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Fine Art Courses

Course: Art Appreciation A,B
Category: P
Credits: 10
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: Director Approval
Overview: This two semester, college preparatory course examines various artistic styles and artists. The first semester concentrates on art elements and principles of design. The second semester concentrates on historical culture and criticism of various artists and the periods in which they lived.
Course Essentials: 1. Artistic Perception
Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory Information Through the Language and Skills Unique to the Visual Arts: Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. They also use the vocabulary of the visual arts to express their observations.
2.  Creative Expression
Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Visual Arts: Students apply artistic processes and skills, using a variety of media to communicate meaning and intent in original works of art.
3. Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of the Visual Arts: Students analyze the role and development of the visual arts in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to the visual arts and artists.
4. Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments About Works in the Visual Arts: Students analyze, assess, and derive meaning from works of art, including their own, according to the elements of art, the principles of design, and aesthetic qualities.
5.  Connections, Relationships, Applications
Connecting and Applying What Is Learned in the Visual Arts to Other Art Forms and Subject Areas and to Careers: Students apply what they learned in the visual arts across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to the visual arts.

Course: Arts and Crafts
Category: G W
Credits: 5-10
Grade Level: 7-12
Prerequisite: None
Overview: This course, which can be taken in one or two semesters, examines one or more craft mediums of choice as an introduction to hand arts and crafts. Areas of study include pastels, lettering, sketching, water-colors, sculpture, batik, needlework, leather, weaving, and printmaking.
Course Essentials: 1. Create and complete no fewer than 5 art/craft projects distinguished by their artistic, aesthetic, and compositional appeal.
2.  Demonstrate serious effort in self-expression in all projects.
3. Study and identify good art and craftsmanship while undertaking each project.
4.  Explore, assess and select appropriate craft materials such as fiber, leather, fabrics and related material for project completion.
5.  Attempt unique and expressive designs for each craft project.
6.  Strive for good craftsmanship in the execution of each project.
7.  Apply knowledge of elements and principles of design in making aesthetic decisions.
8.  Study trends in historical and contemporary art/craft techniques.
9.  Report on the history and culture relating to craft.
10. Explore craft stores to discover availability of projects and conduct a comparison of prices.

Course: Drawing
Category: G W
Credits: 5-10
Grade Level: 7-12
Prerequisite: None
Overview: This course, which can be taken in one or two semesters, encourages the student to explore the elements of drawing techniques. Successive courses add greater emphasis to the development of personal technique with emphasis upon observation, imagination, experimentation, and composition.
Course Essentials: 1. Approach drawing activities through a process of observing, feeling and recording.
2. Refine powers of observation.
3. Apply basic approaches to drawing, contour, and blocking-in.
4. Practice methods and techniques which transform from realism to abstraction.
5. Practice basic illusory devices and techniques.
6. Use texture and value gradation in three-dimensional drawings.
7. Employ basic elements and principles of design.
8.  Draw a still life in contour.
9.  Study and practice pencil techniques.
10. Study and practice ink and collage techniques.
11. Synthesize knowledge of the visual elements in project completion.
12. Compare and contrast historic and contemporary individual and cultural art techniques.
13. Develop a portfolio of original work.
14. Understand perspective terminology
15. Employ sighting systems
16. Understand mathematics of proportion
17. Use tools for accurate perspective
18. Understand planes, scaling, vanishing points, rotation, distortion, reference points and convergence.

Course: Music Appreciation A,B
Category: P
Credits: 10
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: Director Approval
Overview: This two semester, college preparatory course examines the music and representative composers from a variety of musical styles from Medieval times to the present, with a historical, cultural, and evaluative approach.
Course Essentials: 1. Artistic Perception
Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory Information Through the Language and Skills Unique to the Visual Arts: Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. They also use the vocabulary of the visual arts to express their observations.
2.  Creative Expression
Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Visual Arts: Students apply artistic processes and skills, using a variety of media to communicate meaning and intent in original works of art.
3. Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of the Visual Arts: Students analyze the role and development of the visual arts in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to the visual arts and artists.
4. Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments About Works in the Visual Arts: Students analyze, assess, and derive meaning from works of art, including their own, according to the elements of art, the principles of design, and aesthetic qualities.
5.  Connections, Relationships, Applications
Connecting and Applying What Is Learned in the Visual Arts to Other Art Forms and Subject Areas and to Careers: Students apply what they learned in the visual arts across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to the visual arts.

Course: Music Seminar
Category: G
Credits: 5
Grade Level: 7-12
Prerequisite: Musical audition
Overview: This one semester course examines the music and representative composers from a variety of musical styles from Medieval times to the present, with a historical, cultural, and evaluative approach. Seminar members will be active participants in an instrumental music group. Participants learn to read music and chords.

Course: Music Theory - Advanced
Category: G
Credits: 5
Grade Level: 7-12
Prerequisite: Basic skills on a musical instrument.
Demonstration of skills required.
Overview: This one semester course focuses on the presentation of material in Music Theory, leading to an understanding of the study of written harmony, keyboard harmony, ear training, and sight singing.

