Visual and Performing Arts

This course is offered to seniors and post-graduate students and builds upon the skills and techniques developed in the intro ceramics class. Students will further develop their hand-building skills and work towards consistency and accuracy of results with their wheel thrown pieces.  Emphasis will be placed on craftsmanship, revision, and artistic exploration.  Students will focus their efforts to create ceramic vessels of matching sizes and shapes and designing challenging forms like teapots, lidded vessels, and bottles. Students will be introduced to the process of raku firings and encouraged to experiment with a variety of clay bodies and glazing techniques. In the final trimester, students will be encouraged to concentrate on a specific area of their choosing, working semi-independently to develop a collection of their work suitable for display.  Prerequisite:  ceramics and departmental approval.

This course is an upper-level studio course in which students will develop and refine technical skills and create ​two-dimensional compositions with a variety of media in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and/or design. A student entering this course will already have a good grasp of elements and principles of design and composition. Students will practice, sketch, and manipulate the structural elements of art to improve mark making. Emphasis will be placed on craftsmanship, revision, and artistic exploration. Student artists use an art criticism process to evaluate, explain, and measure artistic growth in personal or group works. Students will have the opportunity to focus on a medium in which they are interested. Prerequisite: Studio 2D or department approval.

Advanced Photography is designed for any student who has completed a beginning level photography class and is motivated to work ambitiously and independently throughout the year on developing a body of work. Students will build upon already acquired skills, advancing their techniques with exposure control, creative camera techniques, and Photoshop techniques. This will include the study of art theory concepts such as the elements of art, principles of design, composition, lighting, camera handling techniques, commercial applications in photography, current trends in photography, and photography-related careers. Because of the project-based nature of the class, students will be able to learn at their own pace and create meaningful pieces to add to their portfolios. Possible projects include: independent focus work, long exposure techniques, macro photography, photo alterations, landscape photography, abstract photography, and light painting photography. Students may also pursue commercial photography including advertising, product photography, sports and portrait photography.  Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.

AP Music Theory is an introductory college-level music theory course offered to juniors, seniors, and post-graduates. Students cultivate their understanding of music theory through analyzing performed and notated music as they explore concepts like pitch, rhythm, form, and musical design. Students will apply this knowledge in the creation of compositions and to evaluate and refine musical ideas and concepts. A large portion of the studies in theory will involve making connections to popular music, music from around the world, as well as current trends in music and past practices in music history. Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.

Advanced Placement Studio Art 2D, 3D, or Drawing is offered to juniors, seniors, and post-graduates and is a rigorous experience for extremely invested and skilled art students. It is a year-long exploration in portfolio development that includes a concentrated area of focus. Successful students may be granted college credit. Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.

This course introduces students to the world of digital music recording and production. Students have the opportunity to become familiar with many of the same tools and technologies found in today’s professional recording studios. Students will gain experience in recording techniques, explore the world of digital sound manipulation, and learn about tools and instruments available on iPads and other devices. This class is project based with students planning and making compositions individually and evaluating and refining works as a class. This class is open to students regardless of prior experience in music.

Ceramics introduces juniors, seniors, and post-graduate students to basic hand-building procedures as well as wheel-thrown techniques. The course will place emphasis on the use of the elements of art and principles of design to produce a variety of functional and non-functional projects constructed in clay. Students will explore ceramic production from a historical as well as modern perspective, and students will be exposed to a variety of professional clay artists. Through ceramics as a medium, students will also be encouraged to explore and develop personal expression, powers of observation, and self-assessment as it relates to their own work and the work of others.

Chorus is open to all students, regardless of experience, who are interested in vocal music performance. It is also an outlet for the student who enjoys singing and wants to learn more. Students will learn ensemble singing skills, proper breath support, and ear training through the study and performance of a wide range of vocal repertoire. Chorus meets twice a week and does not conflict with the student’s class schedule. Students receive a graded half-course credit.

