Fine Arts Courses

Course Detail: Studio Art is a general introductory Visual Arts course. Students elect to work in one of the available areas of study in the Art Studio. Assignments in this class are introductory exercises designed to develop basic skills and a foundation for further studies in the Visual Arts. This course is half the normal class time. Full .5 credit is acquired over two terms. This course was created to make the Art Studio accessible to students with demanding schedules or involved in athletics.

Course Detail: Studio Art is a general introductory Visual Arts course. Students elect to work in one of the available areas of study in the Art Studio. Assignments in this class are introductory exercises designed to develop basic skills and a foundation for further studies in the Visual Arts.

Course Detail: This course introduces students to the history, techniques, and design elements of photography. Specific emphasis will be placed on the study of photography as an art form. A brief introduction to the history of photography will lead to an in depth study of various types of cameras, composition, color theory, lighting, scanning, image editing, and printing. Some critical writing related to the formal analysis of design and personal expression will be expected. Through selected readings students will also be expected to become familiar with current trends in photography and art. Students may use either film or digital cameras. Image editing and printing will be done with computers. Prerequisite: none

Course Detail: This three-quarter sequence is designed for students who are interested in experiencing college-level content in the visual arts. The course involves the study of art history, design theory (the formal analysis of information communicated visually), learning technical skills, and the development and use of techniques for creative thinking. Students choose to work primarily in one of the specific areas of study offered: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramic sculpture, pottery, computer graphics, book arts, and interactive multimedia. Students who wish AP credit are strongly advised to take the entire sequence. Prerequisite: AR102. Corequisite: AR201. AP Art is recommended for senior year; juniors may enroll with instructor approval.

Course Detail: This three-quarter sequence is designed for students who are interested in experiencing college-level content in the visual arts. The course involves the study of art history, design theory (the formal analysis of information communicated visually), learning technical skills, and the development and use of techniques for creative thinking. Students choose to work primarily in one of the specific areas of study offered: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramic sculpture, pottery, computer graphics, book arts, and interactive multimedia. Students who wish AP credit are strongly advised to take the entire sequence. Prerequisite: AR102. Corequisite: AR201. AP Art is recommended for senior year; juniors may enroll with instructor approval.

Course Detail: This three-quarter sequence is designed for students who are interested in experiencing college-level content in the visual arts. The course involves the study of art history, design theory (the formal analysis of information communicated visually), learning technical skills, and the development and use of techniques for creative thinking. Students choose to work primarily in one of the specific areas of study offered: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramic sculpture, pottery, computer graphics, book arts, and interactive multimedia. Students who wish AP credit are strongly advised to take the entire sequence. Prerequisite: AR102. Corequisite: AR201. AP Art is recommended for senior year; juniors may enroll with instructor approval.

Course Detail: Jazz / Lab Band gives band students an opportunity to experience the jazz/rock/swing musical genres. Students will learn proper jazz articulations, read jazz charts, play in a variety of styles, learn basic jazz choreography, and solo techniques. Students will also learn the history of jazz-one of the truly original American contributions to music. This is a full year course. Prerequisite: basic proficiency on an instrument played in the jazz band. These instruments are Alto, Tenor, Bari Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Drum Set, and Auxiliary Percussion.

Course Detail: Garage Band is a unique course that gives students the basics of performing in a rock and-roll band. Typical instrumentation is lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals, drum set and sound-system set-up and management. Augmentation to this instrumentation will be at the discretion of the band director. This is a full year course. Prerequisite: This course is not for beginners. Students should already know how to read music and/or tab and be proficient on their instrument.

Course Detail: Chamber Ensembles are offered according to the instrumentation in the band. Examples of past chamber ensembles are: Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Brass Quintet, String Quartet, and Percussion Ensemble. These ensembles are designed to develop skills that will aid the individual in effectively performing ensemble literature that challenges his/her abilities. Prerequisite: Proficiency on the instrument for which the chamber ensemble is designed.

Course Detail: String Ensemble is a course that gives students the opportunity to perform in a string ensemble setting. This is a full year course. This course is not for beginners. Students should be able to play their instrument and read music.

