Fine and Performing Arts
Students have an opportunity to explore the Arts as well as to prepare for further study or a career in the Arts. All students must earn .5 credit in the arts to meet graduation requirements. Students in grade 9 are required to enroll in one of the Arts Experience, Music in the Digital Age, Concert Band or Concert Choir.
If a student were to take a pathway toward music at the college level, it may look like this:
Grade 9 - Arts Experience and/or Band/Choir/Jazz
Grade 10 - Music in the Digital Age and Band/Choir/ A Cappella/Jazz
Grade 11 - Music Production, Music Theory and Band/Choir/A Cappella/Jazz
Grade 12 - Adv Music Production, Adv Music Theory, Band/Choir/A Cappella/Jazz
- 01
This course offers an introduction to all aspects of music from composition to sound recording. Music from many cultures and historical periods is examined in an attempt to answer the question: How does today’s popular music reflect the integration of digital media? How does today’s digitally inspired music harken to the music of the past? Students will do some basic composition; learn about how music works by studying music vocabulary and chord progression through extensive listening to all styles of music that influence what we hear today. Students will also do some basic piano keyboard, drums and sound recording using GarageBand, iMovie and ProTools.
- 02
How does participation in concert band teach students responsibility, discipline and the art of music performance?
Concert Band meets daily and is open to all students who play a band instrument. This ensemble focuses on the concert, marching/pep and chamber music styles of performance. Students study and perform a variety of standard and contemporary literature. Ensemble studies develop independence in the reading and performance of music. This ensemble performs at concerts, festivals, and school and community functions. Participation in occasional full band and sectional rehearsals outside of school hours is required. Summer Band Camp and participation in Marching/Pep Band are also required of all band students at Souhegan High School. Double Reed players (oboe/bassoon) will be excused from the marching/pep commitment and Varsity Football players will be excused during the football season.
- 03
What is involved in the art of choral singing and its place in music?
How do I develop my singing voice and musicianship skills in a choral setting?
Concert Choir is open to all students who desire to experience quality choral music in a daily classroom setting. Students perform a variety of musical styles and perform in concerts, contests, and community functions. Students will work on improving their musicianship skills while exploring quality music. Students enhance their understanding of music and improve technical skills while participating in the thrill of singing.
- 04
How can technological skills be used to make music?
Students will learn the fundamentals of live sound reinforcement and sound recording. They will learn proper set up of a public address system, use proper microphone techniques and learn monitoring and effects processing. They will be introduced to tracking using digital sound and loop manipulation through Apple’s Garageband. They will be introduced to digital sound recording using Digidesign’s computer-based recording system ProTools on both PC and Mac. Students will learn the basics of setting up a home studio using their computer and learn the basics of digital signal processing. Students may enroll in this class for the full year or for a semester.
- 05
How can the study of music theory improve musical literacy?
The ultimate goal of this Music Theory course is to develop a student’s ability to recognize, understand, and describe the elements of music - pitch, intervals, scales and keys, chords, basic harmony, meter and rhythm. These basic concepts will be addressed through listening to a wide variety of music, including music from classical to jazz and popular music. In Music Theory students will read, notate, write, sing, and listen to music. Performance and basic composition using singing, keyboard, and students’ primary instrument will also be a part of the learning process.
- 06
How can the study of jazz music improve overall musicianship?
Jazz Ensemble is open to all band students based on the needs and instrumentation of the ensemble. Students learn the basics of jazz pedagogy and are exposed to various styles within the jazz idiom such as swing, Latin, rock and funk. Members of this ensemble perform at school activities, competitions, festivals and concerts. Rhythm section musicians (keyboard, guitar, bass and drum set) may be chosen from the student population outside of concert band. Students who wish to enroll in this ensemble must be enrolled in Concert Band concurrently.
- 07
This course is the second or third year continuation of music production. Students will be asked to create projects using more advanced techniques. Advanced Students will also take a leadership role with the set up of audio for events at SHS and in the community. Advanced students will also take a mentor ship role in working with first year students to help develop their skills. Prerequisite is Music Production.
- 01
What is good design? How can I effectively communicate my ideas visually? What are the work habits and skills necessary to create art?
Students will explore a variety of media, practice technical skills, and build knowledge in the concepts behind two-dimensional design. Course work includes graphic design, drawing, painting, and mixed media. This “hands on” studio art class emphasizes creative problem solving and communication through visual means.
- 02
What is good 3D design?
