Fine Arts and Humanities
Graduation Requirements: 2 Semesters Humanities-UHS
Humanities
Other courses which will be accepted in lieu of humanities are SPANISH III, FRENCH III, LATIN III, CREATIVE WRITING, LITERATURE OF FILM, or MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, ADV SPEECH/DEBATE, LITERATURE OF THE BIBLE, AND CHINESE CULTURE.
CHORAL MUSIC (CHORUS)
| Grades 9-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| Chorus is an introductory class to the choral art form. It provides students with an opportunity to make music with their voices using a variety of musical styles ranging from classical, sacred and secular. Students will rehearse standard choral repertoire for a minimum of two (2) required evening performances. Emphasis will be placed on developing healthy vocal techniques, sight-reading skills, and rudiments of music and applying all of the above to the performance of selected choral scores. No previous choral experience is necessary. This course meets UC & CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. Fee: $30. | ||
ADVANCED WOMEN’S CHOIR (ADV WOM CHOIR)
| Grades 9-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| PREREQUISITE: Previous singing experience and/or audition by instructor. Advanced Women’s Choir is designed for the singer with previous choral experience. In this class we will continue developing the choral art form through the study of a variety of compositions both sacred and secular. Emphasis will be placed on the continued development of healthy vocal technique, sight-reading skills, diction, and music theory. There will be a minimum of five (5) required evening performances during the school year plus additional performances in the wider community. This course meets UC & CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. Fee: $30. | ||
CHAMBER CHOIR (CHAMBER CHOIR)
| Grades 9-12(by audition only) | Elective | 1 Year |
| Chamber Choir is a performance class for the student with a
specific interest in and aptitude for vocal music. Chamber Choir students practice and
perform a broad range of SATB choral literature and are comprehensively trained in all
skills requiredfor the singing performer. The student will learn the correct way to
produce vocal sound that is both properly supported and pleasing to the ear. This course
enables students to develop their skills in sight-reading, ear training, and music theory.
Students will gain substantial performance experience. Chamber Choir meets all the state
standards for Performing Arts in vocal music. Fee: $30 This course will be submitted to UC/CSU for Visual & Performing Arts approval. | ||
DRAMA (DRAMA)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| In this course, students will learn basic acting skills, including elements of stage movement, mime and voice. Students will participate in improvisation exercises and will also perform scenes and monologues from plays. They will be introduced to technical elements of theater, particularly scenery and costume design. The course will also provide students an opportunity to see and critique plays performed in the community and to read a variety of plays, both contemporary and historical. Script fee $20.00 per student. | ||
ADVANCED DRAMA (ADV DRAMA)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| This course will provide an in-depth study of acting methods and opportunity to develop skills which build on the foundation of the beginning drama class. In a workshop format, students will gain extensive experience in applying techniques through the performance of scenes and short plays and in incorporating feedback from several angles. Though the class will emphasize acting, it will also cover the basics of directing, producing, stage managing and other technical aspects of theater production. Performance for audiences outside of the class is required. Script fee $20. | ||
DRAMA- ADVANCED DRAMA (DRAMA/ ADV DRAMA)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| This full year course meets UC & CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
DRAWING (DRAWING)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| This class provides instruction and practice in drawing natural forms, still-life-set-ups, objects in perspective and the human figure. Drawings will be done in pencil, charcoal, conte’, pastels, pen and ink, colored pencils, in order to explore the potential of each. Fee: $40 plus Field Trips approximately $20. | ||
PAINTING (PAINTING)
| Grades 11-12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| This class provides instruction in various media including watercolor, acrylic, mixed media work and encaustic. Students will paint from drawings and photographs and create non objective work. In all work students will consider the elements and principles of design and the role of painting in the history of Art. Guest artists will share their work and experiences with students. The class also includes field trips. Fee: $50 plus Field Trips approximately $20. | ||
LITERATURE OF THE FILM (LIT FILM P)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| Film, as with all forms of art, is a reflection of the culture in which it is produced. In this course students will look at several films in order to analyze one common theme. Readings for the course will follow the same common theme as the films. Students will learn to recognize the parallels of structure and elements in the films and literature which are studied. | ||
ARTS - FINE AND APPLIED
STUDIO ART (formerly Art I)
| Grades 9-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| This one-year art course meets the Visual & Performing Arts
Requirement of the University of California and the California State University Systems. In Studio Art students study the elements and principles of art with drawing, painting and sculpture projects. Students will create works individually and collaboratively. Some of the work will be for the community as mural projects, flags and temporary art installations such as chalk mandalas on campus. Students will look at slides of other artists and visit artists and museums locally and in the Bay Area. There will be at least one creative writing/research assignment involving study of an artist or period of art of the students choice. Students will learn an art vocabulary and about art careers. Guest artists will share their work and experiences with students. Fee: $80 plus Field Trips approximately $20. | ||
AP STUDIO ART
| Grades 11-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| PREREQUISITE: Studio Art, Design, and approval
by the instructor. Students may present portfolio for consideration. This one-year course meets the Visual & Performing Arts Requirement of the University of California and the California State University Systems. In this course students will build a portfolio for continuing study or work in art. The portfolio will be modeled after the advanced placement portfolio, which requires work that demonstrates understanding of the formal, technical, and expressive means available to an artist as well as work that demonstrates the student’s personal commitment to a particular artistic concern. Students in this class will submit Advanced Placement portfolios in Drawing or 2D Design. The personal concentration will connect with student interests and may include photography. Guest artists will share their work and experiences with students. Fee: $30 Slide Fee, $80 Material Fee, plus approximately $20 for field trips. The AP Portfolio fee of approximately $84 will be billed in March. | ||
