Cour se Select ions Visual Arts
Ar t 1- semester or full year This foundational course offers students the opportunity to explore many different art media and techniques (drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and more!) and learn the basics of the art elements and principles of design.
Drawing and Painting This course is designed for students who want to take the second level of art but can t fit the full year of Art 2 or who want to take another semester of art afte Art 1..
Ar t 2 and Ar t 3 This course is designed for students who wish to take the AP Art exam and/or pursue art in college as a career. This very intensive course is structured to prepare students to submit a cothe second concentration portion of the semester is spent focusing on a specific area of interest and developing a personal style of expression.
Advanced Placement in Ar t This course is designed for students who wish to take the AP Art exam and/or pursue art in college as a career. This very intensive course is structured to prepare students to submit a cothe second concentration portion of the semester is spent focusing on a specific area of interest and developing a personal style of expression.
Clay 1, Clay 2 & Clay 3 The clay courses at EHS offer students an opportunity to express themselves in clay through functional pottery and sculptures. Students will explore the elements and principles of art as tools of expression and learn hand-building, wheel throwing, and surface decoration
Photo 1, 2 & Photo 3 In this course you will create expressive and artistically composed photographs. You will learn how to use digital SLR cameras, and edit on the computer using Photoshop.
Digital & Graphic Design Using the computer as an artistic medium, you will explore the creative process and create digital artworks. You will be introduced to, Photoshop and Illustrator and experiment with different ways the programs can be used to create digital art.
Media Communications You will gain a broad understanding of digital media through hands on projects and creative design thinking. You will use Photoshop, Audition and Premiere Pro to design projects, including a movie poster and a short video.
Web Design The Web Design course teaches the fundamentals of web page design through hands-on, project-based learning with students working on web pages that grow in functionality as the semester goes on.
Animation 1 & 2 Computer Animation I focuses on learning the basics of creating digital animation. Topics include how to create 2d and 3d models effectively and how to render still images and video. We will use industry standard animation software to create exciting 3d objects and short animations.
EHSPN Students will focus on the creation of the EHS sports show EHSPN. This course is for students interested in video production, acting for the camera and/or sports reporting. This course allows students with a wide range of skill sets (music, acting, comedy, motion graphics, photography) to showcase their work for the school audience.
Movie Pr oduction 1 & 2 Students will learn about many of the skills required to conceive and produce a short movie. Story elements and composition, screenplay, lighting, basic to advanced camera work and audio recording for film. This course will focus on the creation of high quality short films. P Emphasis will be on advanced video DSLR use, lighting, scripting and storytelling.
Cour se Select ions Music
Piano 1 & 2 This course is designed for students who want to learn how to read music while acquiring the ability to play simple piano pieces with both hands. The lab allows group playing as well as silent individual practice. This course is for beginning pianists.
Beginning Guitar This course is designed to provide the musical novice with the fundamental guitar skills needed to perform at an introductory level. Students will learn basic music skills and guitar techniques from the perspective of the performer. The regular classroom time will be spent learning to read music and guitar tablature while playing traditional songs and other skills-appropriate music.
World Drumming World Music Drumming (WMD) will engage students through an active, hands-on approach. Through the traditions of Western African and Caribbean drumming students will learn to communicate musically, improvise, explore and respect musical and personal space, and practice how to lead and how to follow. Students will demonstrate techniques for playing various drums.
Music Technology Music Technology offers students an introduction to current composition, recording, and production technologies. Students will focus on hands-on, project based learning in areas including basic composition and arrangement, audio recording, stage audio, and stage lighting.
Concer t Choir & Chamber Choir This course is open to any student regardless of previous choral experience or ability. Students will develop vocal technique and music reading skills while performing a wide variety of choral repertoire, from Classical to Broadway. There is a mandatory concert per marking period. Concert Choir students can audition for any of the co-curricular vocal ensembles that meet after school.
Orchestra String players will learn a varied repertoire of orchestral music. Credit is based on successfully completing the required daily participation and several required public performances.
Symphonic Band & Wind E nsemble Most 9th grade students sign up for Symphonic Band. Students who wish to audition for the advanced band, the Wind Ensemble, can email Ms. Finlayson directly. Both bands combine to make our super awesome pep band, THE SWARM! We also march once a year in the Essex Memorial Day parade. Check out our video: https://youtu.be/jyo05jqxaig
This ensemble studies and performs the music of the foremost big band composers, past and present. This course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-7:55AM. Performances outside of the school day are a required part of the curriculum. www.essexbands.org. Prerequisite: Enrolled in an EHS band or orchestra course except for piano, bass and guitar players. Students can take this course more than once for credit. Essex Jazz Junction and Essex Jazz Or chest r a
Cour se Select ions T heater & Dance All T heater and Dance Classes ar e open to 9th gr ader s!
T heater 1 & T heater 2 Theat er 2 Inter mediate Acting This course is an introduction to the art of acting. Part of the class is designed to develop the ability to play dramatic scenes honestly and believably, using scripts from plays and movies. Students focus on discovering elements in the script that serve as the basis for characterization.
Film Appreciation and Criticism Students will learn a variety of critical methods to move beyond merely watching films to understanding them as active, critically engaged viewers. Through in-depth analysis of each film, students learn to express their ideas and feelings about film and examine artistic choices that affect a film s impact on the viewers.
Contempor ar y Dance This course is an all-levels contemporary dance technique class. It is a highly physical class that empha- 25 sizes and develops correct body alignment, core engagement and movement awareness. Every class will end with learning choreography from a range of dance styles including jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre
I mpr ov Theat er 1 & 2 This course explores the principles of comedy improvisation. Students will develop and strengthen creative thinking skills, spontaneity, vocal and physical prowess, and collaboration through the use of theater improvisation exercises.
Extracurricular Activities Madrigal Festival Jazz Festival Senior Art Show All-State Music Festival Pitch Pipes Ensembles Congressional Art Show Drama Club Improv Team Poetry Out Loud One Act Plays Musical Children s Play District Festivals
AVPA Academy of Visual & Performing Arts
If you r e int er est ed in applying for AVPA W e r ecommend that you sign up for at least 1 Fine Ar ts Cour se Go to www.avpavt.org for more info
Thank you for your time. We are excited to have you join us soon! Fine Ar t s Depar t ment