Upper School Arts Program

Chamber Music

Students in chamber music will be able to take part in an instrumental setting, participating in various combinations of chamber ensembles. (For example, string quartet, piano quintet, saxophone choir, etc.) Repertoire will be chosen based on the combination of groups that can be made. Students will have input about repertoire and will be able to design a concert based on their interests. The class will prepare for performances that will take place on and off campus. This course can be taken more than once for credit with the consent of the instructor. (Year-long course)

Introduction & History of the Native American Flute

Study the history and origin of the native flute and its impact on native cultures. Learn how the flute is made and be able to play with basic techniques. This course is open to all students. (Fall-semester course)

Jazz Band

Jazz Band is a great vehicle towards finding your own identity and for making music with others. In this ensemble, you will learn how to use the necessary tools to comfortably express ourselves individually through our instrument in the tradition of jazz. These tools include improvisation, an understanding of music theory, technique on the instrument, jazz history, and transcriptions. We will put our own fingerprints on this very historic yet innovative art form. This ensemble will also provide live performance opportunities throughout the year. Jazz Band course can be taken more than once for credit. Auditions are held in June. (Year-long course)

Morning Choir

Students in choir will participate in a performing (vocal) ensemble. In class, students will learn and study a variety of pieces of choral literature ranging in style from the common practice era (1600-1900) to today. Through the study of such a broad range of repertoire, students will become versatile performers who will be able to exhibit proper technique as is customary of a particular style or era. While the class takes place before the start of the school, singing is a great way to start the day! This class is open to all Upper School students. This course can be taken more than once for credit with the consent of the instructor. (Before school, year-long course)

Music Commentary: Social Justice

Throughout history, music and art were used as a means of making a statement or commentating on a political matter. This class will explore the musical side. From Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”, Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”, Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”, Beyonce’s “Freedom,” to Lil’ Baby’s “The Bigger Picture”.  This class will explore the composer / singer / songwriter’s intent and purpose for creating pieces of music in response to various political climates.  Students will also create their own musical social justice song, video or culminating Social Justice thematic project. (Spring-semester course)

Music Recording & Production

If you’re a musician or audio enthusiast looking to record and produce live music, this class is for you. Students will work with musicians in both live and studio settings as they develop their skill in the art of recording. This class will cover all aspects of the recording studio workflow from how to properly mic singers and instruments to mixing and mastering a professional track. This class is open to all Upper School students. (Fall- or Spring-semester course)

Podcasting

This class is primarily geared toward students who want to be able to use the podcast medium to tell and curate immersive stories, hold conversations or interviews on relevant topics, and dive into the world of broadcast audio. We’ll learn the essentials of using audio recording equipment, studio and field recording techniques, interview strategies, and explore the possibilities of telling stories with sound. This class is open to all Upper School students. (Spring-semester course)

Rock Band

A companion to the Upper School Jazz Band, this course invites guitarists, horn, keyboard, and percussionists to ROCK. This course can be taken more than once for credit. No audition required. (Year-long course)

CG Players Troupe

Based on a small-troupe model, this class will focus on the production of one of the year’s mainstage productions. Class will meet after school, students will be assigned roles after an audition process. All interested students are guaranteed a role. In addition to honing acting technique and character creation, students will focus on communication and ensemble-building skills. This course can be taken more than once for credit with instructor approval. Auditions held before the start of each play. (After school; fall, winter, and spring)

CG Theater Tech

If you enjoy working with your hands, problem solving and becoming part of a team, this is the class for you. Students will learn by doing in the areas of lighting, sound, costumes, props and sets. This course is open to all Upper School Students. (Fall- or spring-semester course)

Honors CG Theater Tech

This Honors level course will allow the advanced theater tech student to choose one area of specialty (lighting, sound, scenic or costume design) and pursue it in depth. Students will work with a team in their interested area and support this design element from conception through production for the CG Players productions (Fall Play, Winter Musical & Spring One Act Festival). This class will require a significant after-school commitment. Prerequisite: CG Theater Tech.
(Year-long course)

Improvisational Theater

Students have the opportunity to explore the world of improvisational and non-traditional theater through ensemble-based work, theater games and improvisation, devising, and student created work. Open to both beginners and experienced performers. (Spring-semester course)

Musical Theater: Dance Intensive 

This semester will focus on dance for musical theater and developing material with a heavy dance focus. We will have a strong tap focus, in addition to jazz and other styles for musical theater. Dance skill development will take priority, along with exploring dance history in musical theater and choreography for musical theater. This class can be taken for either Arts or PE credit. Open to all Upper School Students. (Fall-semester course)

