Fine Arts

This course is designed for students interested in learning the basic principles of acting technique and performance in a collaborative environment.  It explores script analysis, character development, improvisation, and the audition process. Students will be given exercises involving scene objectives, inner monologues/subtext, voice and movement.  Class culminates in rehearsed student performances. This course may be repeated for credit as often as desired. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC ”F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed.

Prerequisite:
Drama 1 or consent of instructor by audition.

This course is an introduction to Western styles of dance: jazz, musical theater, contemporary, and hip-hop. The focus of the class is basic development in rhythmic understanding/musicality, coordination, flexibility and strength, retention and artistic expression. Each class may include: a series of warm-up exercises to develop body placement and muscles; movements across the floor and applied technique through movement combinations and choreography. Students will learn as well as create their own choreography. Semester finals consist of participation in a school performance showcase in the fall and in the spring. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed. There are no prerequisites for this course.

(Hip-Hop Styles) This year-long course will focus on different forms and qualities of urban dance styles. Hip-Hop techniques such as Popping, Locking, Gliding, Isolations, House, Hip-Hop party dances, and popular choreographic forms will be emphasized. This course will introduce and develop the foundations of Hip-Hop dance techniques at an intermediate level. Students will gain a foundational understanding of the Performing Arts, from classical to the contemporary forms, through the lens of hip-hop dance and culture. Students will also develop awareness in both the technical and conceptual aspects of their craft while working individually and collaboratively. Semester finals consist of participation in a school performance showcase in the fall and in the spring. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full yearlong course must be completed.

Prerequisite:
Beginning Dance and/or placement audition.

(All Styles) This year-long course is designed for intermediate to advanced level students. The course focuses on improving technical skills, strength and flexibility, learning and executing more complex movement sequences.  Students will explore traditional and contemporary dance forms. Students will also develop their capacity to reflect, analyze and interpret movement composition. Students will explore and develop skill in movement improvisation, choreography and artistic expression/conception. Each class may include: warm-up exercises; movement combinations across the floor; and choreography. Semester finals consist of participation in a school performance showcase in the fall and in the spring. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the yearlong UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed.

Prerequisite:
Beginning or Intermediate Dance with teacher recommendation and/or placement audition.

(Performance-based, All Styles) This year-long performance based course is for dancers who are demonstrably advanced in their dance skills and committed to our school performance team. Students in this class will participate in a variety of school events and activities, including but not limited to, athletic games, fundraisers and assemblies in addition to the holiday and spring concerts. Students in this course will work on advanced technical skills; challenging, complex movement sequences; sophisticated artistry; increased exposure to improvisation; and in-depth analysis of compositional development for choreography. Choreography is a central part of this class; students will learn as well as create their own choreography. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed.

Prerequisite:
Enrollment in this class is by audition only and consent of instructor.

This course is designed for students who enjoy singing and/or are new to singing in a choral ensemble. No experience is necessary. In this course, students will develop and explore the fundamentals of vocal technique, listening activities and basic knowledge of music notation relevant to vocal and choral singing. in a group setting. Repertoire for the course will explore music from diverse cultures, historical periods, and various genres ranging from jazz to popular music and musical theater. Students in Chorus will have collaborative performance opportunities with the Advanced Chorus and Instrumental Music ensembles. Performance commitments range from on-campus school liturgies/Espacios, singing for our RSCJ community at Oakwood, and the annual Winter and Spring concerts. This course may be repeated for credit as often as desired. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, commitment to the full year-long course must be completed.

Advanced Chorus is the premiere group and requires an audition or consent from the instructor to join. The Advanced Chorus has earned excellent and superior ratings at choir competitions and festivals nationwide. Students in the Advanced Chorus also have the opportunity to audition for regional, state, and national choral opportunities as well as vocal workshop opportunities both locally and nationally. Performance commitments range from on-campus school liturgies/Espacios, singing for our RSCJ community at Oakwood, and the annual Winter and Spring concerts. This course may be repeated for credit as often as desired. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, commitment to the full year-long course must be completed.

Prerequisite:
Semester of Chorus and/or placement audition.

