PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT
Course Offerings
AP MUSIC THEORY 1160 - 1161
Recommended Courses Teacher approval
Advanced Placement Music Theory is a course designed for the study of Musical Structure. The ultimate goal is to develop a student's ability to recognize and understand the basic materials and processes of music that is heard or read in the score. The course will provide a solid foundation in intervals, scales, metric/rhythmic patterns, and the terms used to describe these elements of music. This course will serve to prepare the student for the Advanced Placement Music Theory exam and may be used to satisfy the UC "F" or “G” requirement and the PUSD Fine Arts requirement. UC approved for extra honors credit (A=5, B=4, C=3).
BAND WITH MARCHING 1175 - 1176
Recommended Courses Ability to read and perform music is a requirement, limited to standard band instrument (no guitar)
Interest Marching band activities through November and then development of high level of musicianship, including participation in concerts as well as solo and ensemble festivals.
Band is designed for instrumental musicians. Students are placed into one of three band groups (Freshman Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble) based upon ability and instrumentation needs. These are yearlong performance classes, and students are expected to participate in all band activities. Activities will include full-band concerts as well as solo and ensemble festivals. This band will represent the school at concert and festivals. The first quarter of this class will receive 5 PE credits. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
BEGINNING CHOIR 1-2 1105 - 1106
Recommended Courses None
Interest Introduction to choral music, vocal production and musicianship skills necessary to progress as a choral musician.
This course teaches proper vocal production and music reading skills. It is an opportunity to develop counting and sight singing skills and to broaden the musical experience through rehearsal and performance. Music theory and vocal technique are explored. This is a performance class and students will participate in all concerts and festivals. The class may be made up of women, men or mixed voices. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
CLASSICAL VOCAL ENSEMBLE 1110 - 1111
Recommended Courses Beginning Choir, Concert Choir and/or Audition
Interest Most rigorous course of study of choral literature to achieve highest level of performance.
Classical Vocal Ensemble 1-2 is a course for advanced choral musicians. Advanced choral and vocal techniques will be taught. Classical and traditional repertoire will be studied and performed. Music theory and vocal technique are further explored. This is a performance class, and students are expected to participate in all choral activities. Outside time is required. Activities will include school and community performances. The Classical Vocal Ensemble will represent the school at District and state levels in adjudicated festivals. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
CONCERT CHOIR 1-2 1120 - 1121
Recommended Courses Beginning Choir and Audition
Interest Continuation of the exploration of choral concepts as they relate to ensemble performance. Increased study of music theory, aesthetic perception, and performance evaluation.
Concert Choir may be composed of women, men or mixed voices and is the second choir in the choral program sequence. Audition and knowledge of music theory is necessary. Students will continue to develop as choral musicians and learn the skills necessary to audition for either Women’s Ensemble or Classical Vocal Ensemble. This is a performance class and students will participate in all concerts and festivals. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
DRAMA 1-2 0345 - 0346
Recommended Courses None
Interest Interested in understanding of and background to theater.
This course is a beginning study of theater with an in-depth look at the structure of theater and plays. Included are basic story-telling, voice and diction, reader's theater, play analysis, and improvisational exercises. Students will be requested to attend performances of school, community or professional plays and movies and then write a critique of them. At least one basic scene and/or series of pantomimes will be presented. Also studied are the function of the playwright, the actor, the director and the technicians. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
DRAMA 3-4 0347 - 0348
Recommended Courses Drama 1-2
Interest Interested in deepening understanding of and background to acting styles as well as technical aspects of production.
This course includes a study of the history of acting styles. Students are expected to perform scenes or plays from classical literature. Students will study the technical side of theater including costume and set design, makeup, directing and production. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
DRAMA 5-6 0349 - 0350
Recommended Courses Drama 3-4
Interest Interested in participating in all the areas and techniques involved in putting on a full play production.
