Fine Arts Courses & Faculty

This is an introductory visual arts course that integrates art with students' personal and academic interests and their ability to explore and communicate ideas and concepts. Through learning foundational drawing, painting and ceramic skills, students will practice creative thinking, self-expression, planning and problem solving. Technology will be used to create drawings and support various aspects of the art-making process.

This course is an introduction to photography course, which exposes students to the materials, processes and artistic techniques of taking artistic photographs. Students learn about the operation of a digital camera, composition, lighting techniques, camera angles and basic photo editing. As students advance, the instruction regarding the creative process becomes more refined, and students are encouraged to develop their own artistic style.

This course is designed to develop the student's ability to draw from observation using a wide variety of materials and techniques. Figure drawing, abstraction and realism will be explored. Students will learn how to experiment, practice and develop ideas.

This course provides a basic understanding of the tools, processes and language relative to painting media. Students will synthesize these understandings into individual paintings. Learners will integrate and build upon their knowledge of color theory, composition and drawing to create paintings of subjects in traditional and abstract styles.

This course is for students with a personal interest in pottery and other 3D media. Students will create three-dimensional artwork, using a variety of sculptural techniques and media such as clay hand-building techniques, wheel throwing, plaster and paper mache. Within the projects there will be an emphasis on planning, sketching, multiculturalism, art history and art criticism.

In this honors course, students will learn advanced ceramic and sculptural techniques. Students will expand on previous sculptural media and techniques. Students will work on concepts, such as abstract sculptures, symbolism and expressionism. Students will learn advanced processes such as glass, jewelry, plaster and advanced ceramic techniques. Students will build upon skills learned in Ceramics and Sculpture such as wheel throwing.

Advanced 2D is a drawing and painting studio class for students who have successfully passed Drawing or Painting. This advanced studio class will focus on expanding techniques and ideas learned in previous art classes as well as prepare students for AP Studio Art. It is a semester-long class that can be taken in conjunction with another art class.

As an AP art student, you will be asked to emphasize research, experimentation, discovery, inventive thinking and art making, critical analysis and problem solving in your work. Your goal will be to create a portfolio of college-level work, and at the end of the school year submit it for evaluation. A qualifying portfolio score can earn college credit and/or advanced placement. You will submit a digital portfolio as well as actual artworks. Each portfolio has three sections: Quality (Selected Works), Concentration (Sustained Investigation), and Breadth (Range of Approaches). Drawing can be addressed through a wide range of media.

As an AP art student, you will be asked to emphasize research, experimentation, discovery, inventive thinking and art making, critical analysis and problem solving in your work. Your goal will be to create a portfolio of college-level work, and at the end of the school year submit it for evaluation. A qualifying portfolio score can earn college credit and/or advanced placement. You will submit a digital portfolio as well as actual artworks. Each portfolio has two sections: Selected Works and a Sustained Investigation. In the Sustained Investigation section you will need to create a body of artwork that is guided by inquiry and shows an in-depth study of practices, experimentation and revision with a variety of materials, processes and ideas. In the Selected Works section you will need to show five artworks that show advanced skill of the 2D, 3D or Drawing principles of design. Within the three different portfolios, there is no preference for materials or methods of art making.

As an AP art student, you will be asked to emphasize research, experimentation, discovery, inventive thinking and art making, critical analysis and problem solving in your work. Your goal will be to create a portfolio of college-level work, and at the end of the school year submit it for evaluation. A qualifying portfolio score can earn college credit and/or advanced placement. You will submit a digital portfolio as well as actual artworks. Each portfolio has three sections: Quality (Selected Works), Concentration (Sustained Investigation), and Breadth (Range of Approaches). Students will explore 3D Design issues through additive, subtractive and fabrication processes.

This course, intended for freshmen/sophomores who are in their first year of choir, combines the best of personal enjoyment while developing vocal skills and studying the fundamentals of musicianship. Special emphasis is put on the development of sight singing skills necessary for future placement into advanced choral groups. Chorale performs at four school concerts throughout the year. A commitment to singing and performing is important, and upon successful completion of Chorale, a student can then audition for Concert Choir and/or Swing Choir.

*Chorale students participate in the four major concerts of the year, and attendance at all concerts is required.

This course combines the best of personal enjoyment while developing vocal skills and studying the fundamentals of musicianship. Special emphasis is put on the development of sight singing skills necessary for future placement into advanced choral groups. Concert Choir performs at four school concerts throughout the year as well as commencement. This class is repeatable.

*Attendance at all four major concerts is required.

This course is designed for advanced students who perform a wide variety of choral literature, from classical to contemporary. Swing Choir also focuses on music reading, sight singing and more advanced music theory concepts. The Swing Choir performs at concerts, festivals and community events as well as at four school concerts per year and commencement. This class is repeatable.

*Attendance at the four major concerts, plus commencement, is required with occasional out-of-school performances throughout the school year.

The AP Music Theory course is designed for the mature musician who is interested in enhancing their music ability through a rigorous study of music theory. The class will enable the student to understand theoretical and historical significance of harmonic structure as it relates to Western music. During the course of the class, students will develop the necessary technical skills used in analysis of music both structurally and harmonically. In addition, students will devote a significant amount of time developing their aural capabilities, such as sight singing, interval and chord recognition, melodic dictation and harmonic dictation. Ultimately, the class will prepare students for the AP Music Theory AP examination given in the spring, as well as entrance examinations given by schools of music for entering freshmen music majors.

