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Students may add Band, Choir or OES 0 period String Orchestra mid-year or drop Band, Choir or 0 period Orchestra mid-year, with the permission of the teacher, but they will NOT receive an arts credit for the semester in which they participated. Students who wish to earn an arts credit must take the ensemble for a full year. US Symphonic Orchestra, US String Ensemble, and US Woodwind, Brass, & Percussion Ensemble may be taken either fall or spring semesters.
ADVANCED JAZZ BAND
The study and performance of Jazz and Jazz-influenced music is the focus of Jazz Band. Students explore musical styles primarily through performance, listening, and a study of music theory. Several levels of Jazz Band are available: Jazz Band; Jazz Band with Music Theory; and Jazz Band with Theory, Arranging, and Composition. Each succeeding level requires meeting a larger set of objectives. Students spend time in full rehearsal, sectional rehearsal, and individual practice settings. The group performs at different events throughout the year including Skview Jazz Festival (December), OES Afterglow (December), the Clark College Jazz Festival, the NW Mt. Hood Jazz Band Festival (May), and US Fine Arts night (June). Participation in the performances is required. Assessment is based on participation in rehearsals and performance and an individual performance exam. Membership is open to all Upper School students who play an instrument, and is subject to the director’s approval. A rental fee will be charged for use of school-owned instruments as per the Music Dept. policy. (Y)
CONCERT CHOIR
Concert Choir is open to all students, regardless of performing experience. This choir focuses on performance as well as healthy singing technique. A wide variety of literature is selected, including many styles of classical music, world music, spirituals, and a cappella. We sing in a variety of languages and have several opportunities for performance including US Chapels, Zoolights festival (December), Advent Service (December), the Grotto (December), Oregon Historical Society’s Author Party (November), District and State Choir Contests (April and May),All School Choir Festival, (April), US Fine Arts Night (June) and US Graduation (June). This choir often takes a two-day retreat at Menucha in September and annually participates in a special musical event with the choir at St. John’s church on campus. (Y)
OES STRING ORCHESTRA
Meets during 0 period, 2 days a week
All year – 1 arts credit
The OES Orchestra provides an opportunity for intermediate and advanced orchestra musicians (violin, viola, cello, bass) to perform in a multi-divisional, ability-based ensemble. OES Orchestra students learn a wide variety of repertoire including Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century orchestral music. Emphasis is placed on orchestral playing techniques (intonation, playing in an ensemble, phrasing, etc.), musicality, and understanding the form and function of the music played. Private lessons are strongly encouraged. The OES Orchestra will perform at a number of events during the year including the annual Advent Service, chapel services and concert events. Upper School students receive one semester of Academic credit for participation in the ensemble over the course of a year. All interested string players are encouraged to join. The class meets two days a week during the 0 period. Prerequisite: Musicians need to be able to shift and use vibrato comfortably on their instruments to join (or upon the director’s discretion.) (Y)
SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA/STRINGS ENSEMBLE/WOODWIND, BRASS & PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
US Symphonic Orchestra is a performance-based course, which is designed to challenge students in all aspects of string, brass and woodwind playing. The course includes the study and performance of a variety of advanced orchestral literature, continued study and practice on students’ individual instruments, and development of further knowledge of music. Emphasis will be placed on musical elements such as phrasing, interpretation, ensemble techniques, and intonation. Students will build on the basic elements of music as well as historical and cultural context to extend knowledge for musical interpretation. All instrumentalists will meet together during the long period to work on repertoire for two major concerts throughout the year. During the other three periods, students will be dividing into two ensembles (US String Ensemble and US Woodwind/Brass Ensemble) and will work on repertoire and techniques specific to those instruments. Students will increase knowledge of music through daily practice and rehearsal. Students will perform at a number of events throughout the year. A rental fee will be charged for use of school-owned instruments as per the Music Dept. policy. Prerequisite: Must have 2 years experience in a school string ensemble or band (concert band or jazz band) or at Director’s discretion. Meets 4 periods a week during the academic day. (F) (S) (1 arts credit)
MUSIC TREK
This class is designed to give students of all musical abilities
solid knowledge of how music works and the history of music. Major
topics covered include units on music theory, music history, philosophy
of art and music, music careers, composing/arranging and an independent
project unit. During the composing/arranging unit, students will
learn to use two major pieces of music software to aid them in
creating music: Sibelius 3 for arranging and notating sheet music
and Reason 3 for creating electronic music. The main focus, however,
is to give students the tools to arrange and compose original
music. This means that a good amount of time will be spent on
music theory. This class will also take a day trip up to EMP (Experience
Music Project) in Seattle sometime in January – it is a
cutting-edge museum of popular music, and is an invaluable resource
in outlining the history of American popular music over the past
century. Music Trek prepares students who are interested in continuing
their study of music for the demands of Advanced Electronic Music.
(F)
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MUSIC (AEM)
In AEM, students will take their arranging and composing skills learned from Music Trek and apply them to one of two major projects: arranging and writing original songs to be produced on a CD, or writing soundtrack music to go with a film of their choice. Students would be encouraged to collaborate with other musicians and to arrange and compose songs in a multitude of styles, while at the same time discovering ways to develop an idiosyncratic sound of their own. Students will continue to learn how to use Reason 3 sequencing software as well as Cubase SX 4 sequencing software, complete with cutting-edge VST plug-ins, in order to gather practical information about songwriting. Each student will produce their own CD or DVD from beginning to end, including arranging/composing, recording, syncing, mixing, mastering, duplication, artwork, printing, packaging and marketing. Prerequisite: Music Trek. (S)
ART TREK, GRAPHIC ARTS, DRAWING AND CERAMICS ARE SUGGESTED COURSES FOR FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORES. FILM/VIDEO, PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE COURSES BETTER SUITED FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS. EXCEPTIONS ARE ONLY MADE WITH DEPARTMENT APPROVAL.
