Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory is a fast-paced course including a substantial amount of homework in preparation for the AP music theory exam in May. This course prepares students to complete college level work in the areas of reading and analyzing notated music and aural training. Particular emphasis will be placed upon developing listening skills, sight-singing ability and knowledge of rhythm, melody, harmony, form and other compositional devices.
Class receives honors weighting in SI weighted GPA and UC/CSU GPA calculations
*This class will be offered pending adequate enrollment.
**This course meets during the regular school day, periods 1-7, during fall OR spring semester.
The Photography 1B class will build on skills learned in Photography 1A. In addition, students will learn basic studio lighting and more advanced darkroom techniques to obtain better results when printing in black and white. Still life is a major aspect of the program and images from the following artists will be presented: Edward Weston, Renger-Patzsch, Minor White and Aaron Siskind. At the end the semester, students will do research on the biography and style of a photographer who has made important aesthetic advances in history. The final project will consist of creating still life images with thematic unity.
3D Studies/Mixed Media Sculpture B continues the exploration of the visual world; its relationships of form and space — in the context of historical examples, environmental/cultural impact, creative self-expression and collaborative pieces. Field trips to local museums and sculpture collections and some written work will complement the original work created by the student in the studio and at home.
*This class will be offered pending adequate enrollment.
As a follow-up course to Studio Art A, the Studio Art B class will place emphasis on the concept of connection and progression in developing and expanding a visual image. A more refined sense of visual decision-making and creative initiative will be stressed and expected of the mature visual arts student. Students will use a variety of materials, techniques, and styles to explore themselves in relationship to their personal history, community, and their God. We will work in acrylic paint, water color paint, pencil, oil pastel, colored pencil, linoleum block prints, and a variety of mixed media materials. A special project involving an in depth self-study through visual images will urge the student to see her/himself in various aspects; with a connection to a specific community, a realistic self-portrait and a non-objective symbol that strikes a familiar resounding chord.
Dance Workshop is a production-focused studio course in dance technique and performance, focusing on ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance styles. All dancers are welcome to audition, with no prior experience necessary. Auditions allow the director to place students into groups based on approximate levels of technique and artistry. Each group will have one required technique class per week and one rehearsal. Students will rehearse choreographed dances in a supportive community environment and present a dance concert at the end of the semester.
One semester; offered after school/evenings ONLY
Time commitment: Meets 1-2 afternoons per week, 3 hours per meeting, plus performances.
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day.
Drama 1C: Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop is an after-school workshop exploring drama, dance and music theories and their application in performance. To that end, students will explore acting, singing, dancing, rehearsal, performance, and technical/design skills culminating in the production of a full-length Broadway musical in the Spring semester. Students will also learn about the historical and cultural significance of the selected piece of musical theatre. Students are admitted on the basis of a competitive audition and interviews held at the beginning of the semester.
This course is offered outside of the 2:45 am – 3:00 pm school day.
Meets 3-5 times per week, afternoons or evenings, 3 hours per meeting.
*This class is not counted in the student’s SI GPA
This course is an after-school workshop in acting, rehearsal, performance, and technical/design skills culminating in the production of a full-length play in the fall semester. Students are admitted on the basis of a competitive audition held at the beginning of the semester. Four additional students may be selected to the positions of stage manager, stage crew chief, lighting designer on the basis of in-depth interviews. These students will work alongside professionals over the course of the production developing knowledge and skills in each specialized area and their application in performance.
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 3-5 times per week, afternoons or evenings, 3 hours per meeting.
*This class is not counted in the student’s SI GPA
Jazz Band prepares students to perform a variety of musical competitions from the 1920s through the present, focusing primarily on large-ensemble jazz in the Big Band and swing tradition. This class is available to students who have taken private lessons for at least one year, or participated in their middle school Band program. Jazz Band will perform at the Winter Concerts, the Spring Pops Concerts, the Performing Arts Assembly, and several festivals or adjudicated performances.
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 2 afternoons per week for 2 hours each, plus performances.
*This class is not counted in the student’s SI GPA
Jazz Combo prepares students to perform a variety of musical competitions from the 1940s through the present, focusing primarily on small-ensemble jazz and solo improvisation. This class is available to students who have taken private lessons for at least one year, or participated in their middle school Band program. Jazz Combo will perform at the Winter Concerts, the Spring Pops Concerts, the Performing Arts Assembly, and several additional performances at SI and around the Bay Area.
This course is offered outside of the 9:00 am – 2:45 pm school day. Meets 1 afternoon per week for 2 hours each, plus performances.
*This class is not counted in the student’s SI GPA
French 3 is an intermediate level language course designed for those students who have acquired satisfactory competency during their first two years of language study. The course builds upon the skills and material covered in French 1 and 2. It reviews all major grammatical structures and introduces a broader scope of grammatical knowledge. Emphasis is placed on improving oral skills, broadening the range of grammatical structures the student can effectively use in writing and conversation, enriching the student’s vocabulary, and deepening his/her awareness of present day social justice issues within the French-speaking world. This class is conducted in French, except when complex grammar concepts require a clearer explanation in English. Through a variety of cultural activities, the course will enhance students’ knowledge and appreciation of the incredible diversity of the French–speaking world and will encourage and enable the student to broaden his/her “French life.” Students are expected to speak in French at all times.
