Course

Experiences in Art and Music
Length: Year     Credits: 5
Grade Level:  9, 10, 11, 12

This year-long course is designed to expose students to creative experiences in both art and music.  While the course is a full year, it will be divided into half-year instruction in both visual and performing arts.  During the art semester, students will experience art as an introduction to future art courses or simply as a creative outlet.  This course component is designed to broaden students’ appreciation and understanding of art within an environment that is conducive to self-expression and creative problem solving.  Topics to be addressed will include:  the elements of art (line, form, space, texture, and color theory), drawing (one and two-point perspective, shading, contour, and figure drawing) and commercial art (animation, poster, package, and logo design).  During the music semester, students will be exposed to the evolution of music and its development within society.  This course component will focus on the development of musical styles, the careers of recognized, accomplished musicians, and the impact that music has had on culture.  Students will be engaged in learning activities that will expose them to the theories and examples of music that range from the middle ages through contemporary music.  This course is only offered as a full-year option and will fulfill the state graduation requirement for visual and performing arts.

Art I
Length: Year     Credits: 5
Grade Level: 9, 10, 11, 12

Art I is an introductory level course and is a prerequisite for all other classes in the Visual Arts, except Experiences in Art.  This course will cover a variety of art-related topics, which include technical drawing skills, design elements and principles, color theory, two and three-dimensional design, aesthetics, and art history.  The students will also be introduced to a variety of different approaches to art-making.  These might include printmaking, sculpture, painting, collage, drawing and illustration.  Instructional emphasis will rely heavily on the foundation areas of drawing using the “ten basic drawing criteria.”  Above all, students will be provided assignments that allow them to make decisions and solve problems while still developing important technical skills.  The skills acquired this year should enable students to continue to create art independently and prepare them for advanced art courses taught at Clearview Regional High School.  All courses are aligned to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.


Art II

 

Length: Year     Credits: 5
Grade Level:  10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Art I

Art II is a year-long course, designed to advance skills and concepts studied in Art I.  Students will be given opportunities to expand their knowledge and talents by incorporating drawing skills with newly learned techniques and applications.  Furthermore, students will be able to identify, discuss, and create projects which incorporate color theory, painting, printmaking, and art history.  Emphasis will be placed upon creative problem solving, development of effective communication skills (both verbal and nonverbal), and application of the elements and principles of design.  Skills acquired in this course should assist students in making art independently as well as preparing them for advanced art courses at Clearview.

Art III
Length: Year     Credits: 5
Grade Level:  11, 12
Prerequisites: Art II

Art III is a year-long course, designed to advance skills and concepts studied in Art II.  Students will be given opportunities to expand their knowledge and talents by incorporating drawing, painting, and color skills with newly learned techniques and applications.  Furthermore, students will be able to identify, discuss, and create projects which incorporate three-dimensional design, sculpture, and ceramics.  Emphasis will be placed upon creative problem solving, development of effective communication skills (both verbal and nonverbal), and application of the elements and principles of design.  Skills acquired in this course should assist students in making art independently as well as preparing them for advanced art courses at Clearview.

Honors Art III
Length:  Year
Grade Level: 11, 12
Credits: 5
Prerequisite: Art II and teacher recommendation

In addition to the description covered in Art III, Art III Honors is the required preparatory course for students wishing to continue into Advanced Placement Art IV in their senior year.  The goal of the course is to complete a series of art projects that will serve as the initial portion of a college portfolio.  This course is an essential component for a student to have enough completed art works to apply to AP Art IV.


Honors Art IV

 


Length: Year     Credits: 5
Grade Level:  12
Prerequisite: Art III

This is an advanced Art course for students who want to complete the four-year art sequence.  Students will pursue art concepts and techniques in depth.  After choosing areas of particular interest, students will develop and pursue  independent study plans with clear goals, objectives, and timelines.  The instructor must approve all plans and will monitor their progress and completion.  A major goal of this course is to develop the ability to successfully demonstrate self-discipline in meeting goals in a timely and scheduled manner.

Advanced Placement Studio Art IV
Length: Year    Credits: 5
Grade Level:  12
Prerequisite: Art III, teacher recommendation and portfolio review

Advanced Placement Studio Art IV is a course designed for the artistically talented student who is seriously interested in the practical experience of art.  The student should have successfully completed Art III with demonstrated academic success.  This course will prepare students for the AP assessment in Art, and all students are encouraged to participate in this assessment process in May.  Assessment for AP Studio Art is based upon submission and evaluation of the student’s portfolio work, which consists of three sections:  quality, breadth and concentration.  A written Statement of Purpose must also accompany the portfolio.  Students will be expected to work extensively outside of the classroom in order to complete the portfolio.  Summer assignments will be required in this course.

Commercial Art and Photography 
Length:   Semester    Credits:  5
Grade Level:  11, 12
Prerequisite: Art II, teacher recommendation

This year-long course is designed to introduce students to the techniques, materials and processes involved in both commercial art and photography.  During the Commercial Art component, students will use a variety of creative techniques to generate and utilize artistic images in a commercially-oriented context.  Students will gain insight into various print-media reproduction techniques with an emphasis on the selection and creation of images for the mass media.  Students will gain experience in techniques, which may include: typography, type design, manipulation of letter forms, graphic design, computer graphics, digital photography, manipulation of digitized images, and illustration. The Photography component of this course is designed to broaden students’ visual and technical skills in both digital photography as well as 35mm SLR photography.  Students will learn the functions and various uses for both cameras as they explore composition and content to produce aesthetically appealing photographs.  Through the use of digital photography, students will master the basic skills of reading histograms, applying artistic tools and techniques, photograph reconstruction, and photograph editing in PhotoShop.  While using the 35mm camera, students will cover basic camera functions, exposure control, film development, enlarging and printing techniques, and print presentation.  While this course is a full year, it will be divided into half-year instruction in both commercial art and photography.  This course is only offered as a full-year option and will fulfill the state graduation requirement for visual and performing arts.

