through the exploration of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Students will learn how to draw and paint by using a graphic drawing tablet instead of the traditional art materials. The art that students create will be 2-dimensional and entirely created on the computer and/or with the use of the digital camera.  This course will also explore contemporary design trends dealing with the digital arts and discussion on history. Although general computer experience is recommended, prior knowledge of software and equipment is not required.

70714W  GRAPHIC DESIGN

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Graphic designers work with drawn, painted, photographed, or computer-generated images (pictures), but they also design the letterforms that make up various typefaces found in movie credits and TV ads; in books, magazines, and menus; and even on computer screens.  Designers create, choose, and organize these elements; typography, images, and the so-called “white space” around them, to communicate a message.  Graphic design is a part of your daily life.  From humble things like gum wrappers to huge things like billboards to the t-shirt you’re wearing, graphic design informs, persuades, organizes, stimulates, locates, identifies, attracts attention, and provides pleasure.  Graphic design is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas.  The designer works with a variety of communication tools in order to convey a message from a client to a particular audience.  The main tools are image and typography.  

MUSIC

90951X  CONCERT BAND

  (Grade 9,10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite:  The ability to play a concert band instrument)

Students will learn the important aspects of functioning successfully within a musical ensemble.  They will accurately interpret musical scores containing complex rhythms and melodies.  Students will demonstrate the fundamentals of acceptable tone production, including adjusting pitch to match that of the group and listening for proper blend and balance.  Moreover, students will develop skills and techniques applicable to their instruments.  Students will understand the basic concepts of music theory and music history and understand how the knowledge of these concepts improves performance.  Achievement will be demonstrated by participating in solo, small and large ensembles, performances, rehearsals, and self-evaluation.  Attendance for outside performances is required.

90952Y  CONCERT BAND SPLIT

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

  (Co-requisite:  Course 909953Y)

This course is designed for those students who desire to fulfill the course requirements described for course 90951X, Concert Band, and 90954X, Concert Choir.  This course is in conjunction with course 90953Y, Concert Choir Split.  Students must follow an alternating schedule arranged by the course instructors.

90953Y  CONCERT CHOIR SPLIT

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Co-requisite:  90952Y, successful solo audition and teacher recommendation required)

This course is designed for those students who desire to fulfill the course requirements described for course 90951X, Concert Band, and course 90954X, Concert Choir. This course is in conjunction with 90952Y, Concert Band Split.  Acceptance into Choir Split is contingent on a successful audition.  Students must follow an alternating schedule arranged by the course instructors.

90954X  CONCERT CHOIR

(Grade 9, 10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite: Successful solo audition and teacher recommendation required)

Concert Choir is an auditioned ensemble that enables students to excel in the performance of a variety of music styles and time periods.  Students will continue to develop their vocal, musical, and sight-reading skills while learning to be versatile performers in vocal and choral music.  Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble that performs intermediate and advanced choir repertoire: both masterworks of choral history as well as modern compositions.  Attendance for outside performances is required.  Acceptance into Concert Choir is contingent on the student’s completion of Tenor/Bass or Treble Choir and/or a successful solo audition.

90955Z  ZEPHYR CHOIR

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Zephyr Choir is a beginning ensemble that enables students to excel in the performance of a variety of music styles and time periods.  Students will develop their vocal, musical, and sight-reading skills while learning to be versatile performers of vocal and choral music.  Zephyr Choir is a mixed ensemble that performs developmental choir repertoire, masterworks of choral history, and modern compositions. Attendance for outside performances is required.

90961W  MUSIC THEORY 1

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  The ability to read music and teacher recommendation)

Students will learn the basic principles of music composition, analysis, and performance.  They will understand and effectively use various clefs, meters, and time signatures and will become proficient in the performance of music utilizing these ideas.  Students will improve their listening skills by sight singing scale-wise melodies, as well as duets, and melodies with skips within the primary triads.  Moreover, students will perform rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation.  Achievement will be demonstrated by composing music using four-part writing, completing of small-scale musical compositions and a large-scale semester-length project involving an original musical composition.  A portfolio will be maintained.

90962W  MUSIC THEORY 2

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Course 90961X)

Students will be given the opportunity for an in-depth study of the principles of music, composition, analysis, and performance.  They will compose and analyze music using four-part writing techniques including all secondary chords, inversions thereof, and non-harmonic tones.  They will learn and apply the basic principles of secondary dominant chords and elementary modulation to their works.  Students will continue to develop their listening skills by sight singing melodies, which include skips in all diatonic triads and some chromatic alteration.  They will perform increasingly complex rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation examples.  Achievement will be demonstrated through the completion of small-scale musical compositions using course concepts.  

90963X  ADVANCED PLACEMENT MUSIC THEORY 

(Grade 11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Course 90962X)

Students will study the complex principles of music composition, performance, and analysis.  They will compose and analyze music using four-part writing techniques, including chromatically altered chords, borrowed chords, and modulation to closely related and foreign keys.  The students will create music modeled after famous 20th century composer’s techniques.  Students will develop their listening skills to an advanced degree by sight singing complex examples which include many chromatically altered tones and large leaps.  Some melodies may hint at atonality.  Students will perform complex examples of musical dictation which will include melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic examples, as well as those which demonstrate 20th century techniques.  Achievement will be demonstrated through the production of musical compositions containing both four-part vocal and instrumental examples.  A portfolio will be maintained.  Students will have the opportunity to register to take the AP Exam in May.

