Fine Arts Department
Students must complete one credit of Fine Art.
8000 Foundations in Art
8001 Band
8021 Percussive Arts
8041 Music Appreciation
8061 AP Music Theory
8201 Chorus
8371 Advanced Speech and Theater
8381 Shakespeare in Performance
8391 Storytelling in Literature and Film
8411 Drawing I
8461 Computer Graphic Design
8471 Digital Photography
8491 Digital Photography 2
8701 AP Art
8000 Foundations in Art
Credit: 1.0
This survey course provides Freshman with a foundation in art and honors the rich Jesuit tradition in the arts.
Students will study six art disciplines in a 6-week rotation.
The musical arts unit will introduce musical concepts and theory and provide experience with performing, creating,
and critiquing music. The visual arts unit will introduce the basic elements of design and develop observational accuracy
through drawing. The theater arts unit will introduce theatre, film and television and provide experience with directing,
set design, sound. The communication arts unit will introduce the basics of public speaking, emphasizing eye contact,
posture, and projection. The tech arts unit will introduce Microsoft Office and iPad applications and the use of technology
to create artistically-appealing and effective reports, charts, photographs, videos, and presentations. The religious art
unit will explore the impact of different religions on art, including painting, sculpture, stained glass, architecture.
8001 Band
Credit: 1.0
Students enrolled in band will study and perform many genres of music including classical, contemporary, avant-garde, and
world music. Corequisites for this course include full participation in:
(1) Marching Titans
(2) Symphonic Band
(3) Chamber Music Performance
(4) Band Camp: a mandatory one-week camp during July.
In addition to class time, attendance is required at rehearsal after school and at occasional dress rehearsals before performances.
Students from this class are also selected for optional ensembles such as the Jazz Machine,
pep band, and the pit orchestra for the annual school musical. Peer evaluation will take place during rehearsals
to provide constructive feedback for students.
8021 Percussive Arts
Credit: 0.5
Percussive Arts will explore the different instruments, techniques and styles of the percussion world. This class will go into
detail about how to approach each percussion instrument with correct motion, form, sound and style.
Students will utilize those skills to perform percussion ensemble pieces throughout the year.
8041 Music Appreciation
Credit 0.5
Music Appreciation is an elective class open to any sophomore, junior or senior. The course will deal with the following
areas of music: Music History, Music Reading Skills, and Basic Music Theory. This student-centered class is designed
to accommodate different levels of musicianship based on prior music training.
8061 AP Music Theory
Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: Students must read pitches on staff, recognize duration of notes, and know or be able to easily learn basic
keyboard skills. This course is designed for those interested in advanced music theory, aural skills (ear training),
basic composition, and basic music theory in accordance with the College of Advanced Placement Program
Music Theory Course Description.
8201 Chorus
Credit 1.0
This course is a performance-based study of choral music. Chorus members will explore music notation and sight
singing, as well as developing skills for ensemble and solo performances. Attendance of required performances
is essential for the maintaining of the ensemble quality.
8371 Advanced Speech & Theatre
Credit: 0.5
Prerequisites: Public Speaking or Foundations in Art.
In this course, students will advance their speech presentation skills by giving creative speeches and incorporating
effective speech devices. They will also investigate and critique speeches such as famous eulogies and presidential
inaugurals. Greek, Medieval, Renaissance, and Restoration History, and aspects of Modern Theater will also be
covered. Students will watch, study, and critique filmed, filmed live, and/or live productions representing each era,
focusing on acting, costuming, set, and director’s choices. Students will also participate in Improvisation Games and short scenes.
8381 Shakespeare in Performance
Credit: 0.5
Acting ability is not required for this course – but willingness to perform in Shakespearean scenes is! Students will
not only perform scenes, but will also watch with a critical eye various film and live or filmed live stage versions
of plays not covered in their English classes, focusing on acting and costuming, as well as directors’
choice of time period and other directorial choices.
8391 Storytelling in Literature and Film
Credit: 0.5
This course will explore the art of storytelling in fables, mythology, Grimm’s Tales, film, TV commercials, music videos,
comics/animé, and video games. Screenwriter John Truby’s “The Anatomy of Story” will be used to critique films such as
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Citizen Kane,” and “Casablanca.” Students will complete a family history project
in which they discover and document stories from their own family history so they can be passed on to future generations.
8411 Drawing 1
Credit: 0.5
Prerequisite: Introduction to Art or Foundations in Art and instructor approval.
Experiences will consist of object and life drawing mainly in dry media. The course emphasizes the understanding
and application of the elements and principles of art.
8461 Computer Graphic Design
Credit: 0.5
Students will learn to use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop CS and ImageReady CS to design graphics for the Web and for print.
The course will begin with the basic fine arts
concepts of color theory, composition theory, and motion theory, and then move into the fundamental concepts and features
that will help students become masters of the
software and produce interesting projects such as business cards, portraits, posters, newsletters, brochures and greeting cards.
8471 Digital Photography
Credit: 0.5
In the process of understanding images and making critical choices based on design elements and photo techniques, students will
use SLR digital cameras supplied by
the school. Beginning with studies in black and white composed for thematic impact, students will progress to utilizing the
6.1 mega-pixel cameras available with digital
processing. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom will be used as the core software components for manipulation and organization.
Students will participate in a review of the
work and techniques of historically recognized photographers for comparative study. A brief history of photography from
its earliest methods to the present day
will be integrated in to the project curriculum.
8491 Digital Photography 2
Credit: 0.5
Prerequisite: Digital Photography 1
Students will explore three disciplines of photography: Art Photography, Marketing, and Videography. Students will explore
photography with a directed artistic
approach and complete a small portfolio of printed work using Lightroom and Photoshop. They will explore photography
through marketing and business application,
using the programs Illustrator and InDesign. They will learn to use photography to create movies using iMovie, FinalCut, and
Garage Band. Students will select one of the studied
disciplines and create a final project. Students will also research a photographer in a discipline of their choice.
8701 AP Art
Credit 1.0
Prerequisites: Students submit portfolios for evaluation. Admission to the class is based on a 2-day drawing test and
interview with the art instructors.
This studio art program is intended for the highly motivated senior student who is seriously interested in art. Students
spend the first semester working on advanced
drawing projects. In the second semester, students develop drawings based on a theme or area of concentration.