Performance Studio: Acting

This class will teach fundamentals of acting, drawing on multiple techniques and disciplines to provide students with a broad grounding in performance skills. Students will explore scene study and selected texts, as well as the physical, vocal, and emotional aspects of their actor instruments. This class will culminate with in-class scenes and monologues that are presented for an invited audience. This course is open to all students. (Spring-semester course)

Performance Studio: Acting II

Students will build on their existing performance skills to pursue more nuanced acting techniques.  Drawing on physical theater, character analysis and genre specific techniques, students will hone their skills while exploring various styles of performance. The class will culminate in a public performance. Prerequisites: Previous acting experience (Acting I, Improv, CG Players Troupe, or consent of instructor). (Spring-semester course)

Beginning Sewing

This class is open to all Upper School students. We will begin with hand sewing and craft construction. Students will choose and design projects of their own interest in order to develop their skills. We will move on to machine sewing – learning the basics of the equipment and exploring a variety of projects from clothing to crafts. Students will work with their hands and express their creative ideas in 3-D form. (Fall or Spring semester course)

Ceramics

Students work with clay and glazes in both functional and sculptural projects. They acquire the basic skills required to throw simple forms on the potter’s wheel and work with slabs and coils to construct hand-built forms. Many specific projects are assigned, but time will be available for students to work on projects of their own design. This course is open to Juniors and Seniors. (Full year course)

Design Studio: Fashion, Architecture, 3-D

Design Studio will offer the opportunity to explore a wide variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art-making materials and processes. We will brainstorm, draw, paint, prototype, design, and build a number of individual projects. We will learn major design concepts and engineering principles and apply them to your own unique art projects. We will also have the opportunity to focus on an area of particular interest such as architecture, fashion design, graphic design, and more! This class is open to all Upper School students. (Spring semester course)

Drawing

Students will explore a wide variety of “drawing” materials and processes. We will challenge a number of preconceptions and expectations of what a “drawing” can be. You will explore mark-making in 2-D, 3-D and Mixed Media. So you may begin your semester as someone experienced creating pencil drawings on paper, but then you may start using ball point pen on wood, acrylic paint on a discarded coffee table, stringing wire across a public space to divide it up, or making a self-portrait with a sewing machine. This class is open to all Upper School students. (Fall semester course)

Honors Portfolio: Studio Arts

Honors Portfolio is a studio-intensive course where advanced students experienced in fine arts (drawing, painting, sculpture) and design (fashion, industrial, and product design) can develop portfolios for college admission. Student artists are given creative prompts to work through based on trends in contemporary and historical artistic practice, but the primary emphasis of the course is for students to develop an independent studio practice. Each artist is expected to conceptualize and produce a Concentration; consisting of a series of pieces linked by materials, process, and thematic connection(s). In addition, artists collaborate and critique one another’s work and meet one-on-one with their teacher for instruction in technique, as well as clarity and focus in crafting thematically honed portfolios. This is a demanding course requiring students to dedicate themselves to their individual studio practice, practice in-depth inquiry, and a fulfill a commitment of developing ongoing work outside of assigned class meeting times. Prerequisite: 2D and/or 3D studio arts class and approval of instructor. (Fall Seniors; Spring Juniors)

Interactive Multimedia

Using a mixture of digital and analog media, we’ll create art that can only be fully experienced when the audience interacts with it through touch, motion, or other means. Through video, images, audio, and some light coding, we’ll build immersive art installations. Previous digital arts experience (audio, graphics, photo, video) is recommended but not required. (Fall- semester course)

Intro to Photo & Video

Students will learn foundational skills in photography and videography including how to operate a DSLR, audio recording equipment, supplemental lighting tools, and editing software to produce amazing images and videos every time. Projects will have students shooting still life, architecture, portraiture, street art, landscape and event video. We’ll work in the studio, around campus, and in the city to build a portfolio of our best work. This class is open to all Upper School students.  (Fall-semester course)

Photography II

This is a course for students who have taken Intro to Photo & Video and want to dive deeper into photography. Students will explore new concepts, tools, shooting and editing techniques, and genres that are not covered in the Intro class, and also sharpen their existing skills. (Spring-semester course)

Studio Explorations

Studio Explorations is for students who are looking to expand their technical skill sets and broaden their conceptual thinking. Students of all skill levels are welcome. Students will engage in a variety of materials and processes including painting, printmaking, mixed media, etc. Ideally for 10-12 grade students who have previously taken a visual arts class. (Fall- or Spring-semester course)

Woodworking

Students will work on a variety of projects, using both hand and power tools. Examples of projects include bowls, plates, and lamps (lathe work), tables and chairs, jewelry, mask, tools, and sculpture. Some of the techniques we explore include lamination, steam bending, jig design and construction, and mechanical drawing. Interest, imagination, and perseverance are the essential ingredients needed for this course. This class is open to all Upper School students. Students may request a full year of Woodworking by consent of instructor. This course can be taken more than once for credit with the consent of the instructor. (Fall- or spring- semester course)

(Note: Global Online Academy classes are electives that do not count toward the 2-year Arts requirement.)

