COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

FINE ARTS / APPLIED ARTS

The Fine Arts curriculum gives the student the opportunity to develop a working knowledge of basic elements, techniques, principles, and theories of each discipline offered. It is designed to provide the student a vehicle for self-expression, self-reliance, and a better understanding of self and the world. All students must take two semesters of fine arts for graduation,   All courses may be used as elective credits after the minimum credit needed for graduation is obtained

ART

Creative Art 1                                                                                      Grade (s) 9 - 12
Course # 403     Level:                    Length: 1 sem     Credit (s): 0.5 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): None

The Creative Art course is designed to introduce students to the visual arts and to art history. Students will begin to develop their potential in the visual arts as well as understand and master the elements of art and the basic principles of design. Art history will complement creative art that includes: drawing, painting, design, and clay from prehistory through cubism. A number of artistic styles will be studied including, Realism, Surrealism, Expressionism, and Cubism.

Enriched Art 2                                                                        Grade (s) 10 - 12
Course # 430      Level: College Prep    Length: 1 Yr     Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Creative Art

This course provides students with the opportunity to continue to develop their artistic abilities at a higher level including art criticism. The students will master the use of various mediums: acrylic, oil, pastel, charcoal, clay, wire, and India ink. The studio work will consist of various techniques: advanced drawing, painting, design, etching, ceramics, clay, sculpture and collage. Students will gradually become more independent in their artwork as they acquire and demonstrate facility in the visual arts.

Advanced Art 3                                                                   Grade (s) 11 - 12
Course # 405      Level: College Prep      Length:1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): ART 2

The Advanced Art and Design course is an advanced art course designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop their aesthetic, imaginative, and creative faculties. The student will become aware of art criticism within various cultures. The program will enable students to discover, develop and enjoy means of creative visual expressionism in the studio. The course will encourage the pursuit of quality through training, individual experimentation, and persistent endeavors. The student will exemplify and encourage a lively inquiring and informed attitude towards art and design in all forms, both in history and today. Students will be expected to demonstrate an inquiring attitude towards a variety of visual phenomena, expressed in persistent research and regular studio work.

Drawing & Painting 1                                                                     Grade (s) 9 - 12
Course # 431     Level: College Prep     Length: 1 yr     Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): None

In the Drawing and Painting 1 course, students develop works of visual art that reflect the maturation of their creative and problem solving skills.  Students will develop an understanding of the multifaceted interplay of different drawing styles, techniques and processes in the creation of their works.  Students will explorer a variety of drawing media and methods of the principals and elements of art and design.  Students will learn to draw realistically through the use of: value, shade, proportion and gradient.  Students will develop skills in expressive drawing as well as imitational drawing.  Students will learn the drawing techniques of stripping, crosshatching, perspective, wash pencil, design drawing, cartoon and illustration techniques. The second semester will introduce painting using water colors. The main emphasis of this drawing and painting 1 course is to develop the drawing skills of each student as an individual and to provide a creative environment for students to expand their artistic abilities.  

Drawing and Painting 2       No longer offered                                 Grade (s) 10 - 12
Course # 432   Level: College Prep     Length: 1 yr     Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Drawing & Painting 1

In the Drawing and Painting 2 course, students develop deeper and more profound works of visual art that reflect the maturation of their creative and problem solving skills.  Students will develop an understanding of the multifaceted interplay of different drawing and painting styles, techniques and processes in the creation of their works. Students will develop skills in expressive drawing and painting.  Students will explorer a variety of painting media and methods of the principals and elements of art and design. Students will learn to draw and paint realistically through the use of a variety of media. The main emphasis of this drawing and painting 2 course is to continue the development of the drawing and painting skills of each student as an individual and to provide a creative environment for students to expand their artistic abilities.  

Graphic Design                                   Grade (s) 10 - 12
Course # 435     Level: College Prep     Length: 1 yr     Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Creative Art or Drawing are recommended

Graphic Design 2      No Longer Offered                Grade (s) 11 - 12
Course # 436     Level: College Prep     Length: 1 yr     Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Graphic Design 1

Video Production                                                     Grade (s) 10 – 12
Course # 467     Level: College Prep     Length: Sem     Credit (s): 0.5 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite: None;

Course Description: This course investigates the history and technique of creative filmmaking. Students will view major examples of U.S. and international film-making. They will learn creative problem solving skills in brainstorming, story boarding, script development and writing, shooting, and editing. Students will learn to utilize digital cameras, natural and artificial light systems, and sound systems, and will utilize i-Movie soft ware on the Apple E-Mac Firewire platforms to edit their projects. The course will conclude with each student producing a complete 2-10 minute film. These films will be aired both on campus and at the annual AASCA Fine Arts Festival. Each student enrolling in this course should provide his/her own digital video camera. Only a limited number of school owned cameras are available for shared use. (Note: A conventional analog camcorder will not interface with the editing computers and, therefore, is not acceptable.)

Digital Photography                                                    Grade (s) 10 – 12
Course # 469     Level: College Prep     Length: Sem     Credit (s): 0.5 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite: None;
This course provides each student with an introduction to the basic concepts of digital imaging as applied to photography. With hands-on experience using applicable technology, modern developments will be presented which have led to the present applications of digital imaging.   The course combine traditional photographic ideas with electronic media. The student will have the opoportunity to learn how to operate image manipulation software using a variety of scanning equipment, software tools and output devices to assignments and applying these technologies to their photographic process. It is recommended that each student enrolling in this course should provide his/her own SLR digital camera. Only a limited number of school owned cameras are available for shared use.