ACTING
We will explore skills and styles of acting on a more advanced
level than that presented in Speech and Communication. One-act
plays, some representing different historical styles, student-generated
plays and productions will provide focus for the course. (F)(S)
ADVANCED DRAWING/PRINTMAKING
Advanced Drawing/Printmaking is a course for students with good drawing skills (prerequisite Beginning Drawing or portfolio review). We will explore the use of a variety of drawing materials and techniques (color, pastel, conte, ink) as well as subject matter. Some of the work created during the first half of the semester will be used in printmaking during the second half. We will learn the processes of monoprint, block printing and zinc and copper plate acid etching. (S)
ART TREK
Art Trek offers an introduction to art both culturally and historically.
The course covers Cave Art, Primitive Art (African and Northwest
Indian), and the art of Egypt, India, China, Japan, and Greece.
Other major periods of art covered include Byzantine, Medieval,
Renaissance, Impressionism, and Modern. The class is primarily
a studio class which allows students to use a variety of media
and methods in making projects for each unit. The various projects
include ceramics, calligraphy, painting, and drawing. Students
will also look at a variety of sources for art ideas (music, words,
dreams, and experiences). (F)(S)
CERAMICS
The primary objective of this course is an introduction to and
the mastery of basic ceramic construction techniques and glazing
methods. Students will begin to explore clay as a three-dimensional
media using hand-building techniques and wheel-throwing to create
both functional and non-functional forms of increasing complexity
and sophistication with glaze coloration and methods of effective
application. A large commitment of out-of-class time is required
during free periods or after school in the ceramics studio constructing
projects. Firing methods include electric kiln and raku. (The
course may be repeated at an advanced level.) (F)(S)
DIGITAL SIMULATIONS
In Digital Simulations the students explore the use of computer graphics in a 3D virtual environment. The curriculum focuses on using the fundamental skills learned in traditional art forms (shape, value, perspective, texture, etc) and integrating those skills onto a digital canvas using advanced graphics applications, Maya in particular. Maya is a high-end 3D modeling and animation program that allows the students to begin work with some advanced concepts in 3D computer graphics. We begin our work in Maya by modeling architectural designs with polygons. Working with polygons allows the students to explore shape by cutting, moving, scaling, and reshaping polygon primitives to achieve their architectural goal.Throughout the course the students will learn current digital standards for format and resolution and will use the skills they have learned to work on a final project that will replicate the work-style used in a production pipeline. (S)
DRAWING
Students will learn the fundamentals of drawing objects as they
appear to the human eye. Emphasis is on developing hand-eye coordination
and SEEING. Students will learn to use and understand the draftsman’s
language of line, form, mass, texture, and shape. Special projects
will include perspective, circle, cylinders and ellipses, value
studies (graduation), texture, geometric and nature drawing, positive
and negative design, interior and exterior drawing, and presentation
of work. Final project is a self-portrait. (F)
GRAPHIC ARTS/VISUAL COMMUNICATION
The purpose of Graphic Arts/Visual Communication is to introduce
to the student a process of visual creation which answers practical
needs. Formulation of concepts and their translation into graphic
forms by way of problem-solving techniques is emphasized. The
course content includes an introduction to the history of graphic
arts, graphic techniques, illustration, and design principles.
Projects include making a series of artworks focusing on compositional
design using both traditional and digital media. Students will
apply this to making a collaborative digital arts calendar and
a portfolio of original work. . Through a variety of projects,
students will explore the two main elements of graphic art–the
pictorial image and the written word. (F) (S)
FILM/VIDEO
This course has two main objectives. The first is to understand
and appreciate film and video as a vehicle for creative expression
and information. The second is for students to produce high quality
films. We will study classic films, film genres and styles, and
production elements. We will film in digital format and use computer
editing and effects software. Please note: Editing film requires
a significant time commitment beyond that available in class.
(F)
PAINTING
Painting class begins with introductory lessons on color theory,
color mixing, brush control, and other technical aspects of handling
paint. We then look at several historical styles, from both Western
and Eastern cultures, to better understand painting within a cultural
context. Students will gain experience with watercolor, oil, and
acrylic paints as they learn to a) realistically depict three-dimensional
objects on a flat surface, and b) express themselves with the
art elements of color, shape, value, line, and texture. Each student
will produce a series of theme-related paintings suitable for
display. Prior drawing experience or permission of the instructor
is a prerequisite. (S)
PAPER ARTS/PRINTMAKING
This course is designed as a semester course exploring the many
exciting and varied uses of paper, paint, and ink in the making
of two- and three-dimensional art forms. Students will have opportunities
to learn how to marble paper, to make paper, and bind books using
both traditional Western bindings and Japanese bindings. The final
section of the Paper Arts class will center on the art of printmaking.
Students will learn linoleum and silk-screen printmaking. A variety
of media will include several different kinds of hand-made and
machine-made papers, a variety of black and colored inks, gouache
designer paints, linoleum, and silk-screen inks. (S)
PHOTOGRAPHY
This course begins with basic photography skills including the
parts and functions of a single-lens reflex camera, bulk-loading
film, processing film, and printing photographs. In addition,
we will explore studio lighting techniques, digital photography
and image manipulation and a variety of printing techniques and
methods. Weekly reading assignments enhance the student’s
understanding and appreciation of photography as an artistic tool.
Students will develop a photographic portfolio by the end of the
semester. Because of the time-extensive nature of photography
and darkroom work, students will be expected to work outside of
the scheduled class time. A lab fee of $35 will be charged to
the student's account. (F)(S)
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