Course Detail: Choir is designed to provide opportunities to learn correct vocal technique, anatomy of the singing instrument, pitch and rhythmic accuracy, intonation, diction, musicality, and the joy of creating wonderful music. This is accomplished by giving the students the opportunity to experience performing vocal music of the traditional to contemporary styles. Activities include: singing, listening, reading music, and movement. Students learn to read music through a practical, organized, and sequential system. It requires no prior music reading experience on the student’s part. Emphasis is placed on performance and participation. This is a full-year course. Prerequisites: none.

Course Detail: Guitar lessons offer students of any level of development opportunities to expand his/her knowledge of the guitar and of music theory as applied to the guitar. Students will learn music notation, chord construction and progression, scales, and various left and right hand techniques. These lessons will be beneficial to developing the student’s musical artistry when applied to any style of music. Prerequisites: none.

Course Detail: Voice lessons are for students who participate in Concert Choir and want to have additional training in standard Classical or Musical Theatre solo repertoire. Instruction focuses on correct vocal technique including posture, breath support and vowel placement. One 30-minute lesson per week and daily practice are required. Students must read music or be enrolled in MU121. Prerequisites: audition and permission of the instructor.

Course Detail: This course introduces students to digital photography, digital media editing and the principles of 2D design. Through a series of lectures and hands-on exercises students will learn and use all of the functions and menu items of a typical digital SLR. The software used in the class will be Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw. Topics include: camera and lens functions, media storage, file types, exposure, white balance, design, natural lighting, artificial lighting, image editing, printing and display. Upon completion of this class students should be able to take professional looking photos and know how to properly prepare them for use in printed or digital media. The course will consist of tests, assignments and hands-on evaluations. Prerequisite: none.

Course Detail: Advanced Art is for junior level students who are interested in taking A.P. Art in their senior year. The course prepares students for the Breadth section of A.P. exam. Students will work on projects that develop conceptual, design, and technical skills. The outline of projects is derived from the A.P. exam requirements. Projects completed in this class may be used for the A.P. portfolio. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Course Detail: Advanced Art is for junior level students who are interested in taking A.P. Art in their senior year. The course prepares students for the Breadth section of A.P. exam. Students will work on projects that develop conceptual, design, and technical skills. The outline of projects is derived from the A.P. exam requirements. Projects completed in this class may be used for the A.P. portfolio. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Course Detail: Advanced Art is for junior level students who are interested in taking A.P. Art in their senior year. The course prepares students for the Breadth section of A.P. exam. Students will work on projects that develop conceptual, design, and technical skills. The outline of projects is derived from the A.P. exam requirements. Projects completed in this class may be used for the A.P. portfolio. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Course Detail: The Lambda Singers are a small ensemble of twelve to sixteen singers selected from the Concert Choir by audition. Participation in Concert Choir is required. Singers in this group need good sight reading skills and the ability to carry a vocal line independently. This group specializes in a cappella singing and vocal jazz. This is a full year course. Prerequisite: MU111 and an audition.

Course Detail: This course introduces students to methods of communicating and interpreting visual information, digital photography, digital media editing and the principles of 2D design. Through a series of lectures and hands-on exercises students will learn all the functions and menu items of a typical digital SLR. The software used in the class will be Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw. Topics include: balance, color harmony, visual unity, camera and lens functions, media storage, file types, exposure, white balance, design, natural lighting, artificial lighting, image editing, printing, and display. Upon completion of this class students should be able to take professional looking photos and create well designed visual presentations. The course will consist of tests, assignments, and hands-on evaluations. Prerequisite: None

Course Detail: Survey of Art starts with brief examination of design, followed by a chronological and stylistic survey of painting, sculpture, and architecture illustrated through lecture, slide presentations, class discussion, and film. Emphasis is placed on the principles and vocabulary of art criticism and aesthetics. Prerequisite: senior standing. Survey can only be taken as a junior with special permission form the instructor and counseling in preparation for AP art.

Course Detail: Jazz and the American Musical Theatre is a survey course that traces the development of two distinctly American musical genres that emerged simultaneously in the early 20th Century. Using historic recordings and films students hear and see the landmark works of composers and performers starting in 1890 with the field hollers of Southern farm workers and Vaudeville shows to present day. Prerequisite: none.

Course Detail: Introduction to Music Theory is a course in the basics of music reading, piano, and sight singing. It is designed for students interested in learning to read music but know either nothing or very little about it. Notation of pitch, rhythm, keys, and chords and their relationship to the piano keyboard will be studied and practiced. The basics of sight singing will help the student sing music notation without the aid of the piano. This course is highly recommended for choral students who do not currently read music. Prerequisite: none.