Students explore the concepts of visual communication, composition, and creativity through a series of three-dimensional media. We will include the use of clay, wire, paper, plaster and non-traditional materials to construct images that convey thoughts and communicate ideas. Students will be introduced to the basic principles used in making sculpture, such as form, space, and engineering concerns.
- 03
What techniques and skills are needed to create exciting digital images? How can I nurture creativity while producing memorable images?
Students will explore the concepts of visual communication, photographic composition, and creativity through the study and practice of digital photography. They will learn to operate a digital SLR camera and run the Adobe Editing Software through Creative Suite. Throughout the course students will shoot, edit, and print their own images while maintaining their own digital files. Students will have access to Nikon digital SLR cameras and our Mac Lab for editing.
- 04
What makes drawing a fundamental art form?
Students work with pencil, charcoal, pastel, and other media to learn the technical, observational, and creative skills needed to render the observed world on paper. This course is an important prerequisite for Advanced Art and AP Studio Art classes.
Visual Arts
The art program covers courses from introductory, through intermediate, to an advanced level. Students should consider the sequence of courses to ensure a progression of skills.
Introductory: The Freshmen Arts Experience course is highly recommended for all freshmen to begin their art exploration. This course introduces all four state Arts Competencies that include skill development in research, writing, speaking and creating in the arts.
Intermediate: These courses are meant to follow Art Experience and provide a more in depth study of technique in a particular visual arts medium.
Advanced: For more experienced and serious art students who have successfully completed established prerequisites and have an interest in pursuing a more intensive area of artistic study.
If a student were to take a pathway toward music at the college level, it may look like this:
Grade 9 - Arts Experience and Drawing
Grade 10 - Drawing, Painting, Photography, Pottery, Digital Art
Grade 11 - Advanced Art
Grade 12 - Advanced Placement Art
- 01
What makes the arts essential? How does art make us human?
This course is a taste of the Arts in general, and their role in our lives and in our culture. Through the lens of art and art making, we will examine contemporary life and art in America. We will explore over a hundred years of artistic creation from 1900 to the present day. Our journey will begin by examining the powerful influence of our European heritage and the events that would shape art and culture in our time. As we progress through different periods and movements, students will apply new knowledge and understanding as inspiration in their own artwork.
Students will navigate a range of different media and modes of expression, both collaboratively and independently. This course gives students agency (choice/responsibility) in their creative approach and access to multiple specialists and a variety of art media (visual art, music, dance and theater).
- 02
What makes drawing a fundamental art form?
Students work with pencil, charcoal, pastel, and other media to learn the technical, observational, and creative skills needed to render the observed world on paper. This course is an important prerequisite for Advanced Art and AP Studio Art classes.
- 01
What is painting and how can it communicate my ideas?
Acrylics and watercolors are used to build an understanding of color, volume, light, and space in paintings that reflect various historical styles. Students will work both from real subject matter, and from their imaginations, to create images with this versatile medium.
- 02
What makes pottery a classic and functional art form?
Students are introduced to ceramic design utilizing hand building and wheel throwing techniques in a studio setting. This course will increase student understanding and appreciation of ceramics by providing opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills in personal artistic expression and response. Glazing and decorative processes, firing techniques balanced with art criticism, art history, and aesthetics round out the balance of the course.
- 03
How can a better understanding of advanced pottery techniques increase creative expression?
Students work on more significant creative pieces to demonstrate artistic expression in clay. Students create a plan and work toward their goal. Experimentation with larger and more complex forms is encouraged, as is more consistent time to practice on the pottery wheel. Alternative decorative processes and further exploration of ceramic traditions from other cultures are incorporated. Prerequisite is Pottery 1.
- 04
What makes a good photograph?How is Adobe Photoshop used to manipulate photographs to improve composition, desired effect and/or visual message?
Students will learn to operate a digital SLR camera and learn to edit digital images using Adobe Photoshop. In this creative, computer based studio course, students develop skills in creating, manipulating, editing, and printing photographs.
- 05
What is my personal style as a photographer and how can I improve the message or meaning of my work?
Students will explore more advanced photographic techniques, and develop their skills in communication and expression.
Prerequisite is Digital Photography 1 or prior experience using Photoshop software and digital cameras.
- 06
How has the computer and digital technology evolved from a tool to a partner in the creative process? How can the computer be used for visual design, self expression and communication?
