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.
CHORUS (CHORUS)
| Grades 9-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| Chorus is an introductory class to the choral art form and the basic vocal techniques of good healthy singing. It provides students with an opportunity to make music with their voices using a variety of musical styles ranging from classical, sacred and secular to musical theatre. Students will rehearse standard choral repertoire for a minimum of two (2) required evening performances. Emphasis will be placed on proper performance practices for both the art of solo and group vocal performance. No previous choral experience is necessary. Meets the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
ADVANCED WOMEN’S CHOIR (ADV WOM CHOIR) (Not available in 2010-11)
| 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. Meets the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE (ENSEMBLE/ORCHESTRA)
STRING ENSEMBLE
| Grades 9-12 | 1 Year | |
| PREREQUISITE:At least two years of music instruction or consent of
instructor. Audition with instructor is required for all new students prior to enrolling in the course.
Instruments that qualify are: Brass, percussion, woodwind, keyboard, bass and guitar. Performance ensemble is a one-year course open to all students with an intermediate or higher performance level on their instrument. Students will perform medium to difficult high school literature across a range of musical styles with an emphasis on Jazz Big Band and Jazz-Rock Fusion. In the fall semester the Ensemble will perform at 4 home varsity football games (Jock Jams Sports Band). It is required that all ensemble students attend and perform in those games (schedule TBD). In addition, in the spring semester the ensemble will perform at a High School Jazz Festival (date TBD). This is also required. Other performance opportunities (concerts/recitals) will be included in the curriculum during the year. Meets the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
| Grades 9-12 | 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 in order to design 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 and work toward goals established by the student and teacher. | ||
VPA PERFORMANCE GUITAR
| Grades 10-12 | 1 Year | |
| This course will allow the guitar student to learn fundamentals of music as they apply to the guitar while building a performance repertoire. Each student will receive an assessment at the beginning of the year and a planned course of study tailored to each student’s strengths and interests. Emphasis will be placed on playing the guitar solo and with an ensemble both as a rhythm and lead instrument. This class will include time for practice and self study in addition to class lectures. Performance opportunities will be included in the curriculum for the year. Meets the UC & CSU Visual and Performing Arts requirement. | ||
| 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. | ||
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. | ||
DRAMA- ADVANCED DRAMA (DRAMA/ ADV DRAMA)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| Meets the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
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
| Grades 9-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| In studio Art students study the elements and principles of art with drawing, painting and sculpture projects. Students will create works individually and collaboratively. Students will see contemporary and historical art. There will be at least one creative writing/research assignment involving study of an artist or period of art of the students choice. You will learn an art vocabulary and about art careers. Guest artists share their work and experiences with students. Field trips include at least one trip to a Museum in the Bay Area. Field trip fees approximately $40. Meets the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
AP STUDIO ART
| Grades 12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| PREREQUISITE:Two full years of Art and instructor approval. Transfer students may present portfolio for consideration. Photoshop and photography are recommended in preparation for this course or to be taken concurrently. In this course students will build a portfolio for continuing study or work in art. Students will submit a portfolio consisting of 24 to 30 excellent works of art. There are 3 types of portfolios to submit; Drawing, 2-D Design and 3-D Design. Adobe Creative Suite is available for the AP students in the art room and computer lab. Students may work with various drawing materials, acrylic paints, watercolors and ceramics. Students will take field trips to Art Museums and to visit local artists. The College Board AP Portfolio Fee of approximately $85 will be billed separately in the spring. Field trips approximately $40. Meets the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
DESIGN (DESIGN)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| Students will study graphic design, fashion design, design for places and industrial design and in the process cover the elements and principles of design. In graphic design students will work with hand made 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. In industrial design students will consider form and create chairs. Design for places will include room designs, color theory and miniature models of spaces. In all projects students will look at the work of artists and designers past and present and from various cultures. Students will make digital applications of work by scanning and using digital photography. The classroom has iMacs and Adobe Creative Suite software for our use. Students will research all of these fields for their work. Guest artists share their work and experiences with students. We will take field trips to local places of interest and to museums in San Francisco or Oakland. Field trips approximately $40. Meets the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Arts requirement. | ||
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 camera use and darkroom work in the black and white medium. Class lectures and demonstrations cover the rudiments of photography. Students will apply this knowledge in weekly photographic assignments and homework. A 35mm camera in good working order is required and a high level of responsibility and behavior is required from all students. Meets the UC/CSU Visual and Performing Arts requirements. | ||
PHOTOGRAPHY 1-2 (PHOTO 1-2)
| Grades 12 | Elective | 1 Year |
| This course covers all the aspects of PHOTO 1 described above. In addition, students will receive instruction in the use of digital cameras and editing programs including Photoshop. This class will also cover historical aspects of photography, artistic perception, peer evaluation and creative expression through this medium. A 35mm SLR camera in good working order and a high level of responsibility and behavior is required from all students. Meets the UC/CSU Visual and Performing Arts requirements. | ||
DRAWING (DRAWING)
| Grades 10-12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| This class provides instruction and practice in drawing natural forms, still-life, perspective drawing and the human form. Drawings will be done with graphite, charcoal, ink and watercolor. The course includes objective realistic drawing and imaginative expressive drawing. Students will keep a sketchbook and create a loose portfolio of drawings. Field trips approximately $40. | ||
PAINTING (PAINTING)
| Grades 11-12 | Elective | 1 Semester |
| This class provides instruction in various media including watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media work. 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 share their work and experiences with students. The class also includes field trips. Field trips approximately $40. | ||
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. | ||
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 | ||
