Arts Magnet

Prerequisite: Audition or completion of dance I

Dance II is an intermediate dance class that will focus on dance performance in all dance genres: jazz, modern, contemporary dance, musical theater, ballet, and liturgical dance. Entrance to this class is based on audition or completion of Dance 1. Dance II will also enable students to choreograph group pieces and solos for themselves and for their peers. The students will be evaluated on their daily participation, classwork, homework, and participation in 1 performance each semester.

Dance II students will become confident performers, displaying  confident intermediate, dance technique, emotional/artistic expression in performance, and professional work habits in the context of performance.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: AUDITION OR COMPLETION OF DANCE II

This Fine Arts/PE course is for the experienced dancer and audition or completion of Dance 2  is required for entry into this class. Dancers in this course are expected to work at a high intermediate dance level in both artistic and technical aspects of dance. All performances are required and graded.  Students will be given opportunities to perform solos that they choreograph.

Dance III students will be able to hone their artistic, performance skills while being expected to perform at a high level of technical ability.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

PREREQUISITE: ENTRY BY AUDITION ONLY

This Fine Arts/PE course is for the advanced, experienced dancer and audition is required for entry into this class. Dancers in this course are expected to work at an advanced dance level in both artistic and technical aspects of dance. This group will anchor all dance performances and will be included in collaborative performances with the choral and instrumental music departments. All performances are required and graded. Dancers will also be given opportunities to discover dance in their community by attending local performances and meeting industry professionals.

The goal of this course is to train the most, well-rounded dancer in both technical and artistic aspects of dance. Additionally, pedagogy will be introduced in order to prepare dancers for careers in dance instruction.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Arts Magnet Program student or approval of instructor

Advanced Dance Production is a Fine Arts course for the student dancer who desires to pursue a career in professional dance production. These students aspire to be teachers, choreographers and directors. In this course the students will be guided through producing two dance productions, full-length dance concerts, within the length of an academic year.

Responsibilities of the student will include but not be limited to: writing a budget, reserving facilities for concerts, designing all press materials (press releases, posters, tickets, programs), establishing a running order for each production, and organizing volunteers for each event.

Students in this course will also have to choreograph alone, not in a collaborative sense, works for fellow dancers, design costumes, learn basic stage lighting skills and learn rudimentary sound design and sound engineering for each concert. The responsibilities of the artistic versus the executive director in a non-profit, performance company context, grant writing and fund raising, will also be studied and discussed.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• Co-requisite: Dance 4

Prerequisite: A grade of B or better in both semesters of Drawing & Painting I or a similar year long art course

Drawing and Painting II is a year-long course, which is designed to provide students a more specific overview of two-dimensional art-making techniques. Students work in a more independent manner than in Drawing and Painting I and will continue to apply the elements of art and the principles of design. Art projects are geared towards developing their problem solving skills in a more complex manner. Various mediums and techniques involve charcoal, acrylic, watercolor and oil paints. An emphasis is placed on creativity and the mastery of skills to adequately prepare students to move on to the Advanced/AP level art courses. Students will compile a portfolio of work by the end of the year.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

PREREQUISITES: A GRADE OF B+ IN ALL SEMESTERS OF DRAWING & PAINTING I AND DRAWING & PAINTING II AND CONSENT OF INSTRUCTOR

This course is designed to give the advanced art student a more specific overview of drawing and painting techniques, using the art elements and principles of design in the process. The students will explore these techniques on a higher level and the subject matter will include master copies, the figure, still life, landscape and portraiture. Media will include graphite, pen and ink, charcoal, oil pastel, oil and acrylic paint. Emphasis is placed on creative thinking, problem solving and building an aesthetic vocabulary to prepare students for AP Studio Art.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Adobe Creative Suite is an upper-division course introducing traditional drawing and painting students to the world of computer-generated art. The student will focus on the artistic skills necessary to create complex works of digital art in four powerful Adobe software programs within the Apple/Macintosh platform: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Flash. As an extension of traditional drawing and painting, the student will concentrate on utilizing these software programs to not only enhance their abilities to create original pieces of digital artwork, but also to prepare them for a possible career in the visual arts and the technology required to sell their work.

Prerequisite: Students must have earned a grade of A- or better in both semesters of their previous History and English courses; teacher approval and summer assignment required. A minimum enrollment is required for this class.

This is a year-long course that prepares the student for the AP College Board exam in May. Students review the art history from eras beginning at pre-historic man to the 20th century. Students will be expected to do heavy reading on the subject matter, learn and identify slides, learn how to critique and analyze art work explored during the course of the year, and do a research paper pertaining to one of the art history eras.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

PREREQUISITE: COMPLETION OF TWO OUT OF THREE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES WITH A GRADE OF A- OR BETTER EACH SEMESTER: DRAWING and PAINTING 1, DRAWING AND PAINTING 2, ADVANCED DRAWING AND PAINTING, OR GRAPHIC DESIGN 1 AND GRAPHIC DESIGN 2. TEACHER APPROVAL IS REQUIRED.

