Arts Course Offerings
Arts Course Offerings
Yearlong Electives
DANCE:
Advanced Study in Dance: Classical Ballet (Level 6)
The structure of this course is a working model of the professional dance world; students experience what it means to be a professional artist in the field of dance. Students will continue their training in advanced classical ballet technique while discovering other aspects of the profession. Following a three-pronged approach to their dance training, students take a weekly technique class, skills & mastery class, and a choreographically focused class. Advanced Study in Dance: Classical Ballet gives students the structure to pursue their technical and artistic interests in classical ballet while developing specific dance-based projects that allow students the freedom to explore their own interests and self-expression.
Advanced Study in Dance: Contemporary (Level 6)
The structure of this course is a working model of the professional dance world; students experience what it means to be a professional artist in the field of dance. Students will continue their training in advanced contemporary dance techniques while discovering other aspects of the profession. Following a three-pronged approach to their dance training students take a weekly technique class, skills & mastery class, and a choreographically focused class. Advanced Study in Dance: Contemporary gives students the structure to pursue their technical and artistic interests in dance while developing specific dance-based projects that allow students the freedom to explore their own interests and self-expression.
MUSIC:
Andrean Ensemble
Our Andrean Ensemble program is designed to challenge students who have previous vocal or choral experience. This course develops the complete singer through instruction in vocal development, sight-reading, ear training, music theory, and choral style. The Andrean Ensemble performs as the School’s choral ensemble in the School Chapel, at off- campus events, and special events on campus. The Andrean Ensemble is open to all forms, but students must have instructor approval to join.
Advanced Study Music Theory & Music History
This year-long course is open to students who have taken Music Theory I or for students who have demonstrated proficiency in reading written music at a high level, including knowledge of all chord and scale types. Students in this class divide their time between the music history seminar and the music theory or composition class. The primary music theory text is Charles Gauldin’s Harmonic Practice In Tonal Music. Students who have not successfully taken the prerequisite Music Theory I must obtain permission of the instructor to enroll in this course.
PHOTO & FILM:
Advanced Study Studio Art: Film
The Advanced Study in Film course is a year-long intensive studio class designed for VI Form students. By working on multiple projects from conception to delivery, the students refine their cinematography, production, and editing techniques in a holistic format. Students will utilize advanced lighting and sound techniques and equipment as well as a more developed editing and color grading process. Other major projects may involve exploratory video essays on film and the development of an original script.
Advanced Study Studio Art: Photo
This yearlong course is an intensive studio art (in this case, photography) class designed for VI Form students interested in investigating advanced methods and concepts central to the visual arts. Students concentrate on hands- on studio work with individual faculty in one of the visual arts disciplines (painting, photography, sculpture, or film) and come together for lectures and discussions of contemporary issues in art, practical demonstrations, such as portfolio development, and critiques. Coordinated, thematic assignments stimulate comparative discussions among visual art disciplines as in an advanced collegiate fine arts seminar.
STUDIO ARTS:
Advanced Study Studio Art: Drawing & Painting
This yearlong course is an intensive studio class designed for VI Form students interested in investigating advanced methods and concepts central to the visual arts. Students concentrate on hands-on studio work with individual faculty in one of the visual arts disciplines (painting, ceramics, photography, or film) and come together for lectures and discussions of contemporary issues in art, practical demonstrations, such as portfolio development, and critiques. Coordinated, thematic assignments stimulate comparative discussions among visual art disciplines as in an advanced fine arts seminar.
Semester-long Electives
DANCE:
Dance Fundamentals
No experience necessary and no required performances! Jumps, turns, stretching, and strength training make this a lively and dynamic class. Dance Fundamentals will help students learn how to control their bodies while increasing flexibility, strength, coordination, agility, and balance. It is the perfect class for the athlete-artist. By pairing the physicality of dance with the creativity of the art form, this class is fantastic cross-training for any athlete trying to take their skills to the next level or the artist looking for new ways to explore and express themselves. Students will explore the foundational aspects of various styles of dance, including hip hop, salsa, swing, the waltz, contemporary, and even TikTok dances. This energetic class puts the fun in fundamentals!
Movement for Athletes
The course is designed for the student-athlete to better prepare themselves for their sport of choice while incorporating the physical and artistic elements of dance. Strength, coordination, balance, flexibility, agility, and stamina will be key elements of this course. Twenty-five to fifty percent of class time will be spent honing sport-
specific skills that are individualized for each student-athlete, and each student will help guide their training with their specific goals. The remainder of class will be collaborative, energetic, creative, and fun group exercises that utilize the unique aspects of various styles of dance concepts to help improve athletic performance. The course will utilize the gym equipment (weights, TRX, kettlebells, etc.), the basketball courts and the dance studio, along with the outdoors (weather permitting) to maximize physical training. Students will learn jumps, turns and tricks, rhythms, and coordinations in various styles of dance. This is a physically demanding course with no previous dance experience necessary.
Intermediate/Advanced Ballet (Levels 3, 4, and 5)
Building on the foundation of students’ previous ballet experience, this course explores more advanced theories of classical ballet technique with a heavy focus on strengthening body mechanics. Students increase their ballet vocabulary and perform more complex and advanced ballet combinations as they continue to refine their use of:
- core control
- movement quality
- body placement
- aesthetic line
Increasing strength, agility, coordination, flexibility and stamina is emphasized. The aim of the course is to develop the discipline to combine the physical demands of ballet with artistic freedom of expression.
Intermediate/Advanced Contemporary (Levels 3, 4, and 5)
Building on the foundation of students’ previous modern dance experience, this course explores more advanced theories of modern and contemporary dance. Movement and creativity are highlighted with an emphasis on personal expression. Students practice floor exercises and center combinations designed to increase their:
- core strength
- flexibility
- use of weight and momentum
- body isolation
- improvisation
- freedom of movement
Utilizing these tools, students develop their own personal styles through self-expression, movement and choreography, and ultimately have the opportunity to create their own choreographic piece.
MUSIC:
Vocal Studies
Are you interested in improving your singing? Vocal Studies is open to all students regardless of prior vocal experience and focuses on building individual vocal technique and choral singing skills. Students learn the basics of healthy singing through performance of a wide range of musical styles, weekly individual voice lessons, sight singing, and theory practice. Students perform with both Andrean Ensemble and Noxontones at Arts Weekend.
Chamber Music
This course is designed for intermediate to advanced members of the Orchestra and/or Jazz Ensemble. Students are placed in groups of three to five members to study repertoire for their particular instrumentation. Typical examples of
chamber music groups include, but are not limited to string quartets, woodwind trios, brass quartets, piano trios, and other common configurations. The focus is on the study of appropriately challenging repertoire with the goal of developing the artistry of collaboration, including interpretation, communication, and unified, polished performances.
Jazz Improvisation
Learn how to play jazz, including reading ensemble parts, learning chords and scales, and how to accompany and solo in various rhythmic styles. This course is designed to support Jazz Combos and studio support for members of the jazz ensembles. This course may be repeated.
Instrumental Music Methods
This course is a studio instrumental music practice course designed to help students in the Orchestra and the Jazz Ensemble to progress in their technique. Comprising individual coaching and structured practice time, the course addresses all techniques and concepts that arise throughout the repertoire of the school’s two large performance ensembles. Students document and describe their practice over the course of each semester they are enrolled, and they participate in weekly evening rehearsals and concerts.
Music Theory
This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of music, starting with reading notes and rhythm. Students learn the basics of music notation and structure, construct melodies, and work with basic harmony. Regular ear-training exercises as well as music history listening assignments prepare students both to compose their own music and to analyze selected repertoire, ranging from the Baroque through the modern eras.
PHOTO & FILM:
Film Studies 1: Introduction to Film
Introduction to Film is for students who want to experience the creative process of filmmaking. The basic elements and grammar of film are explored including light, color, composition, and editing. Students will complete a series of film and editing projects as they practice their skills. While this course serves as a foundation in the cinematographic and editorial skills required to create a film, it also uncovers the narrative ingredients required to create engaging cinematic stories. Early cinema, current blockbusters, documentaries, and commercials are viewed for inspiration and historical value. Student projects are given ample time in class for shooting and editing.
Film Studies: Cinematography & Lighting
Progressing from Film Studies 1, students explore further techniques in cinematography by developing and practicing with more advanced camera technique, working with filters and controllers, and a wider range of lenses. Students will also be introduced to technical and artistic lighting styles and techniques to further enhance their visual images. Students will complete several works demonstrating proficiency with both camera and lighting.
Film Studies: Post-Production Techniques
The post-production class focuses on everything that happens with footage after the shoot. The class will focus on editing, color grading, visual effects, and sound production. Using footage from student and professional shoots, students will learn to edit for continuity and montage, learn to apply visual effects to repair and enhance scenes, and to understand the importance and best techniques of sound design and mixing.
