VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS ~ Course Description
ANIMATION 1-2 – 0142, 0143 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None Basic animation will introduce students to the principles of traditional cell animation and to the various materials used in the production of this art form. The purpose of the course is to develop awareness and appreciation of the art of animation and to provide students with the opportunity for creative expression using the tools of animation as their voice. It will also offer a foundation for those students who wish to pursue a career in animation and/or related fields.
ANIMATION 3-4 – 0144, 0145 (Creative Animation 5-6 – 0146, 0147) Grades 10-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Animation 1-2 Advanced Animation will introduce students to the principles of computer animation and to the various programs used in the production of this art form. It will continue to stress the fundamentals of pencil animation and build on the skills developed in Basic Animation 1-2. Claymation and the fundamentals of video will be merged with the pencil and computer to broaden the possibilities of creativity. It will also offer a foundation for those students who wish to pursue a career in animation and/or relative fields. These areas will include set design, acting, producing, directing, background artists, inkers, inbetweeners, 3-D animators, 3-D modelers, sound editing, storyboarding, and script writing.
ANIMATION 5-6 – 0146, 0147 Grades 10-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Animation 3-4 Advanced Animation will introduce students to the principles of computer animation and to the various programs used in the production of this art form. It will continue to stress the fundamentals of pencil animation and build on the skills developed in Basic Animation 1-2. Claymation and the fundamentals of video will be merged with the pencil and computer to broaden the possibilities of creativity. It will also offer a foundation for those students who wish to pursue a career in animation and/or relative fields. These areas will include set design, acting, producing, directing, background artists, inkers, inbetweeners, 3-D animators, 3-D modelers, sound editing, storyboarding, and script writing.
ANIMATION 7-8 – 0148, 0149 Grades 10-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Animation 5-6 Animation 7-8 – Digital Portfolio/Job Skills/Senior Project is the final step in preparation for graduation, going on to higher education, and/or gaining employment. By taking the time to finalize and formalize all the students have accomplished in the previous courses, each individual is able to bring examples of all that they have accomplished into a final portfolio and demo reel to present at their exit interview and to prospective schools or employers. This is a time consuming project that will mean the difference between a professional presentation or just another “wannabee” animator. New skills presented in this course will be the written resume, oral presentation and sales of self-image, and formalizing production skills acquired to date. Students will be production leaders that will oversee one group community service project to give back something to their community for the education. This senior project will be a public service message with a theme of antiviolence, drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco, geared towards the K-12 children of our community. Even when not written, pencil animation will be emphasized every semester and outside work including research and reading will be required. Meeting deadlines and work ethic is stressed in all classes.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ART HISTORY 1-2 – 0153, 0154 Grades 10-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None Art History is and in-depth overview of the history of art, from Prehistoric to Modern Times, with an emphasis on Western as well as non-Western art. Semester one will encompass the Ancient through medieval periods, while semester two will cover the Renaissance to the Present Era.
AP STUDIO ART 1-2 – 0151, 0152 Grades 10-12 Advanced Placement Studio Art: Drawing provides instruction for the highly skilled exceptional students in drawing, painting, and three dimensional design. The course assists these students in the preparation of a portfolio for the Advance Placement program in Studio Art. Portfolio preparation involves a significant time commitment and is, therefore, intended for motivated students with advanced skills who are seriously dedicated to studying art. It may be repeated for credit. This course has been approved to meet the UC “f” or “g” requirement.
AP STUDIO ART 2D 1-2 – 0157, 0158 Grades 10-12 Advanced Placement Studio Art: 2D Design provides instruction for the highly skilled exceptional students in two-dimensional design. The course assists these students in the preparation of a 2D Portfolio. It is designed to address a very broad interpretation of two-dimensional design issues. This type of design involves purposeful decision-making about how to use the elements and principles of art in an integrative way. The elements of design (line, shape, space, form, texture, value and color) are like a palette of possibilities that artists use to express themselves. The principles of design help guide artists in making decisions about how to organize the elements on a picture plane in order to communicate content. These principles include contrast, emphasis, balance, pattern, rhythm, movement and unity. Portfolio preparation involves a significant time commitment and is, therefore, intended for motivated students with advanced skills who are seriously dedicated to studying art. This course has been approved by UC to meet the UC “f” requirement.