90972W  LEARNING TO PLAY THE PIANO LEVEL 1

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will experience hands-on learning of the piano using individual keyboards.  Working at one’s own pace using individualized instruction, each student will gain knowledge of a piano score and practice playing that music on the keyboard.  Basic piano techniques and theory will also be incorporated into the student’s learning.  Grading will be based on performance at the keyboard of musical pieces learned.  Self-motivation and ability to work independently are key factors in the success of the student.

90973W  LEARNING TO PLAY THE PIANO LEVEL 2

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Learning to Play the Piano Level 1 and Teacher Recommendation or Teacher Permission by Audition)

Students will experience hands-on learning of the piano using individual keyboards.  Working at one’s own pace using individualized instruction, each student will continue to build technique and performance repertoire.  Music theory and technique necessary for more advanced piano literature will be incorporated into the student’s learning, including written and aural skills.  Grading will be based on performance at the keyboard of musical pieces learned.

90974W  THEATRE ARTS I

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

This course provides a medium for students to begin exploration of theatrical performing arts.  Emphasizing creative and expressive acting, students will be trained in the fundamentals of improvisation, movement, voice, character, and production of scenes.  Students will perform in solo and group projects, developing skills in peer evaluation and accepting constructive criticism.  Students also learn basic skills in theatrical critique and analysis as well as scriptwriting.

90975X  THEATRE ARTS II

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Successful Completion of Theatre Arts I and Teacher Recommendation Required)

Theatre Arts II is a continuation of skills learned in Theatre Arts I.  Students will continue their study of technical theatre skills as well as advanced rehearsal and performance in monologues, duo, and group scenes.  This class is designed as an acting studio which will focus more on the implementation of the skills and pure acting and performance instead of learning the basics of stage performance.  Students will be given opportunities to start basic stage directing.

90976W  INTRODUCTION TO MUSICAL THEATRE

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None; however, singing is a required part of this class)

This class is designed for students who desire to learn more about the development and performance of musical theatre in America.  Students will study the history and development of musical theatre and Broadway from the late 1800’s to modern day including major theatrical movements, composers, performers, and productions.  Students will be challenged to critically analyze how the culture in America directly reflected in the development of musical theatre throughout the century.  Students will also choose musicals to study and perform several songs from different decades with a focus on good vocal technique and acting through the song.  Students will leave the class with a portfolio of repertoire to use in performance or audition.  Note: Singing is a required part of this class. 

90979W  INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES 1 / 90980W  INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES 2

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit Each)

(Prerequisite:  Music Teacher Recommendation)

This course is designed to meet the needs of the serious musician as well as the beginning musician.  The elements of a quality performance will be emphasized, catering to each student’s own individual needs.  Students will learn how to play individually as well as in a small ensemble, scale studies, sight reading, musical responsibilities of each instrument, effective practice techniques, characteristics of different music styles, historical information about music selected for performance, and how to organize and program a performance.  Prior to enrolling in the course, all students must get approval from a music instructor.

90981W  POPULAR MUSIC 1 (The Roots of Rock Music)

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will explore the origins and defining characteristics of non-classical music of the Twentieth Century in America (focusing on music up to the 1950’s).  Students will utilize technology daily to listen to, analyze and write about music and topics discussed in class.  Topics covered will include the following: the blues, country, and gospel roots of rock.

90982W  POPULAR MUSIC 2 (Bob Dylan to the Beatles)

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will explore the origins and defining characteristics of non-classical music of the Twentieth Century in America (focusing on 1960’s).  Students will utilize technology daily to listen to, analyze, and write about music and the topics discussed in class.  Topics covered will include the following: the teen idols, folk and folk-rock, soul, and the British Invasion.

90983W  POPULAR MUSIC 3 (The Blues Revival to Hip-Hop)

(Grade 10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Successful Completion of Popular Music 1 & Popular Music 2)

Students will explore the origins and defining characteristics of non-classical music of the Twentieth Century in America (focusing on the 1970’s and beyond).  Students will learn about the relationships popular music has shared over the past century.  Students will utilize technology daily to listen to, analyze, and write about music and the topics discussed in class.  Topics covered will include the following: the Blues Revival, psychedelic rock, jazz-rock, funk, disco, art/progressive rock, hard rock/heavy metal, punk rock, ska, reggae, and hip-hop.

90985W  GUITAR

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will experience hands-on learning of the guitar. Students will learn basic guitar techniques such as basic music theory, basic chords, melodies, and scales. Students will also work at their own pace learning how to play a variety of styles. Grading will be based on performance on the guitar of musical pieces learned.  Self-motivation and ability to work independently are key factors in the success of the student.

90986W  MODERN BAND 

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite: The ability to play an instrument)

Students will learn the important aspects of functioning successfully within a musical ensemble on guitar, bass, drums, piano, vocals and horns in pop and jazz styles of music.  They will accurately interpret musical scores containing complex rhythms and melodies.  Students will demonstrate the fundamentals of acceptable tone production, including adjusting pitch to match that of the group and listening for proper blend and balance.  Moreover, students will develop skills and techniques applicable to their instruments.  Students will understand the basic concepts of music theory and music history and understand how the knowledge of these concepts improves performance and apply them to performances of their pop music.  Achievement will be demonstrated by participating in solo, small and large ensembles, performances, rehearsals, and self-evaluation.