Course: Music Theory - Basic
Category: G
Credits: 5
Grade Level: 7-12
Prerequisite: Basic skills on a musical instrument.
Demonstration of skills required.
Overview: This one semester course focuses on the presentation of material in Music Theory, leading to an understanding of the study of written harmony, keyboard harmony, ear training, and sight singing. This course may be used as a prerequisite for Music Theory - Advanced.
Course Essentials: 1.  Examine the fundamentals of music including pitch, clefs, the grand staff, half steps and whole steps, accidentals, the keyboard, octave registers, major and minor scales, scale degree names, intervals, inversions of intervals, keys and key signatures, circle of fifths, chords, notes and rests, triads, beats,  measures, and notation.
2.  Explore harmonic materials including triads in keys, triads in major and minor scales, triads in inversion, non-harmonic tones, seventh chords, complex chords, altered chords, modulation, functions of harmony, melody and harmony, part-writing, counterpoint, rhythm, and form.
3.  Investigate the tonic triad in a major key including intervals in the major triad, intervals in melodic writing and identification of parts in the triad.
4.  Examine rhythm including beats, groupings, meter, time signatures, rhythmic transcriptions, the conductor's beat, rhythmic reading, and rhythmic dictation.
5.  Explore the melodic line including pitch, rhythm, form, antecedent-consequent phrases, periods, melodic composition, sequences, sight singing, melodic dictation and keyboard harmony.
6.  Investigate the connection chords including elementary part-writing, ranges, doubling, open and closed positions, voices, voice leading, and rules of voicing.
7.  Examine the minor triad including analysis, spellings, the melodic line in minor, part-writing, melody  writing, and intervals in the minor triad.
8.  Study authentic and plagel cadences including primary triads, cadences, dominant seventh chords,  figured bass, writing cadences, and harmonizing melodic cadences.
9. Write, read, and perform using alto and tenor clefs.
10. Demonstrate the methods of writing chord progressions using the rules of harmony.
11. Apply the theory and analysis of triads in inversion to figured bass, and writing and analyzing progressions.
12. Study advanced subdivision of beats in complex rhythmic patterns.
13. Analyze the utilization of non-harmonic tones in the harmonization of melodies at the keyboard.
14. Explore the use of secondary triads, principles of chord progressions, the diminished triad, and the leading tone triad.
15. Study the uses of the supertonic triad.
16. Analyze more complex melodic lines and part-writing.
17. Apply the uses of sudmediant triads, mediant triads, dominant seventh and supertonic seventh chords, syncopation, elementary modulation, secondary dominant chords, dominant of dominants, and  rules of harmony of part-writing.

Course: Painting
Category: G
Credits: 5-10
Grade Level: 7-12
Prerequisite: None
Overview: This one or two semester course explores the elements of techniques. Successive courses add greater emphasis to the development of personal technique, with emphasis upon observation, imagination, experimentation, and composition.
Course Essentials: 1.  Approach painting activities through a process of observing, feeling and recording.
2.  Refine his powers of observation.
3.  Apply basic approaches to drawing, contour, and blocking-in.
4.  Practice methods and techniques which transform from realism to abstraction.
5.  Practice basic illusory devices and techniques.
6.  Use texture and value gradation in three-dimensional paintings.
7.  Employ basic elements and principles of design.
8.  Paint a still life in contour.
9.  Study and practice tempera techniques.
10. Practice various water color techniques, including knife, glue, wax, salt, blotting, wet on wet.
11. Synthesize knowledge of the visual elements in project completion.
12. Compare and contrast historic and contemporary individual and cultural art techniques.
13. Develop a portfolio of original work.

Course: Photography
Category: G
Credits: 5-10
Grade Level: 7-12
Prerequisite: None
Overview: This one or two semester course allows students to obtain practical experience and training in the use of 35mm photographic techniques, applications, and style adaptations by way of a series of directed projects.
Course Essentials: 1.  Select, describe and practice proper care and use of Digital camera.
a. Review, consider, and practice a variety of shutter and aperture settings to achieve the desired photographic effects.
b. Review camera holding supports, accessories and techniques for a variety of purposes.
  c. Review lens use and selection for personal applications.
2.  Select appropriate film:
a. black-white film based upon considerations of desired sensitivity and resolution.
b. color films with various ASA ratings based upon determinations of  the film's sensitivity to light.
3.  Explain the purpose of colored, polarizing and neutral density filters.
4.  Review and summarize appropriate artificial and natural light exposure methods.
5.  Examine photographic examples which demonstrate texture, tone, and color; framing and foreground; and contrast and shadow.
6.  Shoot and develop landscapes/seascapes; time-exposures; portraits, still lives, and close-ups.
7.  Shoot and develop prints capturing action, exemplifying skillful reportage and revealing experimentation with night exposures and special effects, such as double exposures.
8.  Critique photographs for their content and composition; principals of design, overall composition.
9.  Select and use disposable cameras for panoramic and/or underwater photographs.
10. Utilize digital camera and print from computer.
11. Experiment with PhotoShop on computer for Visual presentation.
12. Plan and attend field trip to a professional photographic studio and art exhibit.
13. Explore photo etching, hand coloring photos, and photomontage projects.

Course: Theater Appreciation A,B
Category: G
Credits: 10
Grade Level: 9-12
Prerequisite: Director Approval
Overview: This two semester, college preparatory course examines different theatrical styles throughout history. Students attend local productions of various forms of plays including musicals, drama, and Shakespeare.
Course Essentials: 1. Artistic Perception
Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory Information Through the Language and Skills Unique to the Visual Arts: Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. They also use the vocabulary of the visual arts to express their observations.
2.  Creative Expression
Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Visual Arts: Students apply artistic processes and skills, using a variety of media to communicate meaning and intent in original works of art.
3. Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of the Visual Arts: Students analyze the role and development of the visual arts in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to the visual arts and artists.
4. Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments About Works in the Visual Arts: Students analyze, assess, and derive meaning from works of art, including their own, according to the elements of art, the principles of design, and aesthetic qualities.
5.  Connections, Relationships, Applications
Connecting and Applying What Is Learned in the Visual Arts to Other Art Forms and Subject Areas and to Careers: Students apply what they learned in the visual arts across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to the visual arts.