This course will focus on the use of digital technology in producing and developing images and as a creative tool in the development of visual arts media. We will use our state of the art Maclab and the powerful suite of applications from Adobe’s Creative Cloud to explore the potential of artistic expression in the digital world. Our studio will become a partner in creation as we experiment with graphic design through layout, drawing, painting, and photographic manipulation on the digital platform.
- 01
How can I develop technical and conceptual skills through an artistic process that will define my personal style?
This course is a studio experience for students who plan to continue their studies of art after graduation or have an interest in working at the advanced level in particular art mediums. This course will prepare students for the rigor of Advanced Placement Art and Design while developing a diverse body of work for College applications. Portfolio preparation is expected. This course is different from AP Art in the following ways: there is a focus on exploration of the students strengths and weaknesses in technique and processes. This will include how to journal and reflect on their work. There will be a reduced level of intensity in the output of work but an increased level of focus on how the student works as an artist. Prerequisite: Successful completion of 1 semester each of Digital Art and of Drawing or permission from the instructor.
- 02
How can I develop technical and conceptual skills through an artistic process that will define my personal style? What role does collaboration and critical feedback play in the development of my personal style?
This course is a rigorous advanced studio experience for students who plan to continue their studies of art after graduation or have an interest in working at the advanced level in particular art mediums. Students wishing to gain college credit will be creating works of art based on a guiding question that they have developed. Frequent critiques on their practice, experimentation, revision, communication and reflection is required. This class is designed to provide an authentic experience for working artists and is graded using the AP exam standards. Juniors who wish to take an advanced art class can take this class both in junior and senior year using the time to create a large portfolio of work with the intent to submit to the College Board in their senior year. All students work independently and exhibit their work in solo exhibitions throughout the year. Students are expected to participate in group critiques and maintain a rigorous pace of creating and producing. A portfolio that demonstrates a sustained investigation throughout the year will be submitted for the AP exam.
- 03
How can I develop personal style and meaning in my photography? What are the real world applications of my work?
Advanced Photography is an opportunity for students to take their photographic skill, knowledge, and interest to a more advanced level. In this semester course students will develop an understanding of personal style while exploring meaning in their work. They will expand from foundational skill and technique, and apply more complex and experimental approaches to their work. Students will be asked to apply that knowledge and understanding to a real world photographic application (photojournalism, event photography, portrait photography, etc.). It is recommended that students have successfully completed Digital Photo I and II.
- 01
What is painting and how can it communicate my ideas?
Acrylics and watercolors are used to build an understanding of color, volume, light, and space in paintings that reflect various historical styles. Students will work both from real subject matter, and from their imaginations, to create images with this versatile medium.
- 02
What makes pottery a classic and functional art form?
Students are introduced to ceramic design utilizing hand building and wheel throwing techniques in a studio setting. This course will increase student understanding and appreciation of ceramics by providing opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills in personal artistic expression and response. Glazing and decorative processes, firing techniques balanced with art criticism, art history, and aesthetics round out the balance of the course.
- 03
Students work on more significant creative pieces to demonstrate artistic expression in clay. Students create a plan and work toward their goal. Experimentation with larger and more complex forms is encouraged, as is more consistent time to practice on the pottery wheel. Alternative decorative processes and further exploration of ceramic traditions from other cultures are incorporated. Prerequisite is Pottery 1.
- 04
What makes a good image? How is Photoshop used to manipulate images to improve composition, desired effect and/or visual message?
Students will learn to use a digital camera to create images and learn to edit digital images using Adobe Photoshop. In this creative, computer based studio course, students develop skills in creating, manipulating, editing, and printing visual images.
- 05
How does Photoshop effect my style of Photography? What is a great picture?
Students will explore advanced imaging techniques, and develop higher-level creative skills in digital imaging. Prerequisite is Digital Photography 1 or prior experience using Photoshop software and digital cameras.
- 06
How does photography work, and how can I capture memorable images?
Students explore the science behind exposure in photography, and develop skills in camera and darkroom techniques. They will learn the process of traditional black and white photography including shooting, film processing, and printing their own images. Students will learn technical information and vocabulary while examining the underlying concepts of this expressive medium.
- 07
How can a better understanding of traditional
photographic processes increase creative potential?
This course expands upon the knowledge/skills learned in Photo 1. Students learn more advanced techniques in camera operation, lighting, and darkroom procedures. Emphasis will be placed on the expressive nature of this medium, and how to convey a message, meaning or idea through your work.