Fine and Performing Arts

This class will develop beginning guitar and ensemble techniques through daily practice and rehearsal. In addition to ensemble skills, students will develop the notational and theoretical concepts of music essential to performing within a group. Reading standard musical notation will be essential to cover this material; however, no prior reading experience is required.

This course is for the aspiring pianist, from beginners to advanced players. Students will delve into the foundational elements of piano playing, focusing on essential skills such as music literacy, basic notation, rhythms, time signatures, and intervals. Whether you're starting from scratch or seeking to refine your technique, this course offers a supportive environment where each student can progress at their own pace. Beyond mastering the fundamentals, piano will encourage students to take their playing to new heights through an individualized program of study.

This course will survey a variety of kinesthetic performance techniques. Students will develop, implement and perform physically expressive theatrical characters and scenarios through spatial awareness and body control. This course will examine the use of fight and violence in a theatrical context for the stage. Topics that will be covered include creating the illusion of violence without causing harm to self, an acting partner, the audience, or scenery to create a safe working environment in the classroom and in a professional setting. The basics of unarmed stage combat: punches, blocks, falls, rolls, found objects as weapons. Single sword skills including proper footwork, defenses, attacks, and disarms. This class has strong physical components.

This course is open to all interested students in the upper school who enjoy group singing. Rehearsals focus on developing vocal technique, musical literacy, and the styles and principles of presentation. Chorus pulls its repertoire from rock, jazz, classical, pop, theater, television, and movies. Members will learn to improve their vocal singing with an emphasis on good technique, ear training, sight-singing, theory, and rehearsal methods while strengthening their ability to listen and harmonize clearly.

Students will explore the development of theater, dramatic literature, major theatrical movements, and styles and plays from the ancient world to present. This course will include a survey of the Western theater tradition beginning with the ancient Greeks, continuing with the development of English language theater and ending in contemporary American theater. This course will also touch on non-Western theater traditions, including the theater of Islam, East Asia, and other locations. Students will be expected to present to the class.

This course will begin with an overview of theater buildings and spaces. Students will select a specific structure, a script and develop a storyboard/moodboard. Designs will begin with basic sketches and progress to scale models of the stage and the scenery. Scenic design should be informed by the script and also respond to the culture and community to which they will be presented. Students will be expected to present to the class.

In this course, different styles of modern dance will be presented with an emphasis on improving anatomical awareness and alignment, developing integrated movement patterns and internal connections, rhythmic awareness and using dance as a form of expression. Contemporary & Modern Dance students will work to find freedom in the use of movement while developing their technique and building a strong foundation. We will enrich our understanding of dance practice through collaboration, deep listening, and rigor.

This course will begin with the basics of the acting methods. Students will select a monologue, read the script for themes, and to help develop their understanding and empathy for their character. Once the actors are familiar with their scripts and characters, they will begin to memorize and present to the class for direction and feedback. The goal of this course is to develop acting and auditioning skills. Performance is required for this course.

An introductory course to digital illustration using iPads, this course includes the study of illustration as a visual interpretation of narrative, color theory, and typographical design elements. Students will learn basic software skills while developing drawing abilities in a digital environment. Strong emphasis is placed on planning, sketching, color theory, and critique.

Students will be introduced to a host of painting techniques including gouache, watercolor, acrylic, pour painting, and printmaking. This course will emphasize color theory, technique, and composition while exploring themes of sustainability and identity. The purpose of the course is to provide a basis for creative growth and expression and to build on learned and new techniques.

Students will cover the fashion design process starting with visual research, sketching ideas, and crafting jewelry stories. Students will explore a design-thinking modality and problem-solving strategies as they explore form, material, and shape. Students will have an opportunity to learn the basics of jewelry fabrication.

Students will cover the fashion design process from researching and figure sketching to alterations and garment construction. Students will explore a design-thinking modality and problem-solving strategies as they explore form, material, and shape through projects including upcycled fashion, recycled fashion, and pattern construction. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the basics of fashion design and clothing production.

Students will be able to demonstrate mastery in camera settings and compositional rules to produce their own desired photographic results. Students will be able to use film cameras to expose and develop black and white film. Students will learn mastery of using the darkroom to enlarge and develop black and white prints.

Students will be able to demonstrate their own total understanding and abilities in each camera technique and composition rule to produce their own desired digital photographic results. Students will be able to demonstrate their own abilities and understanding of digital software such as Photoshop to further enhance their photos to achieve greater results.

Students will have the skills necessary to conceptualize an object in three dimensions and build that model. Students will understand how to 3D print that model and how to use 3D software to engineer a product and 3D print a prototype. Students will then learn how to conceptualize a 3D environment and an animation. Then, they will be able to model the shapes in 3D, create the animation in 3D, and render that animation to produce a short animated segment or a short video.

Students will learn the skills necessary to create digital art from scratch in Photoshop. Students will learn the basics and good practices in design to conceptualize a visual idea and be able to use Photoshop to create that image. Students will then learn how to use Photoshop to make visual edits to existing images. Editing photography or making additions to a scan of physical work brought into the program. Students will then learn how that final art can be presented as digital work in a computer presentation or as printed work.