Year
1 Credit
Repeatable

Concert Band is a laboratory experience designed to develop and refine the fundamentals of good instrumental music performance on traditional wind band (woodwind, brass and percussion) instruments. Various styles and settings of music will be used to develop proper musical practices. During the first 10 weeks, this course focuses on marching band skills and performance. During marching band, this ensemble performs at football games, parades, and other extracurricular activities. Following the marching band portion of the course, the Concert Band performs as a traditional concert ensemble. The Concert Band holds at least two public concerts each year and may also participate in district and state band adjudicated events. Attendance at out-of-school rehearsals and performances is required. (Contact the director for a calendar of events). This course has open enrollment. 

Year
0.5 Fine Art Credit
Repeatable

Jazz Band is an advanced ensemble that focuses on jazz, blues and rock repertoire. Jazz Band meets two mornings per week before the regular school day as scheduled by the director. A complete schedule of rehearsals and performances will be published before the school year begins. Jazz Band is open to any student currently enrolled in a credit-bearing instrumental ensemble (Concert Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, Honors Chamber Orchestra or String Orchestra) who plays a traditional jazz ensemble instrument (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, guitar, bass, piano). Due to the number of participants, players may be assigned to play parts on a rotation, as needed. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is mandatory to receive full course credit.

Year
1 Fine Art Credit
1.1 Weighted
Repeatable

Wind Ensemble is an advanced laboratory experience designed to develop and refine the fundamentals of good instrumental music performance on traditional wind band (woodwind, brass and percussion) instruments, as assigned by the director. Various styles and settings of music will be used to develop proper musical practices. During the first 10 weeks, this course focuses on marching band skills and performance. During marching band, this ensemble performs at football games, parades, and other extracurricular activities. The Wind Ensemble holds at least two public concerts each year and may also participate in district and state band adjudicated events. This course is designed for serious musicians who seek advanced musical challenges. Attendance at out-of-school rehearsals and performances is required. (Contact the director for a calendar of events).
Audition and permission of the instructor is required for enrollment in this course.

Year
1 Fine Art Credit
Repeatable

String Orchestra is an ensemble designed to develop and refine the fundamentals of string instrument performance. Intermediate techniques such as shifting, vibrato, spiccato and other extended techniques will be introduced and refined. String orchestra works on various music styles including classical, pop, and folk and fiddle music. String orchestra holds at least two public concerts each year and may also participate in state and adjudicated events. This course has open enrollment.

Year
1 Fine Art Credit
1.1 Weighted
Repeatable

Chamber is an advanced string and full orchestra that requires a student audition. Students will follow an advanced string orchestra curriculum for most of the year to learn and refine techniques such as higher position shifting and playing, advanced bowing styles and extended techniques. Chamber works  of various music styles including Baroque, classical, romantic, modern, pop, full orchestra and fiddle music. In the spring, the orchestra may perform  full orchestra with wind, brass and percussion players. Chamber holds at least two public concerts each year and may also participate in state adjudicated events. Visit the orchestra website or contact the director for audition requirements.

Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
Semester or All Year
0.5 Fine Art Credit or 1 Fine Art Credit
Repeatable

Concert Choir is a novice-level tenor and bass vocal ensemble. Singers will work on developing correct singing technique including phonation, diction, intonation, breath management and phrasing. Emphasis will be placed on singing various part divisions, reading and understanding musical notation, developing a mature choral sound, and performance skills. Music studied is selected from a variety of historic periods and styles, world cultures, including popular, sacred, classical, Broadway and folk music. Singers are required to participate in public performances throughout the year (minimum of two per semester). This course is open to all students, grades 9-12, with no singing experience required.

Year
1 Fine Art Elective Credit
1.1 Weighted
Repeatable
Prerequisite: Audition only and permission of Instructor

A Cappella Singers is an advanced mixed chorus whose focus is unaccompanied singing in 4-12 voice parts; strong musical notation reading skills are required. Literature to be studied is drawn from a variety of styles, languages and historic time periods, from early music to vocal jazz to world music, both sacred and secular. Grades are based on musical skills assessments, participation, performance, and reflection/evaluation. This ensemble has a heavy performance schedule within the school and community. The choir also participates in OMEA Adjudication activities as well as other outside events. Open to students in grades 9-12 pending successful completion of an audition.