AP Art and Design provides the motivated art student with the opportunity to develop a three-part portfolio that is personal to their individual talents and interests. Through the creation of up to 18 pieces of art over the course of the year, students will submit a portfolio to the College Board for evaluation in May in either 2-Dimensional Design or Drawing. Students are expected to conduct an in-depth, sustained investigation of materials, processes and ideas. The course focuses on concepts and skills emphasized within college art and design foundation courses with the same intent: to help students become inquisitive, thoughtful artists and designers able to articulate information about their work. AP Art and Design students develop and apply skills of inquiry and investigation, practice, experimentation, revision, communication, and reflection.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: 2+ years of participation in Music Department choral or instrumental ensembles or instructor approval

This advanced level music course is open to choral or instrumental students who have participated for at least two years in intermediate or advanced level ensembles. Additionally, students must be concurrently enrolled in another Music Department performance course. The AP Music Theory course corresponds to two semesters of a typical introductory college music theory course that covers topics such as musicianship, theory, musical materials, and procedures. Musicianship skills including dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are considered an important part of the course. Through the course, students develop the ability to recognize, understand, and describe basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. Development of aural skills is a primary objective. Performance is also part of the learning process. Students understand basic concepts and terminology by listening to and performing a wide variety of music. Notational skills, speed, and fluency with basic materials are emphasized.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• Co-requisite: Students must simultaneously be enrolled in an intermediate or advanced Music Department performance course

Prerequisites: Completion of the Beginning Piano course or the ability to play pieces equivalent to J.S. Bach’s Anna Magdalena Notebook, Clementi’s Sonatinas (Opus 36), or Burgmuller’s 25 Progressive Pieces for the Piano (Opus 100) and play triads and scales in C, G, D, A, E, B, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db major. Must be willing to practice a minimum of 45 minutes to 1 hour per day.

Advanced students may use this class to develop their skills further. Students will have in class performance opportunities including a recital each semester.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: Two or more years of previous experience playing flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, or percussion.

This intermediate-level instrumental music course is open to students who have played a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument for at least two years. In this course, students further develop their musical skills through the rehearsal and performance of music written for full orchestra. Students are expected to attend small and large group rehearsals outside of the school day and participate in concerts and other special events. The Wind Ensemble frequently combines with String Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra to form the JSerra Symphony Orchestra. Though there are a limited number of instruments the school can loan, students are generally expected to provide their own instrument. AT the end of the year, students are encouraged to audition for Chamber Orchestra or reenroll in String Orchestra multiple times.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Advanced Women's Choir is a singing ensemble open to females. Special attention is given to developing the female voice and musicianship including sight-singing and music theory. Advanced Women's Choir will perform at concerts and festivals in various genres including jazz, pop, classical, and barbershop.  Singers will express themselves creatively and assess technical and aesthetic aspects of choral performance. No audition is required.

•  Year
•  10 Credits
•  UC Approved

Prerequisites: Theater I and audition

Theater II is a year-long course designed for those students who have successfully completed the Theater I course. Theater II continues to emphasize acting styles and broadens knowledge of directional techniques. This course further provides the student with the opportunity to develop the actor/director/character relationship by writing and performing in a one-act play. The dramatization of this one-act play, with all production aspects, will be emphasized. Various theater techniques will also be emphasized, including improvisation, memorization, preparation, blocking, articulation, and stage presence. An introduction of theater history and acting styles will be discussed.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: The completion of Theatre I or Theatre II. Audition required.

This year-long class delves into the history and performance of musical theatre. This class is a survey of the influential artists who produce, write, direct, and perform on America's musical stages from the 1860's to today. Students will also perform concurrently with the musical theatre styles that are analyzed in the units of study.

• Year
• 10 Credits

Prerequisite: Completion of Theatre II and teacher approval through an audition.

This course is designed to enable the student to explore a particular theatrical form in more detail and in depth. The class emphasizes production, performance, stage technique, voice, stage design, costuming properties, and theater history. The course also emphasizes polishing talent, building confidence for professional or apprentice auditions, and gaining experience in public performances. Additional Arts Magnet coursework is required.

• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

Prerequisite: The completion of Theatre I or Theatre II.

This year long course enables the students to learn the facets of technical theatre .The class emphasizes costume design, set design, lighting design, makeup design and stage management. Students will not only learn the technicalities of the design fields, but learn the hands on application of the study. Additional Arts Magnet coursework is required.

• Year
• 10 Credits