Course Detail: Audiation is the ability to look at written music and immediately hear it in your head. Sight Singing and Ear Training techniques develop this ability and are essential for acquiring fluency in reading music. Briefly introduced in MU121, this course focuses on in-depth study and practice of sight singing, music dictation, hearing chord progressions, and musical form. Prerequisite: MU12

Course Detail: This is a survey course that traces the development of two distinctly American musical genres that emerged simultaneously in the early 20th Century. Using historic documents, recordings and films students trace the development of Blues and Jazz and its direct relationship to slavery, Reconstruction, and the Jim Crow Era in the American South. At the same time in New Your City the theatrical and musical heritage of European immigrants was giving rise to the Vaudeville variety show which evolved into the Broadway Musical. Prerequisite: None

Course Detail: The primary objective of this course is to give the student an understanding of the development of Western Music from the Middle Ages to the present day. The focus of the course will be study of musical literature with a high degree of emphasis on listening. Major works from all instrumental and vocal genres will be studies. This is a one term course. Prerequisites: Senior status.

Course Detail: This series of courses is for the serious instrumentalist or singer who is already a proficient music reader. Students study in depth the principles of musical construction developed during the Common Practice Period in Western Music. Concepts covered are: major and minor scales and keys, chord construction and quality, harmonic analysis, chord progressions, melodic construction, voice leading in four parts, sight singing, and melodic and rhythmic dictation. Prerequisite: MU121/122 or permission of the instructor.

Course Detail: This series of courses is for the serious instrumentalist or singer who is already a proficient music reader. Students study in depth the principles of musical construction developed during the Common Practice Period in Western Music. Concepts covered are: major and minor scales and keys, chord construction and quality, harmonic analysis, chord progressions, melodic construction, voice leading in four parts, sight singing, and melodic and rhythmic dictation. Prerequisite: MU121/122 or permission of the instructor.

Course Detail: This series of courses is for the serious instrumentalist or singer who is already a proficient music reader. Students study in depth the principles of musical construction developed during the Common Practice Period in Western Music. Concepts covered are: major and minor scales and keys, chord construction and quality, harmonic analysis, chord progressions, melodic construction, voice leading in four parts, sight singing, and melodic and rhythmic dictation. Prerequisite: MU121/122 or permission of the instructor.

Course Detail: Theatre Arts I is an introductory level course designed to give the beginning theatre student hands on experience in both the technical and performing areas of play production and performance. Students will learn how actors are trained through activities in pantomime, improvisation, voice production, stage movement, and the preparation and performance of short scenes and skits. The specialized areas of technical theatre will be explored through in class projects in costuming, lighting, properties, and set design. Emphasis is placed on the highly collaborative aspect of theatrical production. The Greek word drama means “to act” or “to do”, so willing enthusiastic participation is essential. Prerequisites: none.

Course Detail: Theatre Arts II explores the actor training method developed by Constantan Stanislavski in the early 1900’s. Known as “The Method,” the Stanislavski principles have become the basis for the current day teaching of acting. The course text not only explains these principles but provides acting exercises to practice them. Monologs, scenes, or a One Act play will be performed for the final. Prerequisite: TH151 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: Theatre Arts II produces and performs a full length play on the West Campus stage. Students cast in the selected play will also be responsible for any work involved with props, costumes, scenery, lighting, makeup, and publicity. This class meets winter term and requires students to stay on campus to rehearse and perform for two weekends: the Martin Luther King holiday weekend and the following Thursday through Sunday. This course may be taken more than once with instructor’s permission. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and TH151, previous participation in Special Projects “Curtain Up!” or audition.

Course Detail: Symphonic Band gives band students an opportunity to experience the Symphonic Band concept. Students will perform traditional and modern concert band literature with an emphasis on that literature which lends itself to our unique instrumentation. This is a full year course. Prerequisites: basic proficiency on a concert band instrument.

Course Detail: Through art, animation, music, theme parks and media, Walt Disney and subsequently the Disney Corporation created an idealized picture of traditional American values that still pervades American Culture today. This course examines Walt Disney’s personal values, imagination, innovations, and vision of the future that made the Disney name synonymous with wholesome family entertainment in the 1940’s and 50’s and the changes the company has made to stay in step with major changes in American society. Prerequisites: None