 

Choir
Length:   Year     Credits:  5
Grade Level:   9, 10, 11, 12

All 9th grade students and any student enrolling in Choir in the High School for the first time in high school will be in this class.  This course provides students with the opportunity for vocal development, ear training, and sight reading through a study of various choral works.  Attitude, participation, and improvement will be the major determinants for the student’s grade.  All students are required to participate in the scheduled concerts throughout the school year.  Students will have the opportunity to audition for the Concert Choir and Vocale Ensemble for the following year. 

Concert Choir
Length: Year     Credits: 5
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: High School Choir or permission of instructor for new students.

This course will continue to provide students with the opportunity for vocal development, ear training, and sight- reading through a study of various choral works.  All students are required to participate in the scheduled concerts throughout the school year.  Students will be selected for this class based on an audition that will take place during the previous school year.  Any student not selected for this course may take the Choir class.  Opportunity will be provided for interested students to audition for the Vocale Ensemble for the following school year.

Honors Vocale Ensemble
Length:  Year     Credits:   5
Grade Level:   10, 11, 12

This honors-level course is for the advanced and exceptionally gifted choral student.  Students will be expected to function at a high level of musicianship.  Entrance to this ensemble is through audition that will occur in the spring of the prior school year.  Students will be expected to perform at a variety of functions throughout the year.  Additionally, students will be expected to attend evening practices.

Band
Length:  Year     Credits:  5
Grade Level:  9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of two years of playing Middle School Band music or audition with the instructor

The Band program will provide experiences for the wind and percussion instrumentalist. Various techniques, inter-pretation, intonation, and general musicianship will be developed through the use of appropriate band repertoire.  Participation in all school performances is required.

Honors Wind Ensemble
Length:  Year     Credits:   5
Grade Level:   9, 10, 11, 12

This honors-level course is for the advanced and exceptionally trained instrumental student.  Students will be expected to function at a high level of musicianship.  Entrance to this ensemble is through audition that will occur in the spring of the prior school year.  Students will be expected to perform at a variety of functions throughout the year.  Additionally, students will be expected to attend evening practices.

Brass Techniques
Length:  Year     Credits:  5
Grade Level:   9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite:  Must be enrolled in Band

The Brass Techniques class is designed for the instrumental music student who desires advanced instruction on a brass instrument.  This class will focus on playing techniques, skill development, solo performance, and small ensemble performance. 

Percussion Techniques
Length:  Year     Credits:  5
Grade Level:  9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite:  Must be enrolled in Band

This course will help students further their knowledge of the percussion instrument family.  With these skills, students will perform percussion ensemble music in various styles, such as Classical, Jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian.  Students should have a basic concept of percussion before enrollment in the course.

Woodwind Techniques 
Length:  Year     Credits:   5
Grade Level:   9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite:  Must be enrolled in Band

The Woodwind Techniques class is designed for the instrumental music student who desires advanced instruction on a woodwind instrument.  This class will focus on playing techniques, skill development, solo performance, and small ensemble performance. 


Piano Techniques

 

Length:   Year    Credits:  5
Grade Level:   9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite:  Teacher recommendation

The Piano Techniques class is designed for the music student who desires instruction on the piano.  Piano keyboard skills will be taught in a group instructional setting.  Students will acquire a core of basic playing and reading skills; more advanced students will be able to progress according to their abilities. To achieve this, students should expect to participate in independent practice, self-directed activities and performance-based evaluations.  This class is intended for students who have previously demonstrated strong interest or talent in music.    

Advanced Piano Techniques
Length:   Year    Credits:  5
Grade Level:  10, 11, 12
Prerequisite:  Piano Techniques or permission of Instructor

Advanced Piano Techniques will provide experienced pianists the opportunity to improve their technical and artistic skills.  Students will explore repertoire of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras.  Activities will include individual practice, ensemble playing, written and aural theory drills and a performance project.  This class is intended for self-motivated music students who can successfully participate in a self-directed activity.

Music Theory
Length:  Year     Credits:  5
Grade Level:  10, 11, 12
Prerequisite:  Wind Ensemble or Vocale Ensemble or permission of instructor.

This course is designed for the musically talented student who wishes to improve written and aural musical skills.  It is expected that the entering student is already able to read music.  The course will include the study of all aspects of music theory, including notation, analysis, sight-singing, composition, and harmony.   Students will utilize the Music Theory Lab and its MIDI/Computer stations complete with piano keyboards, notation software and instructional programs.  This class will prepare music students for AP Music Theory or college level musical study. 

Advanced Placement Music Theory 
Length:  Year     Credits:  5
Grade Level:  11, 12
Prerequisite:  Music Theory I, teacher recommendation

Advanced Placement Music Theory is a course designed for the musically talented student who has previously demonstrated academic excellence in Music Theory I.  This course will prepare students to take the AP Music Theory exam.  Students enrolled in this course are encouraged to take the exam, which is administered in May of each school year.  The material covered in this course is equivalent to a first-year college music theory course.  The course will address musical notation, terminology, compositional skills, analysis, aural skills, and sight-singing.  The development of listening skills, especially those involving recognition and comprehension of melodic and rhythmic patterns, harmonic function, small forms, and compositional techniques will be emphasized.  Musical examples studied will be selected from a standard repertoire with some exposure to contemporary, jazz, vernacular, and non-Western music.  Students will be encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring.

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