This course explores digital art and media as a method of creating art and design. Students will build a foundation in the basic techniques of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects learning to edit, manipulate, and build art. Students will apply these skills as they explore and develop conceptual ideas to create animations, image compositions, original artwork, logos, and other student-driven projects. Students will understand how digital mediums are used in fine art making, animation, graphic design, marketing, entertainment, fashion design, and beyond. Each student will develop a digital portfolio throughout the course while also evaluating and responding to their own work and that of their peers. It is suggested that students have some experience in drawing and/or painting, but this is not required.

This year chorus and orchestra will join forces and become a singular group that will focus on musical content beyond performance practice. This class will teach the essentials of musicianship that will be valuable throughout the lives of every player and singer. Students will learn foundations of music theory beyond their current skills in notational literacy, work on aural skills through ear training, explore critical listening skills through examination and analysis of influential choral and orchestral works, and will develop strategies for healthy performance practice that don’t necessarily require singing or playing. The goal is to help further educate our musicians in ways that don’t require performance but are still crucial to learn for all developing musicians as well as to provide a music education that is enriching and fulfilling.

This course focuses on the theories that make music work. While it is helpful to have a basic understanding of music, that is not a requirement for this course. Students will learn how to read music with studies in notation, key signatures, time signatures, chord structure and function. They will apply this knowledge in the creation of compositions and to evaluate and refine musical ideas and concepts. A large portion of the studies in theory will involve making connections to popular music, music from around the world, as well as current trends in music and past practices in music history. Students will leave this course with a basic understanding of music literacy allowing them to be more effective communicators and informed consumers of music.

This course provides the opportunity to create music in a vibrant and full orchestra setting, giving practice and performance opportunities in a large ensemble. Through performance students develop improved note reading, instrumental techniques, and learn ensemble skills. The group will also focus on improving the language we use to discuss music by completing written reflections providing feedback, insight, and/or interpretation of particular musical concepts. Orchestra meets twice a week and does not conflict with the student’s class schedule and is open to any student with instrumental experience. Students receive a graded, half-course credit.

This course focuses on understanding the basic operations and functions of a single lens reflex camera and the manipulation of its settings to achieve a specific result. Students will learn about photographic elements of art and principles of design, composition, and lighting. They will explore the history of photography, learning about its scientific and technological developments, important innovators in the field, and relevance within diverse cultural contexts. Students will write and speak about aesthetic, technical and expressive qualities in a photograph, learning to critique their own and others’ work. Using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom students will manage and creatively alter digital images. Further, into the year students will learn alternative and traditional darkroom processes. Throughout the course, students will be expected to pursue their own creative voice as well as critically analyze the use of visual media as a means of communication in our society today. Students are encouraged to bring their own 35mm digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, but if not students must have their own SD memory card.

In this studio course, the elements and principles of three-dimensional (3-D) artworks are studied and utilized to create art. Students explore how space, mass, balance, and form combine to create aesthetic forms or utilitarian products and structures. Media may include clay, metals, wire, wood, plaster, paper maché, and/or found objects. The course will cover topics including ceramics, sculpture, building arts, and green or industrial design. Student artists use an art criticism process to evaluate, explain, and measure artistic growth in personal or group works.

This course is an entry point to the visual arts curriculum, exposing beginners to techniques and media used to create a variety of two-dimensional (2D) artworks. Students will develop skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, basic photography, and/or design. Students will learn and apply the elements and principles of design and color theory in compositions from observation, research, and/or imagination. Through feedback, students will evaluate and respond to their own work and that of their peers.

This is an intro-level course that is based on the design cycle. Students will develop a working knowledge of the design cycle and problem solving. Students will also be introduced to mechanical drawing. Assignments will be introduced as problems that students will then develop solutions for using both individual and group planning sessions. Detailed sketches, mechanical drawings, and material lists are then the next step in the process. Finally, students bring their ideas into reality by building out their plans in a variety of materials. Past projects have included wooden furniture such as Adirondack chairs, tables, and desks as well as clothing made from recycled fabrics and trash fashion. Other topics that are integral to the course are the ethical use of resources and materials and the responsible and safe usage of tools.