AP STUDIO ART 3D 1-2 – 0159, 0160 Grades 10-12 Advanced Placement Studio Art: 3D Design provides instruction for the highly skilled exceptional students in 3D Design. The course assists these students in the preparation of a Three-Dimensional Design Portfolio. It is designed to address a very broad interpretation of sculpture issues in depth and space. These may include mass, volume, form, plane, light, and texture. Such elements and concepts can be articulated through additive, subtractive, and/or fabrication processes. Portfolio preparation involves a significant time commitment and is, therefore, intended for motivated students with advanced skills who are seriously dedicated to studying art. This course has been approved by UC to meet the UC “f” requirement.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 1-2 – 0846, 0847 Grades 10-12 Architectural Design includes the study and application of the elements and principles of design, the study of the history of ancient architecture from Catal Huyuk to the Ancient Baroqueand its relevant vocabulary and structural devices, and an introduction to basic sketching and technical drawing skills. Students will experience working with different mediums (a variety of different pencils, charcoal, pen and ink, watercolor, tempera, and clay) to copy ancient structures and to design their own structures using various construction devices. Architectural Design 1-2 meets PUSD Fine Art or Practical Art credit, PUSD Computer Literacy/Competency, and UC/CSU ‘f' Elective Credit (Students must complete 1 and 2 to receive UC/CSU ‘f' credit).
CERAMICS 1- 2 – 0115, 0116 Grades 10-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None Ceramics 1 and 2 are classes in which a variety of projects will be completed using clay. Students will use at least three methods of ceramic construction demonstrating coil, slab coil, carved, slab pinch, and wheel thrown techniques. Students will construct projects using the above techniques and will be required to improve craftsmanship as basic skills develop. These courses meet the CSU/UC VPA requirements.
CERAMICS 3 4 – 0117, 0118 Grades 11 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Ceramics 1, 2 Ceramics 3 and 4 are designed for students who have mastered basic construction and decoration techniques. These courses will stress design, craftsmanship, and evaluation of ceramic art at a professional level. Students will construct projects, at a professional level, using hand built and wheel thrown methods.
CHOIR 1 – 1105 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None. Beginning Choir 1 offers the student of choral music an opportunity to develop musical skills and to broaden the musical experience through rehearsal and performance. This is a performance class and students are expected to participate in all choral activities. The make-up of this class could be mixed voices, women only or men only.
CHOIR 2 – 1106 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None. Beginning Choir 2 offers the student of choral music an opportunity to develop musical skills and to broaden the musical experience through rehearsal and performance. This is a performance class and students are expected to participate in all choral activities. The make-up of this class could be mixed voices, women only or men only.
CLASSICAL VOCAL ENSEMBLE 1-2 – 1110, 1111 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Audition; teacher approval Classical Vocal Ensemble is a course for advanced choral musicians. Advanced choral and vocal techniques will be taught. Classical and traditional repertoire will be studied and performed. This is a performance class, and students are expected to participate in all choral activities. Outside time is required. Activities will include school and community performances. The Classical Vocal Ensemble will represent the school at District and state levels in adjudicated festivals
COMPUTER GRAPHIC ART 1-2 – 0975-0976 Grades 10 12 This semester course is a beginning study in contemporary media. The class is structured around projects emphasizing the art elements of line, shape, color, and texture. It will introduce the student to the principles of design including rhythm, balance, proportions, and variety. Students will develop an appreciation of traditional artistic expression as well as an understanding of the role of contemporary media as a verbal and visual means of communication in today's society. This course has been approved to meet the UC “f” requirement, the PUSD Practical Arts requirement or Fine Arts requirement, and the District's Computer Literacy requirement.
CONCERT BAND – 1175 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Previous band experience. Concert Band is designed for instrumental musicians. This is a performance class, and students are expected to participate in all band activities. Activities will include concerts for the band as well as solo and ensemble festivals. This band represents the school at district and state levels in concert festivals. All students are required to be enrolled in Marching Physical Education first semester.
CONCERT CHOIR 1-2 – 1120, 1121 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Previous choral Experience; teacher approval. Concert Choir 1-2 offers the student of choral music an opportunity to further develop musical skills and to broaden the musical experience through rehearsal and performance. This is a performance class and students are expected to participate in all choral activities. The Concert Choir will represent the school at district and state levels in adjudicated festivals. The make-up of this class could be mixed voices, women only or men only.
DANCE (INTERMEDIATE) – 1429 Grades 10-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Teacher Approval Intermediate Dance is designed to give those students with previous experience a chance to progress onto more challenging dance techniques. Choreography, vocabulary of dance, and elements of critiquing the art of dance will be included in the class. In addition, performances of choreographed and original dance routines will be mandatory.
