Fine Arts Courses

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The offerings of the Fine Arts Department foster awareness of the elements common to all the arts as well as of the distinctive characteristics of the various visual, verbal, and performing arts.  We want students to cultivate an awareness of and appreciation for the various art forms while developing their own criteria for making informal value judgments.  When students learn to create and/or perform in images, gestures, sounds and words, they discover new ways to shape and share their ideas with others.  As a result of these experiences, the students are challenged to continue to experience the arts as creator, re-creator, and/or intelligent consumer.  Whenever possible and appropriate, we will use appropriate instruments, electronic equipment, computers and networks to access information, process ideas and communicate results.

Film Study
(10th - 12th grade)   (1/2 unit)

The Film Study elective course engages students in analysis and appreciation of the history of film, the art of film, and film as literature.  Students will learn how to "read" a film looking at plot, character, theme, and tone along with the influence of lighting, sound, camera, acting, and audience.  In addition to learning film language, units of study include: film history, film criticism, and specific genres such as film noir, westerns, musicals, independent and international films, and documentary. (Enrollment limit:  16 students)

Interrelated Arts
(Subfreshman)   (1/2 unit)

Interrelated Arts is a team-taught course for subfreshmen, which includes drama,  music, and visual arts.

Introduction to Multimedia Production
(10th – 12th grade)   (1/2 unit)

This class is an introduction to writing, producing, performing and editing in media including radio, television and film.  Students will write and produce news, non-fiction, animation, comedy and drama programming for both radio and television.  They will learn to use cameras, recorders, microphones, lighting, multi-track recording and editing equipment to complete audio and video production projects.  On-camera and on-microphone speaking, acting and presentation skills will be emphasized, which will add to students’ self-confidence in public speaking, announcing and performing.  We will also explore the technical aspects of audio and video equipment, lighting, microphone and editing techniques as they apply to both radio and television production.  (Enrollment limit: 12 students)

Madrigals
(1/4 unit - can enroll more than once – by audition)

Madrigals is a year-long course open to students by audition.  Madrigals meet after school but students must also be enrolled in chorus.  Madrigals may be taken multiple years.  The literature performed is taken from the choral literature of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  This group performs frequently.

Mixed Chorus
(1/2 unit - can enroll more than once)

Mixed Chorus is open to any student at University Laboratory High School.  The objectives are (1) to give students experience in performing in a large choral group, (2) to provide an opportunity to learn from others and (3) to learn to submerge individual goals in order to attain unity in the larger group.  The mixed chorus performs several times during the year.  Mixed Chorus may be taken multiple years.

Music Theory
(10th – 12th grade)   (1/2 unit)

Music Theory is an introductory study of the structure of music.  It is an elective course planned for those students desiring a more thorough understanding of music based on a knowledge of the techniques and skills involved in its structure.  The course is conducted in a laboratory manner, with emphasis on listening, singing, writing, and harmonic analysis.  (Enrollment limit:  12 students)

Orchestra
(1/2 unit - can enroll more than once)

Orchestra is open to any student at University Laboratory High School.  The objectives are very similar to the ones listed for Mixed Chorus, with the only exception being that the orchestra studies representative literature from the orchestral (including separate wind and string literature when possible) genre.  Orchestra may be taken multiple years.

Jazz Band
(1/4 unit - can enroll more than once)

Jazz Band is open to any student at University Laboratory High School.  In addition to studying various forms of jazz literature, the study and utilization of improvisation is strongly encouraged.  Jazz Band currently meets after school once a week and can be taken multiple years.

Studio Art I
(9th - 12th grade)

This project based, hands-on course explores the following:

-Introduction to principles of design, emphasizing composition

-Drawing from observation, emphasizing linear perspective

-Painting - ink wash and watercolor

- Ceramics                .

- Mythology - mixed media sculpture

The course may be repeated with permission of the instructor.  (Enrollment limit:  12 students)

Studio Art II
(9th - 12th grade)   (1/2 unit)
 Prerequisite:  Art I or Permission of Instructor

This studio class continues the exploration of media and ideas begun in Art 1.  Individual expression and portfolio ready projects are emphasized.  Topics include:

-          Design and composition concepts

-          Acrylic painting techniques plus color studies and masterpiece recreation

-          Human figure studies – skeletal drawing emphasizing proportion,  self portrait, and 3-D project

-          Architecture – Drafting and 3-D modeling of architectural space

-          Personal project with approval of instructor.

The course may be repeated with permission of the instructor.  (Enrollment limit:  12 students)  Prerequisite:  Art 1.

Theatre Arts I
(10th - 12th grade)   (1/2 unit)

Theatre Arts I is an introductory course focusing on an actor’s approach to a role, including improvisation, scene and monologue work.  This course will also cover personnel of the theatre and the elements of production, including make-up, costume, lighting and scene design.  Internet research will be part of some assignments.  (Enrollment limit:  15 students)

Theatre Arts II
(10th - 12th grade)   (1/2 unit)
 Prerequisite:  Theatre Arts I or Permission of Instructor

Theatre Arts II covers history of the theatre, periods and styles with units on the Commedia del Arte and Shakespeare.  In the last quarter, the techniques of story theatre will be explored and will include performances for local school children.  In working with elements of production, students will be assigned an area of responsibility for each semester’s production.  The class will include additional activities such as attending local theatre productions.  This course may be repeated with the permission of the instructor.  Internet research will be part of some assignments.  (Enrollment limit:  15 students)

Explorations in the Arts
(10th - 12th grade)   (1/2 unit)

This elective offering is an interdisciplinary course integrating the study of the various visual, verbal and performing arts.  This broad perspective fosters awareness of the elements common to all the arts as well as the distinctive characteristics of each art form.

Rather than presenting a chronological survey of the arts or discussing each art form separately, Explorations in the Arts groups the arts into three broad categories; the spatial (painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, photography, graphic imaging), the temporal (music, poetry, prose narrative), and the composite (theater, film, movement, opera).  This organization enables us to review and explore the basic elements of each art form and to show what the arts within each group have in common.  This course is for creator, re-creator and intelligent consumer, with an emphasis on cognitive and affective development rather than psychomotor.  We want student to cultivate an awareness of and appreciation for the various art forms while developing their own criteria for making informed value judgments.  (Enrollment limit:  16 students)