Advanced Drawing & Painting    No Longer Offered             Grade (s) 9 - 12
Course # 461     Level: College Prep     Length: 1 yr     Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Art 2

This two semester advanced course continues an exploration of aesthetic and conceptual issues through the utilization of an extensive range of drawing, painting, and printmaking materials and techniques. The student will begin the process of developing a personal visual expression and will produce a body of 12 works which will equate to the Breadth section of the AP Drawing portfolio. Students are expected to work daily outside class on studio projects and are encouraged to take advantage of area open figure drawing sessions. Student participation in the annual AASCA Fine Arts Festival.

Studio Art  (AP)                                                                      Grade (s) 12
Course # 462      Level: AP      Length:1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Advanced Art or Painting

The Studio Art course is an advanced Placement art course designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop their aesthetic, imaginative, and creative faculties. The student will become aware of art criticism within various cultures. The program will enable students to discover, develop and enjoy means of creative visual expressionism in the studio. The course will encourage the pursuit of quality through training, individual experimentation, and persistent endeavors. The student will exemplify and encourage a lively inquiring and informed attitude towards art and design in all forms, both in history and today. Students will be expected to demonstrate an inquiring attitude towards a variety of visual phenomena, expressed in persistent research and regular studio work.  The student will build a portfolio of art work for presentation for Advanced Placement.

MUSIC

Beginning Band                                                                                 Grade (s) 9 - 12
Course # 400      Level: Length: 1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): None

Course Description: A basic contemporary band course designed for the beginning instrumentalist. The purpose of this course is to nurture the development and growth of the student through the art of instrumental music. Emphasis will be placed on developing a skillful, artistic playing technique with knowledge of music theory and an appreciation of music history. Beginning band students will be required to participate in sectional rehearsals, campus performances, and local solo and ensemble competitions.  Students will learn to read notes and rhythms and play them on an approved instrument of their choice by exposing them to concert selections and solos with band accompaniment in a variety of styles. By the end of the course, the students should be able to play simple band arrangements with the objective to advance to Concert/Jazz Band in the 2nd year. Depending on class size there may be a required public presentation each semester. There is no prerequisite for this course. Students will need to purchase the beginning band book and some music accessories.

Intermediate Band                                                                             Grade (s) 9 -12
Course # 440      Level: College Prep      Length: 1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Beginning Band or recommendation of the band director.

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to nurture the development and growth of the student through the art of instrumental music. Emphasis will be placed on developing a skillful, artistic playing technique with knowledge of music theory and an appreciation of music history. Instrumental technique and tone production are approached through exercises and band literature of different styles and periods. Intermediate band students will be required to participate in sectional rehearsals, campus performances, ISAS Fine Arts Festival performances, and local solo and ensemble competitions. Students will continue the study of notes and rhythms. They will continue to play them on the approved instrument of their choice. They will continue to play as an ensemble, all progressing at the same rate. By the end of this course, the students should be able to play intermediate band arrangements with the objective to advance to Concert/Jazz Band in the 3rd year. Students may be required to participate in a public performance each semester. Students will be required to take Beginning Band or be auditioned by the band director before taking this course. Students will need to purchase the intermediate band book and some music accessories.

Concert / Jazz Band                                                              Grade (s) 9 - 12
Course # 407      Level: College Prep      Length: 1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts
Prerequisite (s): Beginning Band, previous band experience or recommendation of the band director.

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to nurture the development and growth of the student through the art of instrumental music. Emphasis will be placed on developing a skillful, artistic playing technique with knowledge of music theory and an appreciation of music history. Beginning band students will be required to participate in sectional rehearsals, campus performances, and local solo and ensemble competitions.  Concert band is open to all students with previous experience on a band instrument. The band will perform at least 2 major concerts during the year demonstrating a variety of musical styles from popular to classical. Attendance for performances is required of all members. Students will need to purchase the band book and some music accessories.

VOCAL CHOIR            No Longer Offered        Grade (s) 9 - 12
Course # 441      Level: College Prep      Length: 1 yr      Credit (s): 1 in Fine/Applied Arts

Length of Course: 2 semesters

Prerequisite: None; this course may be repeated for credit

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to nurture the development and growth of the student through the art of choral music. Voice building and proper vocal production are approached through exercises and choral literature of different styles and periods. All music will be memorized and prepared to performance level. Choral concerts, chapel services (such as Lessons and Carols and Baccalaureate), and attendance at the ISAS Fine Arts Festival are requirements of this course. The purchase of concert attire through the school is also a requirement for this course

 DRAMA

DRAMA I                  No Longer Offered                                 Grade 9

Course # 466      Level: College Prep    Length: 1 Sem   Credit (s): 0.5 in Fine/Applied Arts Prerequisite: None

Major Obligations of Coursework: Completion of daily assignments; memorization of monologues and scenes, auditioning for Upper School plays and ISAS Fine Arts Festival in the spring

Course Description: This course is a hands-on approach to learning about theatre. It is practical and performance based, introducing the beginning theatre student to all phases of the discipline including Acting, History, Directing and Producing, and Technical Theatre. Students will be required to attend a local theatre performance during the semester which will be arranged by the instructor.

Fine Applied Arts Course Offerings

Music

Art

  DRAMA

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS