The Beginning Band is designed to provide students with an introductory experience on band instruments. Beginning Band is open to all students at any grade level. Prior instrumental music experience is not required. Students may choose to play any band instrument; woodwind, brass, and percussion. This class will allow students not currently involved with the fine arts to express themselves musically. Beginning Band is responsible for two concerts during the course of the school year. Other performing opportunities may arise as the student progresses.

Beginning Strings is an entry level string ensemble from which other groups stem, and is designed to provide students with an introductory experience on string instruments. This ensemble is structured to help beginning and less experienced students build technique and encourage independent musical growth. Beginning Strings is open to all students at any grade level, and prior instrumental music experience is not required. Beginning Strings will perform two concerts during the course of the school year. Other performing

opportunities may arise as the student progresses.

The Chamber Orchestra is an ensemble for intermediate and advanced string students who have previous experience and developed technique. The orchestra plays four concerts each year and shares the stage with both the band and choirs. In addition, members of the orchestra have performance opportunities playing in the pit orchestra for the musical, Mass choir, ILMEA, solo/ensemble festival and graduation.

Chamber Orchestra is an upper-level and advanced orchestra for students who have experience playing the violin, viola, cello or bass. This class is year-long and has high standards for performance and enhancing each students’ string fundamentals on their instrument and within an ensemble setting. Placement in CP Chamber Orchestra requires an informal audition with the director, and is open to all students who have developed proficiency on their instrument that enables them to play the repertoire of the ensemble. Students will further develop their knowledge and refine skills in practicing, instrument technique, gain exposure to music literacy including music reading, recognizing and playing different articulations and musical styles, understanding musical terms, playing in an ensemble and following a conductor. Emphasis will also be placed on exposing each student to a variety of performing experiences and music in which to apply these skills. CP Chamber Orchestra performs four concerts a school year and sometimes performs a piece with CP Symphony Strings and the CP Wind Ensemble. Members of this course also have performance opportunities playing in the pit orchestra for the musical, Mass choir, ILMEA, solo/ensemble festival and graduation. Participation at concerts and after school rehearsals is required.

This class is for all percussionists and is designed to focus on specific skills and techniques of the percussion section. Members of this class participate fully in Wind Ensemble, Marching Band (for all home football games) and Pep Band (for all home basketball games) and are invited to join the Jazz program. In addition, they perform as an independent ensemble at some concerts. They are responsible for three concerts during the course of the school year. In addition, members of the ensemble have performance opportunities playing in the pit orchestra for the musical, Mass choir, ILMEA, solo/ensemble festival and graduation. This ensemble is in attendance at graduation.

Symphony Strings is an entry-level ensemble for students with limited experience on violin, viola, cello, or bass. This class is year-long and has high standards for performance and string fundamentals and enhancement. Students will learn to develop an appreciation of music, build skills for efficient practicing, refine skills in instrument technique, gain exposure to music literacy including music reading, recognizing and playing different articulations and musical styles, understanding musical terms, playing in an ensemble and following a conductor. Emphasis will also be placed on exposing each student to a variety of performing experiences and music in which to apply these skills. CP Symphony Strings performs four concerts a school year and sometimes performs a piece with the CP Chamber Orchestra. Participation at concerts is required, in addition to a few after school rehearsals.

Dance is a movement course designed for non-dancers, athletes, and dancers alike to learn the theories and practices of bodily awareness, movement, dance, agility, injury prevention, and personal development. This course will enhance students’ embodied communication, expressive agility, strength and endurance, while providing an engagement with the arts and aesthetics. Topics to be covered include: an introduction to dance as an art form, dance history, dance as a product of culture, and the relationship of dance technique to the overall field.

This course will be a continuation of the techniques and materials studied in Photography 1. The techniques and materials used will be more sophisticated; therefore, greater refinement in their application will be stressed. Higher levels of creativity will be expected of students as they apply familiar as well as new techniques. Students will also be required to demonstrate better compositional skills and work towards the development of a personal style and self-expression. Students will work on more individualized projects and advanced techniques in digital imagery and photo manipulation using Adobe Photoshop. Students must have access to a DSLR camera. Outside of class shooting assignments will be a required component of this course.

