Arts Courses
Advanced Art Appreciation
Advanced Art Appreciation class aims to broaden and deepen students' exposure to modern and contemporary artists, movements, and art forms. Students will practice observation and critical thinking skills, reflective writing, art making techniques and presentation, critique, and evaluation. Students will gain competency in talking about art using the elements and principles of design terminology, and will learn about how artistic intent and historical context shape individual art works. Through hands-on art making assignments in a variety of visual art media students will develop their own artistic voice. It is highly recommended that students have access to a digital camera or scanner to submit hands-on project assignments. If this is not possible, the course may still be taken with an alternative track. No prerequisite required; previous art classes recommended.
Art Appreciation
This one-semester course will introduce learners to the various forms of the visual arts, such as painting, sculpture, film, and more. Students will learn how to look at a work of art, identify and compare key characteristics in artworks, and understand the role art has played throughout history. Through hands-on activities, virtual museum tours, discussion, and research, learners will develop an overall appreciation for the art they encounter in their daily lives.
Art of Cooking
This class offers an art credit and so it will offer recipes for cooking as well as recipes for the cookbook project. Each student in the class will be making a recipe book as well as cooking recipes. Some weeks the assignment will involve cooking in the kitchen; some weeks the students will be designing recipe pages for their own cookbook. The elements and principles of design will be discussed. Kitchen safety, food safety, nutrition, cooking terms, and preparing simple meals and snacks will also be discussed. Students do not need to have any kitchen experience. Requires camera and the ability take and submit digital images of food and cook book projects.
Cross-Cultural Art Project
Through viewing photographs, recent video footage of working artists, interviews, and reading articles, students will take a virtual tour of artist groups currently working around the globe. Students will learn about the craft of each region, make their own hands-on version of it, and discuss contemporary issues facing these artist groups. When the opportunity exists, students will use available technologies in the latter portion of the class to create a collaborative online art project with students from another culture. Ability to take digital images strongly recommended, but alternative track available for students without cameras.
Digital Photography
In the digital photography and graphic design lessons, students begin by learning general photographic concepts. Then composition skills are added to photographs and image-editing techniques are practiced. Students learn how to use layers, crop images, color and lighting concepts, hue and saturation, and exposures and special effects. Graphic design, artistic elements, and software skills are taught while producing graphic images. The concept of design as a manner of visual communication is carried throughout. Students build a portfolio of work and explore the fields of photography, graphic arts, advertising, and illustration. Requires the ability to take digital pictures.
European Rhythm & Repertoire
This one semester course introduces students to the elements, instrumentation, and historical periods of music. Students will learn the significance of surroundings and time periods and how they both influenced the music of the day. Students will listen to and evaluate several types of music, and will be assessed through projects, presentations, and exams on the knowledge and understanding of music. Requires a media player & the ability to hear sound on your computer.
Fashion and Costume Design
How have people decorated themselves throughout history? Across the globe? In contemporary USA? And why? In this class students will look at the history of fashion as an art form, and discuss how style reflects identity and creates subcultures today. Students will look at various style inspirations and practice hands on skills in both fashion and costume design. Assignments will range from design sketches to full completion of projects (possible projects include redesigning an existing article of clothing, mask making, creating an original garment from scratch, costume design and storyboarding, and creating accessories out of recycled materials. Sewing is strongly encouraged, but not necessary in this class). Ability to take digital images strongly recommended, but alternative track available for students without cameras.
Garage Band
Students will create their own rap, hip hop, or rock song, and explore what it might be like to have a career in the music industry as they learn to create music compositions using music production software. Requires a media player and the ability to hear sound on your computer.
Graphic Design
This course introduces students to graphic design as a form of visual communication that uses type, image, form and color. Projects explore design concepts, practices and processes while encouraging creative problem solving, critiques and discussion. Investigation of career pathways in visual arts and print technology provides the student with an artistic and business perspective of this exciting field. Students who take this class should be comfortable experimenting with technology.
Made in China
This semester long course will introduce students to the history, the culture and the art of ancient China. The class will expose students to the artistic glory of ancient China with an emphasis on the four great dynasties: the Han, the T'ang, the Sung and the Ming. Students will become familiar with various art making materials, techniques and objects including: pottery making, bronze casting, jade carving, painting, and calligraphy. There will be at least two art making lessons and one researched written assignment. The class will help students understand the history and cultural foundation of present day China.
Music Lessons
This course allows students to continue the study of a musical instrument. Through one-on-one instruction, students will learn about how to play their instrument better and work on improving their playing skills. Regular activities will include a weekly webcam lesson, recording a weekly playing assignment, and short written activities. Enrollment is limited, so inquire soon! Requires a webcam and musical instrument (not including voice or piano).
Web Design
This one-semester course introduces students to the mechanics and elements of web design. Students will learn the key elements of design and HTML, the concepts of planning and organizing websites, and documentation and copyright issues associated with website design. Students will progress through the course, engaging in a variety of project-based assessments to evaluate their understanding.
World Music
Students should enter this class prepared to listen, experience, and react to music from around the world that they might have never heard before! Students are offered the chance to connect with different musical genres from different countries and ways of life around the globe. Daily activities will include listening and responding to music, and the study of how music is related to many different cultures. Requires a media player and the ability to hear sound on your computer.