DANCE (ADVANCED) – 1430 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Recommendation of teacher Advanced Dance is an accelerated class designed to explore dance from many vantage points. Advanced dance technique will be the basis of the class. Choreography, dance history, interpretive qualities, and originality will complement the class. Performance of original choreographies will be mandatory. Elements of critiquing the art of dance will be refined.
DESIGN IN MIXED MEDIA 1-2 – 0125, 0126 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None. Design in Mixed Media introduces students to the elements and principles of design, which are part of the common core of knowledge and the foundation for understanding and creating fine art. This course provides students with practical experience in the production of two and three-dimensional design artwork. It will develop student awareness and appreciation of the fine arts.
DESIGN IN MIXED MEDIA 3 4 – 0127, 0128 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Design in Mixed Media 1 2 Design in Mixed Media 3 4 continue as project oriented courses in which students build upon the knowledge and skills learned in Design in Mixed Media 1 2.
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION 1-2 – 0998, 0999 Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: Must be 16 years old This course provides introductory and intermediate training in digital media production. This course covers the following: operation of video cameras, digital video editing equipment, digital audio editing equipment, lighting equipment, multi-track digital recorders, video recorders, and compact disc recorders. Instruction includes basic development of storyboarding, script writing, and production concepts. Students will use equipment, which includes Avid Express 2.0 video editing software. Digidesign Pro-tools, audio editing software, Sony digital video cameras. Approximately 180 hours are needed to complete this course.
DRAMA 1 – 0345 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None. Drama 1 is a survey course, which includes many facets of dramatic activity. Included are basic story telling, voice, and diction, reader's theater, pantomime, and improvisational exercises. The students will be requested to visit at least one selected rehearsal or performance of a school play each quarter.
DRAMA 2 – 0346 Grades 9-12 Recommended prerequisite: Drama 1 or consent of instructor. Drama 2 is a course in which students do creative exercises to illustrate characters and situations, as well as improvisational exercise. It is a beginning study of theater with in-depth looks at structure of theater and plays and more improvisations and pantomimes. Students will visit movies and plays and be able to write a critique of them. At least one basic scene and/or series of pantomimes must be presented. Also included is a study of the function of the playwright, the actor, the director, and the technicians. In addition, the students will study the written scripts of four genres: melodrama, comedy, farce, and modern drama.
DRAMA 3 – 0347 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Drama 1 and/or 2 or consent of instructor Drama 3 is an intermediate acting course. Included in the course is a study of the history of the theater and changes in acting styles. Students are expected to perform scenes or plays from classical literature after studying the influences of the various periods on costume, movement, and makeup. Students are expected to investigate the technical side of theater with regard to designing lighting, costuming, and creating special makeup, along with knowing the function of a playwright, actor, director, and technician.
DRAMA 4 – 0348 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Drama 3 or consent of instructor Drama 4 is a course in play production. The course includes a detailed study of how plays are produced, designed, costumed, cast, and directed. Specifically, students are expected to choose material, prepare the prompt book, draw a floor plan of the set, draw a set elevation, and design appropriate costumes for each character. Additionally, students are expected to collect a “makeup morgue,” to arrange the rehearsal schedule, and to act in two scenes for other directors. A continuing study is made of theater history and additional styles and terminology. Students will begin to learn principles of directing and technical theater as well as produce a semester project and participate in logs of scene work. This is a performance class.
DRAMA 5 – 0349 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Drama 4 or consent of instructor Drama 5 continues the application of the play direction techniques introduced in Drama 4. Students are expected to select a semester project and to carry it to culmination in presentation and evaluation by an audience. In addition, students are expected to develop a prompt book, which demonstrates an increased attention to detail, steady improvement in basic techniques, and heightened creativity. Also elements of theater management will be covered.
DRAMA 6 – 0350 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Drama 5 or consent of instructor Drama 6 is a course in which students explore advanced methods and techniques of acting, interpretation, and direction. Students are expected to participate in classroom scenes and touring productions. Students are expected to research an individually selected topic. Costuming and makeup are also to be covered in this course. This is essentially a director's laboratory/workshop and a performance class with scenes and projects.
DRAWING & PAINTING 1-2 – 0130, 0131 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None. Drawing and Painting is a course designed to allow students the experience of working in an artistic atmosphere and to participate in the processes used by artists to create works of art. These processes include conceptualization, designing, drawing, painting, and finishing a variety of different media. Working through these processes the student not only gains an appreciation for the artistic process but also gains an insight into their own creative abilities. This course will give students a framework in which they may explore other creative outlets of their own.
