The Arts

Art Education

Grade 6
In sixth grade art, students will explore the elements and principles of design. Students work with multiple mediums while creating two dimensional and three dimensional artworks. All art lessons have been developed to meet the New York State learning standards for the arts.

Grade 8
In eighth grade art, students will be taken through guided practices while learning and practicing the principles and elements of design. Students create two dimensional and thee dimensional artworks while using multiple mediums. Students learn skills that will enable them to respond critically to their artwork and the artwork of others. All art lessons have been developed to meet the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts.

Studio in Art- Grade 9
In this class, students explore art as a vital form of visual communication that transmits the ideas and values of individuals, as well as diverse cultures. Students develop skills that enable them to respond critically and respectfully to their own artwork, as well as the artworks produced by others. Students develop an appreciation and understanding for a variety of artists and works of art. Students are taken through guided practices while practicing the elements and principles of design. Students create two dimensional and three dimensional pieces. All art lessons have been developed to meet the New York State Learning Standard for the Arts.

Drawing and Painting- Grade 10
In this class, students learn the foundation techniques of drawing and painting using various mediums. Students create two-dimensional pieces of art using the principles and elements of design and explore drawing and painting as a vital form of visual communication and visual expression.
Students develop skills that enable them to respond critically to their own artwork and the artwork of others. This class begins the portfolio process which students will needs for college entrance into the arts. Drawing and Painting is a pre-requisite course for all advanced art classes. All art lessons have been developed to meet the New York State Learning Standard for the Arts.

Advanced Studio Art- Grades 11 and 12
In this class, students learn advanced methods and techniques in multiple areas of the fine arts. Students create two dimensional and three dimensional pieces, while identifying the principles and elements of the design. Students start to focus on preferred mediums and build ideas for individualized artworks.
Advanced Studio Art is an important step to the portfolio building process, as it helps students create a well rounded portfolio that is needed for college entrance into the arts. All art lessons have been developed to meet the New York State Learning Standard for the Arts.

Photography- Grades 11 and 12
Photography is an introductory course in black and white photography. Students learn basic techniques of camera operation, film processing and darkroom procedures. The class explores problems in picture composition and the historical aspects of media are discussed.
Students learn to understand and apply the aesthetic principles of composition and design to the art of photography. They develop skills that enable them to respond critically and respectfully to their own photos, as well as the photographs produced by others. All photography lessons have been developed to meet the New York State Learning Standard for the Arts.

Music


Music- Grades K, 1, 2
Primary Music presents a hands-on approach to music education. Most activities are geared toward singing, playing and movement. Students learn best at this age by being actively involved. Listening activities are introduced. A musical production is presented in December for all students.

Music- Grades 3, 4, 5, 6
Elementary Music is similar to Music K, 1, 2 but more emphasis is placed on listening skills. Students are introduced to instrument playing, music reading and music history. Grade 5 includes a unit on great composers (Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven). Grade 6 incorporates a unit on Rock and Roll. A musical production is presented in December for all students.

Music 7
Seventh grade music is divided into two units. The first unit teaches every student to play the acoustical guitar. The guitar unit teaches students a variety of guitar chords and strumming techniques to both folk and rock music. The importance of practicing at home is emphasized.
The second unit that is taught in seventh grade is a unit on opera. This unit helps dispel the typical stereotypes associated with opera and covers two great opera’s: Bizet’s Carmen and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Acting, scenery, costumes, music, special effects and other aspects of opera are explored.

Music 8
Music 8 is a music appreciation course for 8th graders. The basic elements of music (melody, harmony and rhythm) are explored through hands-on experiences on the piano keyboard, as well as computer lab with compositional programs like “Garage Band”. Students write and record their own compositions after they have become familiar with musical notation and ear training. The history of music is also explored in the course. From classical to jazz and pop students learn about the roots of various artists through works like Ken Burns’ History of Jazz. Music in the movies is also explored using some of the Disney movies and their musical content. This class meets one day a week.

Elementary Chorus
Elementary Chorus is music elective for students in grades 4 or 5. This is a performing group dedicated to presenting music to the general public. This group presents a free concert in June, open to the general public. Young voices sing in 2-part style (high, low).

Middle Grades Chorus
Middle Grades Chorus is music elective for students in grades 6, 7 or 8. This is a performing group dedicated to presenting music to the general public. A December concert and a June concert highlight the group’s abilities in a free concert open to the general public. Students involved in the Junior High Chorus, who often have developing and changing voices, usually sing in a 3-part style (soprano, alto, baritone).

Senior High Chorus
Senior High Chorus is music elective for students in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12. This is a performing group dedicated to presenting music to the general public. A December concert and a June concert highlight the group’s abilities in a free concert open to the general public. A great deal of the senior chorus music is more challenging than what is presented in junior high. The maturing voices of the senior chorus usually sing in a 4-part style (soprano, alto, tenor, bass).

Studio - Music In Our Lives
This course is a Grade 9 music offering designed to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the place music has in our society. Various types of music (pop, rock, classical, jazz, etc.) will be studied. Units of study include what sound is, what music is, recording techniques, how music has influenced society, and how society has influenced music. There are quizzes and tests and numerical grades are issued. There is no performance requirement in this course.

Studio – Foundations of Music
An extension of Music in Our Lives, Foundations of Music is a more advanced full year elective course for Grade 11 or 12 students. There is no public performance requirement in this course. Instead this course views music from a social context as a natural and essential ingredient in the student's own life as well as how it relates to human life in all cultures and historical times. Many types of music will be studied, from ancient to modern, serious to popular. Students will be encouraged to understand the uses of music as a human expression and as a social marker of a certain time and culture, and to respond intelligently to a wide range of styles. Career opportunities in music will also be explored.
This course will offer the student the opportunity to compose their own music, learn a folk instrument and explore music of many styles and time periods. Through active listening and discussions, students will examine music of our American heritage as well as both Western and non-Western cultures.

Elementary Band
Elementary band allows 4th and 5th graders to explore the instrument in the woodwind, brass and percussion families. Students are taught proper posture, breathing and playing techniques for their chosen instruments. 4th graders are introduced to the instruments during the start of the school year and provided with weekly lessons and instruments on good practice techniques and sound production. 5th graders also have weekly lessons and work on improving their reading and other musical skills such as an articulation, interpretation, and execution of the elementary forms of music. Students start meeting together as a group during the second semester and perform in the annual spring concert in June.

Middle Grades Band
As members of the Middle Grades Band, Grade 6 through 8 students meets on a daily basis. They also participate in small group lessons on their individual instruments on a rotational basis during the week. Middle Grades band members continue their studies of the essential elements of music series, which they started during their elementary experience. Band members perform in several concerts a year and participate in the marching band and perform in several parades.

High School Band
High School band consists of students enrolled in Grades 9,10,11 and12. Band members perform in concert band, jazz band and marching band. Senior band offers students an opportunity to explore challenging music literature past and present and build on their experiences from elementary and junior band. Band members are offered lessons on a rotational basis and meet as a group daily. Activities include Winter and Spring Concerts, Exchange Concerts, Marching Band Parades, All County Area and all New York State Festivals and Music Department recitals.

Jazz (Performance) Band
For the advanced instrumental student, Jazz band is a course based upon the ability to perform, in the group and solo setting. The course also explores composition of material and the dynamics creating works. This is a full year course and requires performing in different venues outside of regular class time.

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