FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
The variety and balance of the curriculum offered in the arts is designed to give students the training, experience, skill and integrity that encourage them to make use of their creative abilities and to develop a well-rounded liberal arts background.
The Fine Arts Department strives
- to inculcate in the student an appreciation of the arts;
- to assist the student in expressing herself through the arts;
- to integrate the heritage of the past and present with the future for the purpose of the transmission of culture;
- to remove boundaries and allow students to explore aspects of life around them in new ways by connecting the arts with other disciplines.
- to develop technology skills.
ART
FUNDAMENTALS OF ART
Course 701
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Elective Year 1 Credit
Prerequisite: None
This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of drawing, design, painting, printmaking and clay. Fundamentals of Art must be taken prior to any other course except an Experience of Art. It is not necessary to know how to draw just a willingness to want to learn.
SENIOR ART
Course 704 – Advanced (2 weight)
Grade 12 Elective Year 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Four semesters of Art (exceptions are made) and acceptance.
This class is designed for students intending to study in the field of art. It is ideal for students wishing to prepare a portfolio of work which can be used for college entrance and scholarship competitions. The course challenges the students to work in- depth, to go beyond their previous knowledge in a variety of media and in the creative thought process.
Extensive outside work is required. Students must be disciplined and motivated.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART
AP 2-D DESIGN
AP 3-D DESIGN
AP DRAWING
Course 705 – AP (4 weight)
Grade 12 Elective Year 1 Credit
Prerequisites: Four semesters of Art (preferred) and acceptance.
Students will choose one of the three AP disciplines early in the school year or in the summer prior to senior year. These courses enable highly motivated students to do college level work in studio art while still in high school. Candidates submit a comprehensive portfolio of work for evaluation at the end of their senior year. A.P. work involves a significant amount of time and commitment; extensive outside work is required. During the summer students will be expected to produce five pieces of artwork related to their concentration. This class is designed solely for students seriously committed to studying art in the future. Portfolios must reflect high quality work. Students returning in the fall of their senior year will not be admitted into AP Art without the five completed quality pieces.
Guidelines for portfolios have been designed to accommodate a variety of interests and approaches to art. The 3 required sections of the portfolio include:
Quality - the development of sense of excellence in art;
Concentration - an in-depth, personal commitment to a particular artistic concern;
Breadth - a variety of experiences in using the formal, technical and expressive means available to an artist. Students are expected to submit a portfolio to the A.P. program for evaluation and could receive college credit for their work.
LIFE DRAWING 1 and 2
Course 710
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Art
This course is the study of the human skeletal and muscle structure to help the student draw the human figure correctly. This class is highly recommended to sophomores and juniors.
GRAPHIC DESIGN 1
Course 713
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Art
This course explores basic design. Creative techniques are used to communicate visually and effectively. The class is product oriented requiring students to use their understanding of design principles to create ads, posters, identity logos, etc. Students receive an introduction to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator.
PAINTING 1 and 2
Course 715
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Art
Students have the choice of working with oil or polymer paint. Exploration of the medium and various techniques are studied.
CERAMICS AND THREE D DESIGN 1 and 2
Course 720
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Art
This course deals with sculptural forms and pottery techniques. Plaster, wood and clay are some of the mediums in which work is done.
DRAWING AND WATERCOLOR 1 and 2
Course 722
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Art
Charcoal, pencil, ink, watercolor and various techniques of each medium are explored and mixed. This course is taught in alternate years beginning with 2013-14.
PRINTMAKING 1 and 2
Course 721
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Art.
This class explores various types of printmaking such as woodcut, etching, embossing and silkscreen. This course is offered in alternate years, beginning with 2014-15.
PHOTOGRAPHY 1 and 2
Course 727
Grades 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Art and 1 semester of any other art class prior to taking photography.
Students must have a 35 mm camera SLR. Emphasis in this class is on learning how to use a 35mm SLR camera, dark room techniques and fundamentals of photographic design. Digital photography and the use of Adobe Photoshop CS3 will also be introduced. The Art Department provides darkroom chemicals. Students are responsible for the cost of all film (about one roll per week) and photographic paper, or approximately $100 worth of materials.
AN EXPERIENCE OF ART
Course 730
Grades 11, 12 Elective Semester 1/2 Credit
Prerequisite: None
This course is designed for the student who will take only one semester of art and who does not plan to go on to other courses in the art program. The course includes a brief introduction to the elements and principles of design.
M U S I C
CHORAL MUSIC
Course 762 Year 1 credit
Course 762S Semester ½ credit
Grades 9, 10 Elective
Course 765 Year 1 credit
Course 765S Semester ½ credit
Grades 11, 12 Elective
Prerequisite: None
This course is a combination of choral music, sight-singing, music theory and music appreciation. Participation in all concerts is a requirement for each semester(s) that the class is taken.
VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Course 780
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective Year 1/2 credit
Prerequisite: Students must audition.
This group meets a minimum of two hours a week after school. Enrollment in a chorus class is required for participation. Students perform at many in-school and community functions throughout the year. Solo singing and choreography are elements of the class and private voice lessons are required.
HANDBELL CHOIR
Course 782
Grades, 9, 10, 11, 12 Elective Year 1/4 credit
Handbell choir meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 9:00 PM for rehearsal. Players at any level of experience are welcome. This group will provide music at liturgies, recitals, and concerts.
(INSTRUMENTAL) MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Course 771 Year 1 Credit
Course 771S Semester ½ Credit
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Elective
Prerequisite: None
Playing a ninstrument is a great opportunity for any student to enrich her life and expand her boundaries. In this class you will learn how to play a wind instrument and how to read music. Master the basics of music that will allow you to learn guitar, drums or any instrument you could imagine by taking Music Performance. No prior music experience is required! WindInstrumentsinclude:Trumpet,Trombone,Clarinet,SaxophoneandFlute. InstrumentsarerentedthroughBuddy Rogersmusic,orinsomecases suppliedthroughtheschool.
Any ladies that learn or have learned to play an instrument prior are invited to perform as a member of the Nationally Recognized Pride of La Salle Band Program. Students interested in this opportunity should contact Mr. Fischer with any questions: Bfischer@lasallehs.net
Also available at Mercy, although not for credit, are:
Private lessons in Voice. These are scheduled once/week for 30 minutes during study hall or after school. There is an additional fee paid directly to the teacher. once/week for 30 minutes during study hall or after school. There is an additional fee paid directly to the teacher.
DRAMA
Theatre courses/drama creates an environment that fosters personal expression and worth, stresses the concept of teamwork and responsibility, and provides insight into human character. Principles and styles of acting are introduced as well as character development. An awareness of the body as the actress’ instrument is also emphasized. The heart of the program is student involvement in the productions, attending theatre competition and conventions, and the staging and performance of theatrical events for the community and Mercy. Each student receives 35 theatre classes per year. Fee - $95 per semester.
DRAMA 1
Course 791 Grade 9 Year ¼ credit
The basic elements of theatre such as ensemble acting, improvisation, pantomime and self-confidence building are introduced to the young actresses. Special emphasis is placed on scene work, improvisation, body movement and character development. An introduction to theatre production culminates in a freshman one-act play with performance to the community in which all are cast.
DRAMA 2
Course 792 Grade 10 Year ¼ credit
Building on the concepts and skills attained in Drama 1, this course expands and centers on stage movement and direction, improvisation, character development, scene work and stage combat activities. Special emphasis is placed on the collective and collaborative technical needs to produce a play. All sophomores in this course produce and perform a full length play/musical for the community.
DRAMA 3
Course 793 Grade 11 Year ¼ credit
Advanced acting skills through monologues and scene work are stressed at this level. Technical production and advanced improvisation are also taught. Audition material and theatrical vocabulary are stressed. Students at this level are encouraged to audition for performance and/or technical positions in the fall musical and spring play. Students also have the opportunity to attend Theatre festivals around Ohio, as well as compete at the Overture Awards, Shakespeare Competition and other competitive events.
DRAMA 4
Course 794 Grade 12 Year ¼ credit
Advanced acting work, the director’s responsibilities and dramatic criticism are stressed at this level in addition to continued emphasis on advanced improvisation, professional scene work and body movement. Professional acting for children’s performances is introduced. Additional study of technical theatre is made. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the major productions (fall musical/spring play), attend outside theatre conventions and act in the Senior Kids Tour performance. Students also have the opportunity to attend Theatre festivals around Ohio, as well as compete at the Overture Awards, Shakespeare Competition and other competitive events.
ADVANCED ACTING (2 weight)
Course 795 Grade 12 Semester ½ credit
Prerequisite: Completion of 2-3 years of Mercy drama or equivalent experience and concurrent enrollment in Drama 4.
This course is designed for those students who are interested in an intensive performing experience and exploring the acting process by developing the actor’s improvisational, scene analysis, character development, audition and performance skills. Students explore various acting techniques that fuse intellect, imagination, voice, and body. Advanced Acting will also introduce the student to the fundamental rehearsal process culminating in performances of selected scenes at a final performance.
Advanced Acting is a semester course held at the College of Mount St. Joseph on Mondays from 3:15 – 6:00PM from August 26 – December 9, 2013. This course can be taken for dual credit and students will receive 3 semester hours in the area of Communications. Enrollment is limited to 10 students. Applications are available from Ms. Bodollo and must be returned by March 1.