Grade Level: 9

Pep Band A

This course is open to all wind, brass, and percussion students.  It will include a variety of styles and difficulties of concert band and pep band music.  A cornerstone of this ensemble will be developing technical proficiency on each student’s instrument, as well as establishing a strong level of ensemble cohesion.  Music of all historical periods (including 20th century and popular music), various cultures, and multiple geographic areas will be studied for performance.  Students will participate in a two-week band camp during August (mandatory) to prepare for football season performances.  In rehearsal, students will be graded daily on their preparedness and involvement.  Additionally, periodic playing tests will be given to assess progress and these are also graded with a rubric that reflects the core concepts of intonation, proper fingerings/positions/sticking, correct rhythms, and overall musicianship.

This course is offered during 0 period. (8:00-8:45 am, Tue, Thu during fall semester ONLY) Meets 2 mornings per week, plus:

    • 8 home football & volleyball games (and playoffs, if applicable) for the FALL semester

First Semester Taken:  Pep Band A (6538)

Second Semester Taken:  Pep Band B (6539)

Subsequent Semesters Taken:  Pep Band C (9818)

Photography 1A

The Photography 1A class provides a comprehensive study of photography as an art form.   The course will expose the student to fundamental issues unique to the medium through the study of the history of photography.  The students will experience a variety of approaches to the medium of black and white photography beginning with photograms and also including pinhole photography and 35mm cameras.  Students will create their own photograms, use pinhole cameras to get negatives and make positive images, learn how to process black and white film and enlarge.  Portrait photography is a major aspect of the Photography 1A program and the work of portrait photographers such as Arnold Newman, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Yousuf Karsh will be presented in class.  At the end of the semester, students will work on a final project on a portrait or self-portrait.