Beginner/Intermediate Instrumental Music is designed for students with beginner to intermediate musical experience playing in a rhythm section to develop their technical skills, aural skills, and performance awareness. This is achieved through ensemble rehearsals, sectional practice, individual practice, ensemble performances, and written reflections. The goal is that this focused instruction in rhythm section playing will enhance students' technical abilities and musicality, making them more versatile musicians. It also aims to inspire students to continue their journey in music study, performance, teaching, and/or appreciation beyond secondary education. Students can expect required performances inside and outside of the school day, including but not limited to one formal evening Winter Holiday performance and one formal evening Spring performance. A limited number of instruments are available for rent, free of charge. Please see the instructor for availability. While students earn UC credit for this course, it's important to note that if taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed. 

Ceramics is an introduction to 3-D modeling and conceptual design.  Students will learn a variety of building methods, such as pinch pots, coiling, slab building, wheel throwing and glazing.  Through these hand building exercises students will develop their design skills, hone their conceptual thinking, and learn about the historical and cultural significance of ceramics.  Students will examine images of contemporary and historical art work so that they can develop the concepts and visual awareness necessary to create important works.  Students will be encouraged to investigate new design possibilities, push the boundaries of contemporary understandings, and express their own unique voices.  Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual and Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed.

This semester-long course is designed for students interested in continuing their exploration in clay and gaining a deeper understanding of Ceramics and 3D-modeling.  Students will be required to work much more independently; therefore, this course is best suited for highly self-motivated students.  Students may choose to continue their explorations across a variety of methods and concepts, or spend the semester focused on one larger project.  This course will feature regular demonstrations, films, critiques, and student lead presentations. This course may be repeated for credit as often as desired.  Students earn UC elective credit for this course.

Prerequisite:
Completion of one year of Ceramics or consent of instructor.

This fun and richly varied year-long course is available for sophomores, juniors and seniors with a genuine interest in exploring their creativity. The  course provides a strong grounding in the aesthetics, techniques, and concepts of digital art and design practices using Photoshop as our platform for creative expression. A great variety of projects are designed to help students understand their creativity and develop critical thinking in new ways. Content areas include: strategies for composition, color theory and design, vector graphics, photo editing, experimental photo blending, filter effects and layering images, typography, poster design and ‘messaging,’ digital collage, and a global or social awareness campaign. Each project invites students to explore a new framework for exploring concepts, ideas or themes. Students are required to have a basic working knowledge of computers. This course satisfies the year-long UC ”F” requirement for Visual &  Performing Arts.

This dynamic and challenging class is for sophomores, juniors and seniors who want to explore their creativity through creative filmmaking. Film and video are extraordinary for their impact and influence. They offer a rich abundance of formats, genres, messages, ideas, feels and thrills. They entertain, move, inform, fascinate, express viewpoints, and sometimes inspire us to change the world for the better. Students will gain an appreciation for the richness of these possibilities. Content areas include: pre-production, storyboarding, camera movements and angles, dynamic editing using professional-grade software, and story development (whether that is fictional, documentary or experimental).Students learn largely by doing, trying out new things, reflecting on outcomes, and having fun helping each other make videos. Film projects usually to take three weeks for completion, allowing students the chance to explore a range of genres and creative formats. Students have great flexibility to pursue subjects they find personally meaningful. Ultimately, students in this class gain insights into themselves and their creativity while developing their own voice. This course satisfies the year-long UC ”F” requirement for Visual &  Performing Arts.

This course is designed to provide students with an overall knowledge of both the aesthetic and technical aspects of black and white photography.  Students learn the processes and techniques of shooting and developing 35mm film, printing contact sheets and making photographic enlargements in a darkroom. Throughout the course students study a variety of photographic styles and traditions including surrealism, photomontage, social documentary, portraiture, and alternative processes.  During the first semester, students work on short assignments, followed by in-class critiques wherein the intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic ideas are explored and discussed. For the second semester, students work on one long term personal project of their choosing in addition to short term assignments. During the second semester, students are also introduced to digital photography tools and techniques and Photoshop. All students participate in the preparation and presentation of two annual end-of-semester exhibitions and 1 final portfolio. Field trips to local museums and presentations by visiting artists are also a component of this class. 
Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed.

Advanced Photography is a semester-long course designed to provide students the time and focus to build upon the skills that they have developed in previous photography courses.  Throughout this course, students focus on developing new techniques and work to develop a truly personal style and vision.  Lectures, presentations, discussions, darkroom time, experimentation and class critiques are used to help students further develop their individual photographic vision and skills.   
Field trips to local museums and presentations by visiting artists are also a component of this class.  This course may be repeated as often as desired.  Students earn UC elective credit for this course.

