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Fine Arts
Art 1: Introduction to Art Making (½ Credit)
This is a semester course . This hands-on art class touches on drawing, painting, sculpture, art history, and personal expression through art . Enjoy creating your own art projects as we explore artists, styles, and materials . No experience necessary!
Art History (½ Credit)
Why is that big blue square called art? This is a semester course . For students interested in understanding contemporary art history, this class will study various artists and movements to understand the concepts behind the creation of modern art . Student presentations and simple art making are included to foster understanding of artists’ concepts . Inexperienced artists welcome!
Art 2: Drawing and Color (1 Credit)
This is a full year studio art course offered to advanced freshman artists . Learn to draw anything you see! Incoming students who are advanced or very interested in art may test into Drawing and Color thereby bypassing Intro to Art Making . Students interested in any career in the visual arts (graphic design, game design, web design, architecture or industrial design to name just a few!) would do best to apply as a freshman and follow the four year sequence to AP Art . There is an emphasis on drawing techniques featuring demonstration, observation, and practice using charcoal and watercolor . Critiques, drawing, painting, and art history are part of the curriculum . This course is a prerequisite course leading to a four-year sequence in Art and culminating in AP Art . This allows the student to focus on creating a scholarship level college portfolio . Prerequisite: Successful completion of Art 1 . A drawing test and departmental approval are required for those students wishing to skip Art 1 .
Art 3: Concept, Composition, and 2D design (1 Credit)
Learn to think your way through a visual problem and improve your skills . This one-year studio course is based on the art skills and knowledge developed in the preceding years . This course enables the student to explore his own development and style through the fine arts . The course is structured to encourage creative exploration and critical thinking: a resource valuable in college and beyond . A portfolio suited to each individual’s style will be developed . A variety of materials will be provided . An art history component is included . Regular homework, tests, and critiques are used for assessment . Any student who might need to build a college portfolio should take this course . Prerequisite: Successful completion of Art 2 or departmental approval . AP Art: 2D Design Art (1 Credit)
This Advanced Placement class meets for a full year, and students must be willing to schedule extra time to complete assignments . This is a college-level course that assumes a high degree of proficiency and commitment on the part of the student . Students are required to take the AP Studio Art test (which is not a written test, but rather a portfolio submission based on stringent requirements) . The course will focus on creating a personal voice for each student by exploring the two areas required by the College Board: quality, and a 15 piece developed exploration of a personal theme . Prerequisites: Art 2 and 3, departmental approval .
Foundations of Instrumental Music (1 Credit)
This course is meant for students who do not play an instrument and want to learn . Using traditional band methods, the yearlong course provides initial training on all band instruments (woodwinds, brass and percussion) . If they do not own an instrument, students will be expected to rent one . As the year progresses, rhythm section instrument opportunities may become available . Course enrollment is limited . Independent practice time will be required . Eventual participation in the Blue Night band is strongly encouraged . Prerequisite: interview with the instructor .
Instrumental Music I (1 Credit)
This course is meant for experienced students who already play an instrument . Students will deepen their ties to the Xavier music community and strengthen instrumental performance skills through exploration of various musical genres . Outstanding students will be eligible to audition for the Blue Night Band . Independent practice time will be required . Prerequisite: an audition with the instructor .
Instrumental Music II: Contemporary Songs and Songwriting (1 Credit)
In this full year course, learn to play in a group, increase skills, beginning improvisation and even touch upon composition . Students will learn new music and play as a group in class . Class will develop ensemble skills via performance opportunities . Advanced Students may be allowed to audition for the Blue Night Band . Independent practice time will be required . Students will use a simple recording app to compose . Prerequisites: Successful completion of Instrumental I or audition; approval of the band director .
Continue honing your instrumental skills, learn to compose and improvise, and begin to learn to record . Course will introduce beginning composition and recording basics . Students will be asked to use a simple recording app . Students who have not already done so may be invited to audition for the Blue Night Band . Independent practice time will be required . Prerequisites: Successful completion of Instrumental II or audition; approval of the band director .
Full year culminating project . Each student will sharpen their playing skills, record in a group, compose/arrange music and work to produce a CD . Course will emphasize group work, problem solving, recording techniques and the completion of individual CD projects featuring composition and recording basics . This course will introduce more advanced music concepts such as advanced music theory, improvisation and music composition . Students who have not already done so may be invited to audition for the Blue Night Band . Independent practice time will be required . Students will be asked to use a simple recording app . Fake books will be provided . Prerequisites: Successful completion of Instrumental Music III or an audition; approval from the instructor .