Architecture

In this course, students build understanding and apply skills in aspects of site; structure, space and design. While gaining key insights into the roles of architectural analysis, materials, 3D design, and spatial awareness, students develop proficiency in architectural visual communication. We begin by learning the basic elements of architectural design to help analyse and understand architectural solutions. Then, through using digital and physical media use models to enhance visual communication, students study the role building materials play in architectural design, developing an understanding of the impact materials have on structural design and cultural traditions. At each stage of the course students interact with peers from around the globe, learning and sharing how changes in materials, technology, and construction techniques lead to the evolution of contemporary architecture style and visual culture. The course culminates with a final project in which each aspiring architect will have the opportunity to work towards a personal presentation for the GOA Catalyst Conference. Students will, through a variety of outcomes, present an architectural intervention which they have proposed as a solution to an identified need, one emanating from or focused within their own community. Throughout the course students will refer to the design process and will use visual journaling techniques to track, reflect and evidence their burgeoning understanding of architecture, construction, and engineering. (Fall- or spring-semester course)

Arts Entrepreneurship

In this course, aspiring visual artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, and other creatives will learn how to find success in the dynamic fields of their choosing. Students will learn about arts careers and organizations by attending virtual events and interviewing art practitioners, entrepreneurs, and administrators. Beyond exploring trajectories for improving their crafts, students will build skills in networking and personal branding while examining case studies of a variety of artistic ventures—some highly successful and some with teachable flaws. Using real-world examples of professional and emerging creatives and arts organizations, students will gain a better understanding of the passion and dedication it takes to have a successful creative career. (Spring-semester course)

Digital Photography

In an era where everyone has become a photographer obsessed with documenting most aspects of life, we swim in a sea of images, whether posted on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, or another digital medium. Yet what does taking a powerful and persuasive photo with a 35mm digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera require? Digital photography explores this question in a variety of ways, beginning with the technical aspects of using and taking advantage of a powerful camera then moving to a host of creative questions and opportunities. Technical topics such as aperture, shutter, white balance, and resolution get ample coverage in the first half of the course, yet each is pursued with the goal of enabling students to leverage the possibilities that come with manual image capture. Once confident about technical basics, students apply their skills when pursuing creative questions such as how to understand and use light, how to consider composition, and how to take compelling portraits. Throughout the course, students tackle projects that enable sharing their local and diverse settings, ideally creating global perspectives through doing so. Additionally, students interact with each other often through critique sessions and collaborative exploration of the work of many noteworthy professional photographers, whose images serve to inspire and suggest the diverse ways that photography tells visual stories. Prerequisite: Students must have daily access to a DSLR camera. (Spring-semester course)

Filmmaking

This course is for students interested in developing their skills as filmmakers and creative problem-solvers. It is also a forum for screening the work of their peers and providing constructive feedback for revisions and future projects, while helping them to develop critical thinking skills. The course works from a set of specific exercises based on self-directed research and builds to a series of short experimental films that challenge students on both a technical and creative level. Throughout, we will increasingly focus on helping students express their personal outlooks and develop their unique styles as filmmakers. We will review and reference short films online and discuss how students might find inspiration and apply what they find to their own works. Prerequisite: Students must have access to an HD video camera, tripod or other stabilizing equipment, and editing software such as iMovie, Premiere Pro, etc. (Fall-semester course)

Graphic Design

What makes a message persuasive and compelling? What helps audiences and viewers sort and make sense of information? This course explores the relationship between information and influence from a graphic design perspective. Using an integrated case study and design-based approach, this course aims to deepen students’ design, visual, and information literacies. Students are empowered to design and prototype communication projects about which they are passionate. Topics include: principles of design and visual communication, infographics, digital search skills, networks and social media, persuasion and storytelling with multimedia, and social activism on the internet. Student work will include individual and collaborative group projects, graphic design, content curation, some analytical and creative writing, peer review and critiques, and online presentations. (Fall-or spring-semester course)