Year
1 Fine Art Elective Credit
Repeatable

Symphonic Choir is an intermediate-level, mixed voice (treble and bass) vocal ensemble. Singers will continue to work on developing correct singing technique including phonation, diction, intonation, breath management and phrasing. Emphasis will be placed on singing various part divisions, reading and understanding musical notation, developing a mature choral sound, and performance skills. Music studied is selected from a variety of historic periods and styles, world cultures, including popular, sacred, classical, Broadway and folk music. Singers are required to participate in public performances throughout the year (minimum of two per semester). This course is open to all students, grades 9-12. While no singing experience is required, successful completion of the 8th grade choir curriculum is recommended.

Semester or All Year
.5 Fine Art Elective Credit or 1 Fine Art Elective Credit
Repeatable

Treble Chorus is a novice-level soprano and alto vocal ensemble. Singers will work on developing correct singing technique including phonation, diction, intonation, breath management and phrasing. Emphasis will be placed on singing various part divisions, reading and understanding musical notation, developing a mature choral sound, and performance skills. Music studied is selected from a variety of historic periods and styles, world cultures, including popular, sacred, classical, Broadway and folk music. Singers are required to participate in public performances throughout the year (minimum of two per semester). This course is open to all students, grades 9-12, with no singing experience required.

Semester
0.5 Fine Art Elective Credit
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Introduction to Music Theory provides students with the skills and knowledge required to progress through future courses in music theory. This course covers basic aspects of music theory that will be helpful to any student currently studying or interested in studying a musical instrument (including voice). Music Theory is foundational to truly understanding music and includes the practices and possibilities of music.

Students will have the option to progress to AP Music Theory upon completion of this course.

Year
1 Fine Art Elective Credit
1.2 Weighted
Grades: 11, 12

This course offers intensive instruction in music theory, including building aural recognition, sight-singing, note-reading and composition skills, four-part writing, form, key relationships, chord structure, and harmonics. As the course progresses, students learn to analyze musical compositions and begin to establish their own basic music-writing skills.  Honing these skills increases understanding of the music one might listen to, perform, and even create. This course is advantageous to those students who aspire to continue their study of music at the college level and to those who intend to continue performing music as adults.

AP Test Fee: Approximately $96  (subject to change).

Due to the specialized nature of this course, it is typically offered every other school year. Students with interest in this course are encouraged to talk to the music faculty with any questions prior to enrolling in this course.

Year
1 Fine Art Credit
Repeatable

Drama students will be introduced to the fundamentals of acting and script analysis through a variety of creative classroom activities, including ensemble building games, pantomime, improvisation, storytelling, voice & diction, and monologue/scene work. An emphasis will be placed on the structural breakdown of plays/musicals to foster an understanding of how stories work and how characters fit into those stories. A primary goal of this course is to develop students’ 21st century skills, which include: collaboration; creativity and imagination; critical thinking; effective oral / written communication; problem solving, and spontaneity. In addition to having the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in the classroom, students may elect to participate in our International Thespian Society troupe as well as New Albany High School theatrical productions. These activities are extracurricular, taking place after school hours, and are not a requirement for this course.

Year
1 Fine Art Elective Credit
Repeatable
Prerequisite: Introduction to Drama or permission of the instructor

Acting has existed in one form or another for thousands of years. Beginning with the  first stories dramatized by playwrights, artists were needed to breathe life into the characters who  previously only existed in the imagination. Over the centuries, this art form has undergone significant changes, the most important of which was Konstantin Stanislavsky’s creation of his ‘system’ or ‘method’. Building upon the fundamental knowledge students acquire in Introduction to Drama, this course is an in-depth look at Stanislavsky’s ‘method’ and how it has impacted the art of acting. All acting techniques developed in the Twentieth Century and used today in theaters around the world have been influenced by his craft. Students will be introduced to the Russia in which Stanislavsky lived to comprehend the artistic, cultural, political, and social reasons for the development of this revolutionary new technique. After the ‘method’ is learned and applied to a Realist play of Anton Chekhov’s, students will apply their new-found knowledge to works from antiquity (Greek comedy and/or tragedy), Shakespeare, and the Modern era (Actor’s Studio, Tennessee Williams). This course also focuses on ensemble building and practicing techniques through games, improvisation and monologue/scene work.