Learn about Recording (½ Credit)
This semester course will explore recording with popular music making apps . Students will learn how to use the apps and create their own recordings/arrangements . Group and individual project work will be completed . Studio musicians and future sound engineers alike will enjoy this class if they want to learn more about simple engineering, the recording console and familiarity with terms and equipment .
Survey of Music (½ Credit)
In this semester course, students learn about all types of music via discussion, video, and recordings . Learn about musical styles, instruments, notation, and elements of music . Special topics include an overview of music for stage and screen and the significance of music in our culture .
Introduction to Acting 9 (½ Credit)
Introduction to Acting will be an introductory course designed to explore the fundamentals of acting by incorporating group acting, improvisation, and creative learning to understand the basics . Students will learn about character motivation, understanding conflict/obstacles, theater vocabulary, stage directions, and more . Rehearsals for the school drama productions are completely separate from class, scheduled after school, require an audition, and are open to all levels . Introduction to Acting 10 (½ Credit)
Introduction to Acting will be an introductory course designed to explore the fundamentals of acting by incorporating group acting, improvisation and creative learning to understand the basics . Students will learn about character motivation, understanding conflict/obstacles, theater vocabulary, stage directions, and more . Rehearsals for the school drama productions are completely separate from class, scheduled after school, require an audition, and are open to all levels .
Acting for Film (½ Credit)
This course is designed to explore the practical and artistic elements involved in acting for the camera . Activities include the creation of a commercial, the performance of a monologue/scene from film and television scripts and more, all with the aim of fostering an understanding of the discipline and skills needed for an actor to perform on camera .
Advanced Acting (½ Credit)
Advanced Acting is a class for those students who have enjoyed and passed Introduction to Acting . It is a semester course designed to build upon experiences and skills learned in the introductory class by reviewing the fundamentals of acting, and is designed to allow students to fine tune their skills and explore more mature content and work . The class will cover ensemble work, movement, voice, scene, and play analysis, scene work including an emphasis on objectives, obstacles, and acting techniques, as well as a unit on improvisational skills . Prerequisite: Introduction to Acting or approval from the instructor .
Stagecraft (½ Credit)
Stagecraft is an introductory course exploring the technical aspects involved in a theatre production . It is a semester course which employs a hands-on approach to exploring theatre as a collaborative art . Elements of study include facets of theatre history, playwriting, directing, script analysis, lighting, sound, costume, prop, and set design, stage management and tech crew . Students will study assigned scenes and create production plans with supporting designs to articulate their unique vision of the play . Students will examine the work of some of the great theatre innovators, while developing and sharing their own designs and research during the course of the semester .
Photoshop for Designers (1 Credit)
This is a full year course . No art or computer experience necessary! Learn all the basics of Photoshop and more as we explore the fundamentals of design and digital art . This class will offer an introduction to graphic design and photo retouching, as well as “drawing” and “painting” on the computer . This class can dovetail with AP 2D design to create portfoliolevel pieces . Student flash drive will be required . Separating designers from technicians allows this class to assign art projects rather than technical assignments . Enrollment is limited . Prerequisite: Departmental approval required .
Elements of Cinema (1 Credit)
Are you interested in movies? Do you follow the careers of famous actors and directors? Do you like independent films? Do you watch the Oscars every year? If so, this is the course for you . A study of the art and craft of the history of motion pictures and an exploration of the greatest films ever made . Films will be screened and watched in class . There will also be discussions about the movies we watch, as well as observations of the new trends in cinema like streaming and the rise of Amazon and Netflix .
Blue Night Band (1 Credit)
The Blue Night Band is an award winning instrumental ensemble made up of advanced music players . The band performs each year in parades (Columbus Day and St . Patrick’s Day Parades), and various Xavier concerts and functions throughout the year . The Band covers a diverse repertoire and requires a high level of proficiency on your instrument . The Band has gone on road trips and performed in many festivals around the country . Students who are accepted in the Blue Night Band must attend rehearsals from 3:00 to 4:30 PM twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and all the performances scheduled for the year . These include day and evening performances as listed . Students will also be given the opportunity to apply for a position as a Blue Night Band Officer as well . Independent practice will be required .
