Fine Arts

Graduation Requirement

Students may fulfill the one-credit fine arts graduation requirement in a variety of ways involving either graded, non-auditioned courses (described in the course offerings) or certain co-curricular ensembles.

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1. Fine Arts Courses

Includes graded semester (1/2 credit) and year-long (1 credit) courses not requiring auditions in visual arts, digital arts, music, and theatre as described in the course offering section of this guide.
2. Fine Arts Co-Curricular Program

(Non-graded performance-based ensembles open by audition that supplement the general curriculum in dance and music).

Choral Music:
• Les Chanteuses, Kantorei, Chorale (1/2 credit for each year of participation, non-graded)

Instrumental Music:
• Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Philharmonia, Chamber Strings (1/2 credit for each year of participation, non-graded)

Dance:
• Caprice I (1 credit for each year of participation after the P.E. requirement has been met, non-graded)
• Caprice II, Caprice III and Terpsichore (1 credit for each year of participation after the P.E. requirement has been met, graded)

Students in co-curricular ensembles must participate in required rehearsals and scheduled performances for an entire year in order to earn credit toward the graduation requirement. Students withdrawing from any one of these before the end of the year will earn NO credit.

Dance classes taken in Class 9 and used for P.E. credit at that time, may not subsequently be applied to Fine Arts credit.

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Performances & Ensembles

Students must participate in the co-curricular ensembles including scheduled performances for an entire year in order to earn credit toward the graduation requirement.
Withdrawal

Students withdrawing from any one of these before the end of the year will earn NO credit.
Dance Classes

Dance classes taken in Classes 9 and 10 and used for P.E. credit at that time, may not subsequently be applied to Fine Arts credit.

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Choral Music

Les Chanteuses, Kantorei, Chorale
(½ credit for each year of participation)

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Instrumental Music

Winds, Strings, Jazz
(½ credit for each year of participation)

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Dance

Fundamentals of Dance & Caprice I: ½ credit for each year of participation after the P.E. requirement has been met.

Caprice II, Caprice III, & Terpsichore: 1 credit for each year of participation after the P.E. requirement has been met.

Visual Arts

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Theater

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Dance

All US Dance ensembles focus on a cumulative study of Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz dance. Caprice II, III, and Terpsichore require an adjudication process for determining ensemble placement. With the exception of Caprice I, all dance ensembles are graded courses in which students will be evaluated on knowledge of terminology, application of technical skill, and the rehearsal and performance process. Participation in the spring dance concert is required for Caprice II, III, and Terpsichore. A passing grade does not ensure enrollment in a higher-level ensemble in the following year.

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Choral

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Instrumental Ensembles

Band

Placement in band ensembles: The band program is open to all students with experience playing a wind or percussion instrument including the following: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba or percussion. All students interested in playing in one of the band ensembles will receive audition materials to prepare for a placement audition, so they can be placed in the ensemble that best meets their skill level. Music for the audition will be available in the spring preceding the upcoming school year. The two levels of primary band ensemble are Concert Band and Symphonic Winds (select ensemble). An additional, optional secondary band ensemble is Jazz Ensemble. Jazz Ensemble members are also required to be members of a primary ensemble (except for guitar, bass, and piano).

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Orchestra

Placement in strings: The string program is open to all students with experience playing a bowed string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass.) All students interested in playing in one of the string orchestras will be asked to prepare a placement audition. Students will receive audition music to prepare and play so they can be placed in the ensemble that best meets their skill level. Music for the audition will be available in the spring preceding the following school year. The two levels of orchestra are Philharmonia and Chamber Strings (select ensemble).