Year
1 Fine Art Credit
Repeatable
1.1 Weighted
Prerequisite: Theatre II: Acting the Method or permission of the instructor

Utilizing the knowledge of acting techniques and theatrical production gleaned in Acting the Method, students will create, rehearse, and perform projects for public audiences. They will function like a theatre company; acting, designing, directing, publicizing, producing, stage-managing, and writing their assigned projects. Topics for class projects may include: American Theatre, Chamber Theatre, Comedy and Improvisation, Robot Theatre, Shakespeare, Theatre for Social Change, Theatre of the Absurd, and “What is art?”  Students will refine their knowledge of Konstantin Stanislavsky's Method and will study two movement-based approaches to theatrical performance: the Suzuki Method of Actor Training and Viewpoints. The Suzuki Method’s “principal concern is with restoring the wholeness of the human body to the theatrical context and uncovering the actor’s own innate expressive abilities”. Viewpoints “allows actors to function together spontaneously and intuitively…develop[ing] flexibility, articulation, and strength in movement and makes ensemble playing really possible”.  Though they are counterpoints to Stanislavsky's psychological system, students will be encouraged to use these techniques in conjunction with it. This class culminates in an afterschool showcase at the end of the year.

*NOTE: Students in this course often have the opportunity to work on unique projects involving visiting artists/authors as well as co-curricular projects involving other departments (Robot Theatre).

Semester
0.5 Fine Art Elective Credit
Prerequisite:  NONE

This semester-long course teaches fundamental construction techniques and design skills used in the modern theatre. At the beginning of the year, students will learn the technical components of a theatre and become acquainted with the elements of a Scene Shop, including the function and proper usage of all equipment and tools. Safety in the theatre also is a crucial component of this first unit. Students will learn about different theatrical rigging systems and be trained on the motorized system in the McCoy Center. Then, students gain an understanding of specific construction techniques and practice them through project-based learning, which may include the assembly of Hollywood and Standard flats, platforms, and wagon units. At the end of the course, students will explore all of the different Technical Theatre jobs involved in a production. Students have a unique opportunity in this course to collaborate with professional theatrical designers and technicians through our partnership with CAPA and our productions. As mentioned, they will work on individual projects as well as the technical elements for the musicals/plays produced by the New Albany High School Theatre Department.

Semester
0.5 Fine Art Elective Credit
Prerequisite: Technical Theatre I

At the beginning of this semester-long course, students will briefly review the safety protocols and construction techniques taught in Technical Theatre I. Then, they will start an exploration of the different design elements that are included in theatrical productions. First, students will learn more about the basics of set design and will design a mock set for a theatrical production. Elements of costuming, lighting and its design, painting techniques, properties design, sound design, and stage management are topics that will be covered throughout the course. Students have a unique opportunity in this class to collaborate with professional theatrical designers and technicians through our partnership with CAPA and our extracurricular theatrical productions. They will work on individual projects as well as the technical elements for the musicals/plays produced by the New Albany High School Theatre Department.

Year
1.0 Fine Art Credit
1.2 Weighted
4 Kenyon College Credits
Prerequisite: Honors Actor’s Studio or permission of instructor and Acceptance to Kenyon College

Offered through the Kenyon Academic Partnership (KAP), KAP Theatre enables the student to earn dual credit. This course examines how theatre differs from other art forms and how theatrical artists bring a play to life onstage. This examination is accomplished through a series of performance and/or creative assignments, which are presented as problems the students need to solve. The course explores the nature of plays and playwriting through a rigorous examination of convention and structure. Students will analyze at least five plays, both dramaturgically and through performance. Assignments consist of a series of playwriting problems and acting problems, which students perform in class working in teams. For their final project, each student writes, directs, and presents a short play that demonstrates their mastery of theatrical form and convention and their understanding of how theatre can impact audiences in transformative ways. At the end of the year, these short plays are staged for their peers and a public audience in an after-school showcase.