Photography 1
This foundational course introduces students to the medium of photography by focusing on camera controls, composition, and storytelling. Starting with the basics, students learn how to utilize a digital SLR camera and edit using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Students hone their photographic voice in an open critique setting and learn to edit their work by compiling a comprehensive final portfolio. A study of historical and contemporary photography complements practical exercise and independent projects. No prior experience is required.
Photography 2: Dark Room
Photography 2 is a course primarily designed around the traditional darkroom and wet lab. Students will learn the art of shooting, processing, and printing black and white film. In addition, other chemical based printing processes such as cyanotype, paper negatives, photograms, and contact printing from enlarged negatives will be explored. This is a fun, hands-on course that gives students the opportunity to see how historical techniques are used in contemporary ways.
STUDIO ARTS:
Visual Arts 1 and Mixed Media
This course is designed to introduce III Form students to the materials, techniques, and language of creating, presenting, and thinking about art, while working in an art studio. The course aims to keep a healthy balance between formal concepts, hands-on skills, critical thinking and exploring the imagination.
Students will study the fundamentals of composition, the elements of art, and principles of design to use as guides throughout the creative process and help them to expand the depths of their work. This will include drawing, painting, working in the 3rd dimension, and mixed media arts. This course is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and practices to perform effectively in any of the succeeding visual arts courses offered at St. Andrew’s.
Through experimentation and examining the terms and concepts of visual art and artists, students will be challenged to create imaginative and open responses to the question of, how can they use art to connect visually to the world at large?
Printmaking 1: Screenprinting
The medium of printmaking provides an arena of creativity where photography, drawing, design, collage, and painting collide. While the term printmaking refers to a myriad of techniques, this course will focus on screenprinting. The art of screenprinting, or silkscreening, is a fun way to create posters, cards, t-shirts, or even fine art prints. Foundational concepts of art and elements of design will be taught in this class, and students will have a chance to put their skills to work as they design and produce posters for school events around campus. Artists we will look at include Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Shepard Fairey, Blexbolex, and Jay Ryan.
Printmaking 2
Students in printmaking 2 will advance their print making skills by diving into relief, intaglio, and more advanced screenprinting methods. This course covers a wide range of materials, techniques, and approaches within printmaking, and gives students the opportunity to see firsthand the many options for creating unique and limited- edition prints. Additional topics might include mono-printing and bookmaking.
Drawing 1
Students in this course work with a variety of media to create a visual language for describing natural form. Using charcoal, conte, and pastel, students render still-lifes, landscapes, and portraits with the goal of creating strong representational images.
Painting 1
In Painting 1, students work on still-lifes, landscapes, and portraits, and in doing so learn how to use color as a means for describing light and form. Students will work with palette knives and brushes to investigate color theory, composition, and art history.
Drawing 2/Painting 2
Students will work with a variety of media that will build upon skills previously acquired in Drawing 1 or Painting 1. The language of value, form, and composition will continue to be explored with assignments involving pencil, watercolor, oil paint, and other media. The ultimate goal of this more intermediate course is for students to develop and advance their studio practice with both drawing and painting.
ART HISTORY
Art History - Survey & Studio
Using visual analysis and an understanding of artistic traditions, students will learn to critically examine artistic works of all forms. Students will expand their historical knowledge through the stories the artworks, locations, and time periods reveal. This course will include writing, reading, and a hands-on studio component.
THEATRE:
Intro to Acting & Public Speaking
This course provides a low stakes opportunity to build (or enhance) your skills as a performer and reduce your anxiety as a speaker. Students will expand their expressive range, learn to control nervous fidgeting, and practice key skills for looking confident and polished, all while exploring a few essential fundamentals of acting. The semester concludes with a performance of brief scenes for a small audience.
Acting 2/3
Essentially a continuation of the Acting 1 class, this course delves deeper into the techniques of acting. We focus on script and character analysis as well as performance and improvisation. Some workshop highlights include stage combat, make-up application, and the First Folio technique of performing Shakespeare. Time permitting, students attend at least one professional theatrical production during the semester.
Public Speaking
This course focuses on the fundamentals of speaking in public, with a focus on expression and clarity. Assignments include:
- experimenting with famous speeches
- conducting interviews
- persuasive speaking using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
- Shakespearean sonnets
- impromptu speaking
The course also explores techniques for calming and masking the nervous habits often provoked by public performance and makes use of varying venues on campus for presentations.