This class will focus on creating music using a hands-on approach. Students will utilize apps on their iPads: Garage Band, Animoog, ThumbJam, Hokusai Audio Editor, Audio Bus, Ableton, and others. As well as music and audio plug-ins made for iOS: Audio Units v3, Inter App Audio, Ableton Link, and others.

 

The class will focus on two areas:

1) creation of music using loops, pre-recorded tracks, and live audio recordings and

2) editing of audio (wav, mp3, mp4, aiff, and others),including a study of cinema, DVD, CD, and historic recording standards.

 

This class allows students who do not sing or play an instrument to express themselves

through the fine arts and participate in music creation.

This course is designed to engage students and create an appreciation for and understanding of performance through experiences in the classroom and attendance at selected performances on the campus and in the community. Students will encounter techniques of acting, lighting, stage & costume design, and the ways in which they are employed in film, television, and live theatre.

This course provides the advanced music student with an introduction to the

fundamentals of music. Notation, terminology, rhythm, scales and tonality, basic

harmony, and ear training are studied to develop a solid foundation for the continued serious study of music. Music composition, music history, and music technology are also integral components of the class; with a concentration on the practices and conventions of the 17th and 18th Centuries This course is especially useful for all serious music students who plan to continue in music.

Concert Chorale is a vocal performing ensemble that is open to any interested juniors and seniors. This group performs at four concerts throughout the year and sings high school and college level literature. This class meets during the school day three times a week. (M-W-F) Choral experience is encouraged but not required.

The Advanced Placement 2-D Art and Design Course enables highly motivated upperclassmen to perform at the college level. This course is comparable to the first year of college coursework in studio art. It requires a tremendous amount of dedication, personal vision, time, and self-direction. Students must be willing to devote time to their artwork both within and outside of the classroom. To be considered for acceptance in this class, a portfolio of five pieces must be submitted in the spring prior to the following school year. At minimum, students must have successfully completed the sequence of their specialization. Students may choose to study Drawing and Painting, Photography, or Graphic Design. Students are expected to conduct an in-depth, sustained investigation of materials, processes, concepts, and ideas in two dimensions. Students are expected to conduct an in depth, sustained investigation of materials, processes, concepts, and ideas in three dimensions. AP 2-D Art and Design students develop and apply skills of inquiry and investigation, practice, experimentation, revision, communication, and reflection. In lieu of an exam, students will be responsible for producing a portfolio of quality artwork that demonstrates skilled experiences in media and techniques and a concentration or commitment to a particular artistic concern. The portfolio may include a variety of representational or expressive works that are highly meaningful and demonstrate technical proficiency. Students will be required to submit the portfolio for the AP 2-D Art and Design exam in the spring for college credit.

The Advanced Placement 3-D Art and Design Course enables highly motivated upperclassmen to perform at the college level. This course is comparable to the first year of college coursework in three-dimensional art. It requires a tremendous amount of dedication, personal vision, time, and self-direction. Students must be willing to devote time to their artwork both within and outside of the classroom. To be considered for acceptance in this class, a portfolio of five pieces must be submitted in the spring prior to the following school year. At minimum, students must have successfully completed Ceramics 1 and 2. Students are expected to conduct an in-depth, sustained investigation of materials, processes, concepts, and ideas in three dimensions. AP 3-D Art and Design students develop and apply skills of inquiry and investigation, practice, experimentation, revision, communication, and reflection. In lieu of an exam, students will be responsible for producing a portfolio of quality artwork that demonstrates skilled experiences in media and techniques and a concentration or commitment to a particular artistic concern. The portfolio may include a variety of representational or expressive works that are highly meaningful and demonstrate technical proficiency. Students will be required to submit the portfolio for the AP 3-D Art and Design exam in the spring for college credit.