Prerequisite:
Completion of one year of Photography or teacher approval through portfolio review is a prerequisite for this course.

Introduction to Studio Art is a year-long course that explores a variety of two-dimensional art making techniques with a special focus on drawing and painting. Fall semester focuses on drawing. Together, we will study line, value, composition, proportion, creating space and the optical illusions behind realist two-dimensional art. In the spring, we will incorporate color theory and explore wet media and various painting techniques. All prompts offer students opportunities for students to practice new technical skills and to bring personally meaningful subject matter to assignments. This course emphasizes learning to see in new ways. We will train our eyes to perceive specificity and visual relationships. Over the course of the year, students will develop a consistent sketchbook practice, build their artistic vocabulary, participate in visual research projects, learn how to offer specific, applicable and generous critical feedback, routinely engage in self-reflection, and create multiple finished works of art. Each semester culminates in an art show for the entire SHP community. Students earn UC credit for this course; however, if this course is being taken to satisfy the year-long UC “F” requirement for Visual & Performing Arts, the full year-long course must be completed.

Advanced Studio Art one or two semester course is designed for passionate artists and emphasizes expression, improvisation, experimentation and risk taking. Students should expect to be stretched past their comfort zones and encouraged to use new materials, as well as familiar materials in new ways, in order to delve deeper into their individual style and point of view. The first semester will guide students through the process of selecting subject matter and amplifying the expressive qualities of the work. Our studies will include stylized portraiture, abstraction, and narrative storytelling. In their second semester, students comb for throughlines between their pieces to date, and begin to unite content and form in a continuous conversation. Students will identify unique and personally meaningful subject matter and turn their attention to research for what might become a Sustained Investigation in the AP Studio Art. Students earn UC elective credit for this course.

Prerequisite:
Completion of one year of Studio Art or teacher approval through portfolio review is a prerequisite for this course.

This introductory course is designed to enable students to have hands-on instruction in creating stained glass art as a mode for artistic expression. Students will learn the basic technical skills required for the production of a glass panel window using various specialized tools and equipment.  This course introduces students to the elements of pattern design concepts, execution in glass selection, cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, applying patina and polishing glass to construct a finish work using the principles of a copper foil technique.  A strong emphasis is placed on design and originality.  Glass studio procedures, including safety, operation and maintenance of tools and equipment are all covered in detail.  

Year-long course open to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Semester-long option available to juniors and seniors (sophomores with counselor approval).

Advanced Creative Topics (ACT) is a semester-long class that offers advanced English, Fine Arts, and Performing Arts students the chance to develop independent creative projects in an interdisciplinary context. In ACT, students across diverse arts disciplines (including drama, music, filmmaking, creative writing, and visual art) each pursue and execute an in-depth creative project of their choosing. In ACT, students use five distinct steps to bring their projects to life including; gathering inspiration, generating ideas, experimentation/play, creation, and reflection. Throughout the course, students have collective class studio time to research and work independently but also participate in regular “check-point” critiques to assess and move their projects forward. In ACT, students learn to develop and define their individual creative process and dialogue about diverse ideas, media, techniques and approaches. Additionally, students engage with visiting artists, SHP faculty mentor critiques, and participate in off-site field trips. Each student presents their synthesized final creative project for the community at the end-of-semester SHP art show. Students do not earn UC credit for ACT, but do fulfill .5 SHP graduation credit. This class is only offered for the fall semester.

This class is only offered for the fall semester.

Prerequisite:
Completion of at least one semester of an advanced-level English, Fine or Performing Arts course

Survey of the Arts (SOTA) is a one-semester course designed to introduce freshmen to various components of our Fine Arts program including – Visual Arts, Choir, Dance, and Drama. In SOTA, students will rotate through four distinct art disciplines. This course will provide students with a foundational understanding of art practices that include studio habits of mind, critique/feedback practices, and a variety of methods for creative expression.

NOTE: Freshmen may take regular Chorus, Advanced Chorus, Beginner/Intermediate Instrumental Music or Advanced Symphony, Intermediate or Advanced Dance in lieu of Survey of the Arts if they audition and are approved for a year-long course.  Those students are encouraged to continue with their ensemble participation throughout their Sacred Heart careers.  Students do not earn UC credit for Survey of the Arts but do fulfill .5 SHP graduation credit.