This is a CCP course, please review requirements and complete the Letter of Intent.

Semester
0.5 Fine Art Credit
Prerequisite:  NONE

This course loosely follows the timeline of film history, beginning in the late 1890s with pioneers like Thomas Edison, the Lumeiere Brothers, and George Melies, and culminating in an analysis of the modern-day film industry. This analysis includes the dominance of the "blockbuster" and the rise of independent films and world cinema as well as the revolution of digital filmmaking (e.g. 3-D, VOD, etc). Along the way, students will study film production, types of films (e.g. avant-garde, animation, documentary, fictional), genres of films, and film form, including but not limited to; the shot, mise- en-scene, and editing. Films viewed in this course will be selected based upon their cultural significance and their importance to film history. This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore a rich, rewarding medium and will enable you to become an active and critical consumer of multimedia. 

Semester
0.5 Fine Art Credit
Prerequisite:  Introduction to Film Art

This course continues the examination of Film Genres started in Introduction to Film Art, exploring the Biopic, Comedy and its subgenres, Science Fiction, and the Superhero Film, among others. As these genres are being explored, students will be introduced to the elements of the shot, including mise-en-scene (the significance of what appears in the film frame) and cinematography; editing; sound; and style. The course concludes with a further analysis of Film History, picking up in the 1930s after the conversion to sound and culminating in an examination of the modern-day film industry. In addition, students will learn about groundbreaking movements in other countries, such as German Expressionism, French Impressionism and Surrealism, Soviet Montage, Italian Neorealism, the French New Wave, the Japanese Golden Age, and the New Mexican Cinema, among others. Films viewed in this course will be selected based upon their cultural significance and their importance to film history. This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore a rich and rewarding medium and will enable you to become an active and critical consumer of multimedia.

Semester
0.5 Fine Art Credit
Prerequisite: NONE

The course integrates the history of the United States from the 1950s on with the history of American popular music. Through this course, students consider how genres such as Rock and Roll, Pop, Folk, Latin, and Hip Hop have both reflected and informed the cultural, social, and political developments that have occurred in the past 7 decades of U.S. History. The course is inclusive of African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanas/os and Latinas/os, Native Americans and their experiences and contributions through music to the history of Rock and Roll.  As a result of this course, students will be much more aware of how music can be and is impactful on the world around them. The first semester explores the roots of Rock and Roll, its emergence in the mid-1950’s, and its entrance into the cultural mainstream of America.  It was the first American musical tradition constructed from the many musical traditions that animated life in the 20th century, including Gospel, Blues, Country, Jazz, and R & B. This course also examines Rock and Roll as youth music and an expression of the teenage rebellion that took place in the1960’s.

Semester
0.5 Fine Art credit
Prerequisite: NONE

The course integrates the history of the United States from the 1950s on with the history of American popular music. In taking the course, students consider how genres such as Rock and Roll, Pop, Folk, Latin, and Hip Hop have both reflected and informed the cultural, social, and political developments that have occurred in the past 7 decades of U.S. History. The course is inclusive of African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanas/os and Latinas/os, Native Americans and their experiences and contributions through music to the history of Rock and Roll.  As a result of this course, students will be much more aware of how music can be and is impactful on the world around them.  The second semester course which is a continuation of the first semester focuses on the youth-driven counterculture of the late sixties and early seventies, and examines the transformation period during which Rock and Roll was viewed as an art, and not just as popular entertainment.  Music became a serious thing and reflected societal events such as the Vietnam War and Civil Rights issues. As a result, music grew more complex and more varied.  Then in the late sixties, the Rock and Roll culture seemed to collapse and become fragmented.  Hard lines were drawn as defined by different genres and traditions.  As a result, the Rock and Roll culture grew increasingly fragmented in the late sixties and early seventies, and some of the promise of the late sixties Rock and Roll was compromised.