DESIGN (DESIGN)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| This one-year course meets the Visual & Performing Arts
Requirement of the University of California and the California State University Systems. Students will study graphic design, fashion design, interior design and industrial design and in the process cover the elements and principles of design. In graphic design students will work with letter forms, creating fonts, logos and expressive art using words. In fashion students will create paper dolls and clothes out of recycled materials and plan a fashion show. Interior design will include room designs, color theory and miniature models of spaces. In industrial design students will consider form and create chairs. In all projects student will look at the work of artists and designers past and present and from various cultures. Students will do some research in all of these fields. Guest artists will share their work and experiences with students. There are field trips to local places of interest and to museums in San Francisco or Oakland. Fee: $80 plus Field Trips approximately $20. | ||
STRING ENSEMBLE
| Grades 9-12 | 1 Year | |
| PREREQUISITE: At least one year of music
lessons taken at age 12 or older. String Ensemble is a one-year course open to all students with an intermediate or higher performance level on a string instrument. Students will perform medium to difficult high school literature. Organization of the class will depend on enrollment and ability levels. Therefore, based on the evaluation of the teacher, there could be one large ensemble or several smaller ensembles. Performance opportunities will be included in the curriculum for the year. Music Fee $50 Meets the UC & CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
WIND ENSEMBLE
| Grades 9-12 | 1 Year | |
| PREREQUISITE: At least one year of music
lessons taken at age 12 or older. Wind Ensemble is a one-year course open to all students with an intermediate or higher performance level on wind, brass, or percussion instruments. Students will perform medium to difficult high school literature from a variety of genres (classical, popular, jazz, etc.). The class will include pep band opportunities and, depending on enrollment, could also provide marching band opportunities. Performance opportunities will be included in the curriculum for the year. Music Fee $50. Meets the UC & CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
WIND ENSEMBLE
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Year or 1 Semester |
| This course is intended for guitar players of all abilities and interests. The class will include developing repertoire in many styles, as well as scale and music theory. The instructor will assess each student’s abilities and knowledge at the beginning of the semester, and start from there in designing a program for that particular student. The emphasis will be on understanding the guitar as both a rhythm and lead instrument, and will include instruction in playing both open and closed chord positions, improvisational soloing, and learning songs for pleasure and performance. This class will include time for practice and self study so the student can develop their guitar playing skills in their own way and toward their personal goals established by the student and teacher. Music Fee: $25 per semester. | ||
SCHOOL NEWSPAPER (SCHOOL NEWSPAPER)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| PREREQUISITE: Interested students must submit
an application and have an interview. The class is limited to 24 students. The purposes of this course are twofold: To study the techniques, methods, history and future of journalism; to produce a student publication(s). The course is, therefore, both theoretical and practical. | ||
YEARBOOK (YEARBOOK)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| PREREQUISITE: Interested students must complete an application, procure two references (one from their English teacher) and go through an interview. This class is limited to 15-17 students including boys and girls The Yearbook class is designed to teach and utilize basic layout and design techniques aimed at producing the school’s annual. | ||
BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHY (PHOTO 1)
| Grades 12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| This course is intended for the student who wishes to enter the world of photography and photographic expression. The class stresses hands-on experience through picture-shooting and dark room work in the black and white medium. Class lectures cover the basics of photography: students apply this knowledge in weekly photographic assignments. A 35 mm camera is required. This course does not meet the UC & CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. Fee: $50. There are also additional personal expenses for this class. | ||
PHOTOGRAPHY 1-2 (PHOTO 1-2)
| Grades 12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| This beginning level photography course will cover camera operation, developing film, darkroom techniques, historical aspects of photography, artistic perception, peer evaluation, creative expression through this medium. Aesthetic valuing and written reflection about various photographic efforts and projects will be an integral part of the course. Outside work will be required and a high level of responsibility will be expected of all students. This course meets the UC & CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. Fee: $100. There are also additional personal expenses for this class. | ||
COMPUTER-BASED DESIGN (COMPTR DESIGN)
| Grades 10-12 UHS | Elective | 1 Semester |
| Computer Based Design is for beginning students; no previous art experience is necessary. Course work emphasizes improvement of drawing ability and the understanding of the elements and principles of art. Computer-based drawing, painting and design techniques will be introduced through the use of Adobe Illustrator. Fee: $25. | ||
GRAPHIC DESIGN (GRAPHIC DESIGN)
| Grades 11-12 UHS | Elective | 1 Semester |
| PREREQUISITE: Completion of Computer-Based Design, Studio Art, or Art I Graphic Design involves a world of dynamic concepts and ever-changing ideas. It is the process of visual communication that runs throughout our daily lives, whether it is as simple as a traffic sign or as complex as sign language. The basic teaching methods will revolve around personal and innovative thought in visual problem solving. This course will emphasize conceptual thinking through research-based problem solving and creativity that pushes the student to “think outside the box”. This course is designed to prepare and motivate students to pursue the graphic design field as a career. Projects will vary from free-hand drawings to computer-based designs using programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Fee: $50. | ||
COMPUTER-BASED DESIGN/GRAPHIC DESIGN
| Grades 10-12 UHS | 1 Semester | |
| See Course Descriptions Above Fall Semester: Computer-Based Design Spring Semester: Graphic Design | ||