DRAWING AND PAINTING 3 4 – 0132, 0133 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Drawing and Painting 1 2 Drawing and Painting 3 and 4 are designed for students who have both the interest and talent to further develop their drawing and painting skills. Students will produce, view, discuss, and analyze a wide variety of drawings and paintings. This class will be conducted in a studio environment, which combines communication of ideas, symbols, moods, or feelings with originality. Projects are completed independently.
FRESHMAN BAND – 1174 Grade 9 Recommended Prerequisite: Previous band experience. Freshman band offers the student of instrumental music an opportunity to further develop musical skills and to broaden the musical experience through rehearsal and performance. All students are required to be enrolled in Marching Physical Education first semester.
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE – 1186 Grades 9-12 Instrumental Ensembles is a course for all levels of instrumental musicians. Small ensembles are encouraged, although solos may be prepared for the solo and ensemble festival held at two different locations in the county. The students may be required to participate in the solo and ensemble festival. This course may be repeated for credit. This course has been approved to meet the UC “f” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
ORCHESTRA 1-2– 1183, 1184 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Previous experience playing an orchestral string instrument. Orchestra is designed for the stringed-instrument student who desires to play in a performing organization based upon orchestral instruments. The group will play a variety of string orchestra music and will perform at school concerts and at festivals.
PHOTOGRAPHY 1 – 0872 Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: Must be 16 years old Photography 1 provides a media that allows the student a pragmatic method of application of chemistry, art, and physics, as well as an introduction to vocational possibilities in the field of photography. This course will deal primarily with learning to properly use photo developing equipment and different cameras.
PHOTOGRAPHY 2 – 0873 Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: Must be 16 years old Photography 2 will continue fine-tuning the technical skills learned in Photography 1. Students will learn to use a camera as a way of communication and creative expression. Imagination, emotion, and aesthetic perception will be stressed through proper organization of photographic elements and composition. The history of photography and critical evaluation of prints will be emphasized throughout the courses. Students may receive Fine Arts or Practical Arts credit for this class.
STUDIO ART – 0150 Grades 11-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Drawing and Painting 1-4 and Portfolio Review The Studio Art program is intended for the highly motivated and gifted art student. It provides the opportunity for students to excel and allow them the experience of working in an artistic atmosphere and to participate in the processes used by artists to create works of art. These processes include conceptualizing, designing, drawing, painting and finishing a variety of different media. Working through these processes, the student not only gains an appreciation for the artistic process but also gains an insight into their own creative abilities. Studio Art helps students to prepare an extensive portfolio for future college and artistic endeavors. . Instructor permission is required for enrollment.
TALL FLAGS – COLOR GUARD – 1197 Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: None. The Color guard class provides students with the opportunity to develop musical/visual concepts, skills, and interpretations. These concepts will be used in conjunction with the marching program and the indoor tall flag instruction. The Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and the California Tall Flag Association, in addition to teacher observation will provide evaluation. Tall Flags/Color guard satisfies Fine Art requirement.
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THEATRE 1-2 – 0340, 0341 Grades 9-12 Technical Production for the Theater 1-2 is a course which covers the basics of set design and construction, lighting, costuming, sound, makeup, and stage management. Specifically, students will be expected to design, construct, and paint flats, to plan and draw a lighting plot for a play, to operate a lighting board, and to choose costume designs and colors for characters in a play. In addition, students will be expected to operate the equipment used in sound effects and musical background for a play, to plan and apply makeup for play characters, and to act as stage manager.
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THEATRE 3-4 – 0342, 0343 Grades 10-12 Technical Production for the Theater 3-4 is a practical theater class which continues to build on knowledge, experience, and interest acquired in 1-2. Students will be able to perform the varied “behind the scenes” tasks at a level of expertness which would make them eligible for theater employment. This course does not apply to the English or Fine arts graduation requirements.
WIND ENSEMBLE – 1177 (Advanced – 061178) Grades 9-12 Recommended Prerequisite: Concert Band. Wind Ensemble is a course for advanced instrumental musicians. This is a performance class, and students are expected to participate in all band activities. Some outside time is necessary. Activities will include concerts for the band and various festivals. The Wind Ensemble will represent the school at district and state levels in concert evaluations. All students should be enrolled in Marching Physical Education in the fall.
WOMEN'S ENSEMBLE – 1118 Grades 10 12 Recommended Prerequisite: Previous Choral Experience; audition Women's Ensemble is a course for advanced choral musicians. Advanced choral and vocal techniques will be taught. Classical and traditional repertoire specifically written for women's voices will be studied and performed. This is a performance class, and students are expected to participate in all choral activities. Outside time is required. Activities will include school and community performances. The Women's Ensemble will represent the school at District and state levels in adjudicated festivals.
