Visual and Performing Arts

Serious students of acting have the potential to satisfy their arts diploma requirements by continuing their studies through the masters level with Acting 3: Performance Theater. This course provides the premier curricular acting experience for students at the high school. Its purpose is to allow students with exceptional experience or talent to work within a select ensemble preparing a text for public performance. The class rehearses a challenging dramatic text selected specifically for the ensemble assembled.

Ceramics 1 is designed for students with little or no prior experience with clay. Students learn a wide variety of methods that allows them to explore individual solutions to the hands-on projects. The instructional emphasis is on using ceramics as a creative medium, with hand-building techniques predominating. Class time includes demonstrations, critiques, slide and video discussions, as well as studio time. Projects explore the historical and contemporary uses of ceramics in addition to designing three-dimensional forms. Textbook readings and written assignments support the studio experience.
 

This course focuses on the art of audio engineering and the use of a recording studio as an instrument in the documentation and creation of sound. Accessing a wide array of digital, virtual, and analog equipment in Ensworth’s recording studio, students study fundamental audio principles including acoustics, phase correlation, microphone design, and electronics as well as modern production techniques such as bussing, parallel compression, and mastering. Developing the skill of capturing and sculpting sound, several projects throughout the semester provide hands-on learning experiences through live event sound engineering and stylistically diverse ensemble recording.
 

AP Music Theory is a rigorous course designed as an equivalent to first-year college coursework in musicianship. Before taking the course, students should have basic performance skills in voice or on an instrument and some ability to read musical notation. During the course, students develop a thorough understanding of Western tonal music. Major areas of study include harmonic analysis, composition, dictation, and sight singing. By the end of this course, students have the theoretical and compositional ability necessary to succeed in any area of college music study.

In Photography II, students take an in-depth look at the technical and aesthetic aspects of photography. This course’s focus is the development of a variety of images while simultaneously gaining a greater understanding of photographic art history and contemporary image-making. Demonstrations, discussions, and critiques provide the basis for an ongoing exploration of digital techniques and an exploration of traditional black and white darkroom techniques. Class techniques include digital cameras, the computer, design software, film cameras, image scanners, video cameras, magazines, and the sun.