Woodwind and brass students will work on total musicianship, developing performance skills and building further knowledge of fundamentals of music theory. Concert Band performs in three or four formal concerts throughout the year. Students will participate in activities of the Marching Tigers during Q1. All band students should be available for band camp rehearsals during the summer in preparation for the upcoming season's marching show. Band camp is held for one full week, usually the first week of August. Prerequisite: Passing grade in previous year's Concert Band class and/or approval of the instructor.

Percussion students will work on total musicianship, developing performance skills and building further knowledge of fundamentals of music theory. Concert Band performs in three or four formal concerts throughout the year. Students will participate in activities of the Marching Tigers during Q1. All band students should be available for band camp rehearsals during the summer in preparation for the upcoming season’s marching show. Band camp is held for one full week, usually the first week of August. Prerequisite: Passing grade in previous year’s Concert Band class and/or approval of the instructor.

All interested students with band experience on an appropriate instrument (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drum set, bass, guitar, piano) join Jazz Band to continue work on total musicianship, developing performance skills and building further knowledge of fundamentals of music theory and basic improvisation. Jazz Band members perform in three or four formal concerts throughout the year. Prerequisite: Passing grade in previous year's Jazz Band class and/or approval of instructor.

This course is designed for students with little or no piano experience. Using the electronic piano lab (MIDI), the class will introduce students to music notation, basic music theory, keyboard technique and music terminology through the study of keyboard repertoire. Students repeating this course or students with theory and composition experiences will be able to experience more advanced musical topics.

This course is designed for students who are interested in learning how to play the guitar and/or to develop strong technical skills in guitar performance. This course will introduce the techniques and musicianship skills in order to perform classical, blues, jazz, rock and pop repertoire. Students will learn music reading skills, sight reading, chords, collaboration, practice skills, and expressive performance and listening skills. Steel-string electric guitars are provided and stay in the classroom.

This course will explore the fundamentals of creating and organizing music with computers and teach students the ins and outs of using sound engineering hardware. This is a project-based class in which students will use different software applications to create and arrange music. Students will learn how to manipulate music by creating medley mixes, music re-arranging and exploring the digital world of music. Digital audio, MIDI and recorded audio will be used and incorporated to create music files. Students will learn basic concepts on making beats and music patterns to be used in music production. Keyboard skills are helpful but not necessary. Enrollment is open to all students, grades 9-12.

During the first year, emphasis is placed on developing, listening and speaking skills. These skills are developed by conversations and daily oral and written work. In addition to speaking and understanding the language on an elementary level, the students who successfully complete the course will also be able to compose simple paragraphs employing present and preterite tenses and read basic selections with comparative ease. Throughout the year various aspects of both Mexican and Spanish culture are also discussed.

During the second year, greater emphasis will be placed on reading and writing skills. Emphasis will also be placed on increasing the pupil's ability to express himself accurately in both the present and past tenses. Structure and syntax will be studied in greater depth, so that these aspects of language can be used effectively and correctly in oral and written work.

*Students who have taken Spanish I during grades 7 and 8 may earn one full high school credit in World Language if they earn credit in Spanish II during their first year at EPHS.

At the third-year level, appropriate selections of standard literary works are read. Together with short stories, authentic articles and various culture studies, students will form the basis for improvement in reading, writing, listening and speaking as they expand their knowledge of the Spanish vocabulary. Written composition work will include story summaries, recounting of a personal experience and other suitable topics. A continual study of vocabulary, grammar and syntax will make the students better able to speak and write correctly. Mexican, Peruvian and Dominican cultures will be emphasized via written and audiovisual materials.

This course would provide our heritage speaker population the chance to grow their writing and reading skills. It would also help expand their vocabulary. The goal of this class is to help students increase their literacy in Spanish in order to successfully gain the seal of biliteracy.

Students in the fourth year will improve their skills in written and oral Spanish through various projects and presentations during the year. Such projects may include newsletters, relief maps, themes/essays, speeches and research projects. There will be extensive review of grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Honors credit may be earned.

Students in the Advanced Placement Spanish course will cover material equivalent to a third-year college course in advanced Spanish composition and conversation. This course will emphasize the use of Spanish for active communication. It will encompass oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar and composition. Extensive training in the organization and writing of compositions and the expression of ideas orally will be an integral part of the course. This class will allow students to continue to build proficiency through a variety of interactive and non-interactive activities such as compositions, essays, oral presentations, skits, and in-depth studies of Spanish and Latin American literature, history and geography. All students enrolled in Advanced Placement Spanish are required to take the Advanced Placement exam in May.

The student is introduced to the basics of listening, understanding, speaking and reading in the Italian language. The student builds vocabulary, practices pronunciation, studies grammar, reads simple passages and writes original sentences. Italian culture is introduced and studied through lecture, readings, film and music.

The student continues the study of grammar, understands more complex structures, converses more freely in Italian, using a wider vocabulary, composes short, grammatically correct paragraphs and develops more insights into the Italian culture.

The student learns to communicate effectively in Italian. Emphasis will be placed on vocabulary and complex verbal structures. Through appropriate literary works and films, the student will improve in comprehension and be able to interpret longer narrations. The student will be able to write story summaries, dialogues and compositions on a variety of subjects. The student will immerse himself/herself in Italian culture, art, opera and cuisine.

In this fourth level of Italian class, students will continue to build vocabulary, learn new grammatical skills and will take an in-depth look at regions and cultural topics. Some of the vocabulary will focus on giving directions, ecology and the environment, songs and the world of music, television and immigration. Grammatical topics include the imperative and present conditional verb tenses, comparatives and superlatives, relative and indefinite pronouns, the present and past subjunctive tenses and the imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive. Students will learn how to incorporate these new skills into their speech and writing in Italian.