In the Arts at NSA we explore the self-awareness and self-acceptance that the performing arts opens to a new experience. And then there is that willingness to take risks – that critical element in preparing our students by the unique and universal power of knowing one’s self. The Arts program encourages all students to complement their course of study through various foundation courses before continuing their educational experience at the advanced level. Within a careful and sequential program, students are provided the opportunities for creativity, self-expression and individuality.
Only academic courses will be included when determining final grade point average and honor graduate status.
Beginning with the Class of 2013, one Fine Arts credit will be required for graduation.
Performing ArtsBAND The student is exposed to various types of wind band literature with the
goal
of public performance and adjudication in which all efforts come
together in
a final product. Throughout rehearsals the students are instructed in
proper
methods of performance, musicianship and self-discipline. Music theory
and music
history are incorporated in the classroom instruction. Participation in
the spring
band trip is required as the yearly adjudication takes place on the
trip. These
areas combine to form the knowledge needed for continuation in music
whether
for one's own pleasure or for advanced study in college. The band
program also
offers several other performance opportunities. The Jazz Band is open to
students
by audition who play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano,
guitar
or bass. The Basketball Pep Band is open to all band students throughout
the
girls' and boys' basketball seasons. Small ensembles, such as flute choir,
brass
choir, etc. are also offered to interested students. No auditions are
necessary
to participate in small ensembles. BEGINNING GUITAR Class size is limited to 16 and seniors have preference. This course is designed for the beginning guitarist. Students may have previous musical experience, but no previous guitar experience is required. Students will learn the anatomy of the guitar and proper maintenance, hold of the guitar and pick, use of the capo, methods of tuning, basic strumming patterns, chords (both open and barre), plus power chords, tablature, traditional musical notation, shapes and performance. Students will be taught rock and country music. This is not a class to learn to play folk or classical styles of guitar. Examples of musicians whose music will be studied are Jimi Hendrix, Green Day, Taylor Swift, Van Morrison and many others. Students will be encouraged halfway through the year to bring in music they want to learn to play on guitar. An evening recital in the spring will be a graded component of the class. Each student will be expected to perform one piece of his or her choosing at the recital. Students must furnish their own acoustic guitar (the guitar must be approved by the teacher), picks and capos. Students will also use a method book, which they will purchase during the first class. INTERMEDIATE CHORAL MUSIC Grades 10, 11, 12 Prerequisite: Audition. Advanced Choral Music is designed as a study in vocal production, music fundamentals and music appreciation. Auditioned students will experience opportunities to sing for personal enjoyment and to perform a variety of choral literature through which knowledge of form and historical context is required. One of the goals of instruction is the development of proficiency in ensemble singing and competency in individual performance. Music reading skills are encouraged through increased levels of difficulty of theory and sight singing. Students will also learn to demonstrate refined expressive qualities of music, to evaluate more complex music performances and to contribute to the quality of the ensemble. FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC THEORY (Offered 2011-2012) Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
The goal of this course is to educate the student in the aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, elementary composition, history and style. The course will seek to instill mastery of the rudiments and terminology of music, including notation, intervals, scales and keys, chords, metric organization and rhythmic patterns. Completion of this course will prepare the serious music student for further music study at the college level. Students will be required to take the Advanced Placement Music Theory Exam. THEATRE ARTSGrades 9, 10, 11, 12 Required: Participation in four class productions including the school winter musical production. The class productions are prepared during class time with evening (5:00 - 8:00 p.m.) dress tech rehearsals the week of the performance. Students study the evolution of acting beginning with Thespis in 534 B.C.E. and practice acting methods from the ichoate experiments of the Stanislavski "Method" to Group Theatre and American influences of Strasberg, Spolin and Meisner, to the German influences of Brecht, to the Shakespearian studies of Brine, Marowitz, Van Tassell and Smith, to the avant-garde mental and physical demands of the Suzuki discipline, to the contemporary focus on nine viewpoints of Bogart and Landau. Participating in monologue, scene study and improvisation workshops, students develop critical thinking, creative thinking, memorization, movement and dance, vocalization and enunciation, voice for singing, and socialization skills necessary for ensemble acting work. Moving from workshop to practical application, students stage four productions a year. These productions vary in form (comedy, farce, drama, melodrama, experimental theatre, musical theatre), period, style and complexity. Theatre is a combined-level course. As students move from year-to-year, they receive individualized learning objectives designed to offer them advanced experiences in theatre studies and theatre production to include: stage management, costume and make-up design, art and scenic design, technical design, dramaturgy, playwriting and direction. STAGE CRAFTS AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTION Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Required: Participation in four class productions including the school winter musical production. This workshop focuses on the back-stage production components of theatre. Students are responsible for designing, building and painting all scenery and designing all props, working as a set crew during productions and for striking and storing sets once a show has closed. The technical production students are responsible for setting up and maintaining the sound and lighting equipment, preparing the technical plot for a show, running sound and lighting tech during the productions and striking and storing all technical equipment once a show has closed. Students are required to work as the stage crew during the dress tech rehearsals and the performances for the four class productions (5:00 - 8:00 p.m. the week of the productions) including the winter musical production (Saturday/Sunday and week week of dress techs and performances). | Visual ArtsART I ART II
Based on art history, aesthetics and production, new activities
are explored
annually. Periods of inquiry will include drawing, painting,
pastels, printmaking,
collage construction and three-dimensional design. In addition
students
are encouraged to pursue personal interests. Students are
introduced to
contemporary-living artists and to independent study of past
masters. Student
critiques are consistently utilized. Submission to certain art
exhibits
and other area competitions is required. This class can be taken twice and noted as Advanced
Art and
Advanced Art II on the permanent record. ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART Offered to seniors who have completed at least two years of art or by special permission of the instructor, this course consists of work in observational drawing, design, color, three-dimensional forms and a personal concentration based on a particular idea or theme. The culmination of the course is the submission of a portfolio to the College Board consisting of five original works, twelve digital images of the student's work exhibiting a breadth of understanding in drawing, 2-D design or 3-D design and twelve digital images of the student's personal artistic pursuit. Students are expected to enter regional art shows. Work will be necessary far beyond regular class time. Summer work will also be required as assigned.
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