Drama 5-6 continues the application of the play direction techniques introduced in Drama 4. Students are expected to select a term project and carry it to culmination in presentation and evaluation by an audience. In addition, students are expected to perform in scenes from classic, modern British, and modern American dramatic literature, as well as to research a selected topic. Students are also expected to develop a prompt book which demonstrates an increased attention to detail, steady improvement in basic techniques, and heightened creativity. Also elements of theater management will be covered. Drama may be applied to the Fine Arts requirement but not the English requirement. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "F" or “G” requirement and the PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
MARCHING PE FLAGS/TALL FLAGS 1197 - 1199
Interest Marching Band and Tall Flags
The Tall Flags/Color Guard class provides students with the opportunity to develop musical/visual concepts, skills, and interpretations. These concepts will be used in conjunction with the marching program. Evaluation will be provided by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and the California Tall Flag Association, in addition to teacher observation. Enrollment is limited to those students who will be participating in the Winter Guard program and who will perform at the Winter Guard performances. This class is for PE and elective credit only.
MUSIC REVIEW 4.5 091262
Recommended Courses AP Music Theory
Interest Interested in deepening understanding of and background to Music Theory in preparation of the Advanced Placement (AP) Exam.
This course is offered outside the regular 4-period day. It is designed to help students prepare for the AP exam.
ORCHESTRA (String Ensemble) 1183 - 1184
Recommended Courses None, ability to read and perform music is a requirement. Instruments limited to violin, viola, cello, and string bass.
Interest For the stringed-instrument student who wants to develop their musical skills and participate in concerts as well as solo and ensemble festivals.
Orchestra is designed for the stringed-instrument student who wants to perform in an orchestral music organization. The group will play a variety of string orchestra music and perform at school concerts and festivals. Students who perform at a more advanced level will be able to participate in the chamber string ensemble which will have additional music literature to the full orchestra literature. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.
TECH PRODUCTION FOR THEATER 1-2 0340 - 0341
Recommended Courses None
Interest Interested in exploring and participating in all the technical areas involved in putting on a full play production.
Technical Production for Theater 1-2 is a course which covers the basics of set design and construction, lighting, costuming, sound, makeup and stage management. Specifically, students will be expected to design, construct, and paint flats, to plan and draw a lighting plot for a play, to operate a lighting board and to choose costume designs and colors for characters in a play. In addition, students will be expected to operate the equipment used in sound effects and musical background for a play, to plan and apply makeup for play characters and to act as stage manager. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "F" requirement and the PUSD Fine Arts requirement or Practical Arts requirement.
TECH PRODUCTION FOR THEATER 3-4 0342 - 0343
Recommended Courses Tech Production for Theater 1-2
Interest Interested in exploring and participating in all the technical areas involved in putting on a full play production.
Technical Production for the Theater 3-4 is a practical theater class which continues to build on knowledge, experience and interest acquired in 1-2. Students will be able to perform the varied "behind the scenes" tasks at a level of expertness which would make them eligible for theater employment. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "F" or “G” requirement and the PUSD Fine Art requirement or Practical Art requirement.
THEATRE ARTS STUDY AND PERFORMANCE 7-8 0351 - 0352
Recommended Courses Teacher approval
Interest Interested in participating in all the areas and techniques involved in putting on a full play production.
This course is intended for those students who are ready to make an in depth commitment to the study and performance of theatre. Students will continue to hone and expand their skills in performance, design, stagecraft and theatre management through the process of selecting and producing plays from a variety of theatre genres for public performance. This course has been approved to meet the UC “F” or “G” requirement.
WOMEN'S ENSEMBLE 1-2 1118 - 1119
Recommended Courses Beginning Choir, Concert Choir and/or Audition
Interest To continue advanced study of choral concepts, music theory, and performance of more complex choral literature.
Women's Ensemble 1-2 is a course for advanced choral musicians. Advanced choral and vocal techniques will be taught. Classical and traditional repertoire will be studied and performed. Music theory and vocal technique are further explored. This is a performance class, and students are expected to participate in all choral activities. Outside time is required. Activities will include school and community performances. The Women’s Ensemble will represent the school at District and state levels in adjudicated festivals. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “F” or “G” requirement and PUSD Fine Arts requirement.