Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5
 

Step into the spotlight! In this course, you’ll explore the exciting world of theater through hands-on performance, character study, and creative collaboration. From monologues and scene work to improvisation and movement, this course invites you to discover your unique voice as an actor. Whether you’re new to the stage or looking to strengthen your skills, this beginners course offers a supportive and fun environment to build confidence, express yourself, and find out if advanced theater courses are your next step.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Prerequisite: Acting Studio

Take your acting skills to the next level! In this second level course, you’ll dive deeper into scene work, monologues, and character development, exploring a wide range of theatrical styles from Shakespeare to modern theater. Learn essential audition techniques, gain experience performing on the stage and expand your understanding of what it takes to bring a character to life. This course is perfect for students ready to challenge themselves, refine their craft, and prepare for advanced performance opportunities.
 

Grades 11-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Prerequisite: Acting Studio II

Step into the spotlight like a true performer! Earn honors credit in this course designed for students ready to master advanced acting techniques and push their skills to the next level. Collaborate with peers on challenging scene work, apply methods from acting greats like Michael Chekhov, Sanford Meisner, and Jeremy Whalen, and tackle real-world performance scenarios, including auditions for college or professional productions. The course culminates in a 10–15 minute solo performance, giving you the chance to showcase your talent and creativity in front of a live audience. This is the ultimate experience for students serious about acting and ready to shine.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5
 

Get ready to move, play, and express yourself! This course is all about using your body to tell stories, explore characters, and have a blast doing it. You’ll try out cool movement techniques from theater pros like Laban, Chekhov, and Suzuki, experiment with masks, practice unarmed stage combat, and discover the power of body language. Plus, you’ll pick up mindfulness and relaxation tips that work on stage—and in real life. Active, creative, and full of energy, this class is a fun way to start your day and bring your acting to life!

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

Singing for Musical Theater is a semester course to allow personal instruction in both solo and ensemble singing for musical theater. Vocal technique, staging, and characterization will be stressed using repertoire from the Musical Theater genre.

Grades 10-11-12 I Credits: 2.5

Partner Film and Acting is designed with an inclusion model in mind. Peer models will work together with classified students receiving specialized programming through a curriculum designed to cultivate and promote student leadership, peer mentoring, collaboration and creativity. The focus of this class will be to provide students with a variety of creative experiences in film and acting appreciation. Peer assisted learning will be used to cultivate partner relationships. Students interested in being placed in the course as a peer model will complete an application and be selected to participate in the course.  Approximately two students per semester will be selected for placement. 

Related Course:

Partner Art

Available in the Visual Arts catalog.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

This course is open to any student wishing to learn the fundamentals of music. Areas of study will include note reading, scales, rhythm, chord structure, and key signatures.  Music from all periods and styles will also be explored. This course is recommended for students planning to take AP Music. 

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

This course is open to any student with a love for music but have no formal training.  Students will explore music arranging, mixing, sampling, and live performance using computers, keyboards, drum pads, and other devices.  This course will feature solo and collaborative music production, and students will finish the course with a portfolio of 5-8 finished tracks.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Prerequisite: Digital Music Studio or Demonstration of Music Reading Skills/Faculty Recommendation

Advanced Music Studio is designed for students who want to learn more advanced composing and recording techniques. Students will use computers, MIDI keyboards and other instruments to create new songs and song arrangements in a wide variety of musical styles. Music and audio software will allow students to compose, record, and edit music and to create original recordings. This class will also focus on composing and arranging music for live performers, recording and editing live and digital performances, and creating music to sync with video.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5 l Prerequisite: Successful completion of 1542 Musicianship OR Current Enrollment in a Music Course with Teacher Recommendation.

This course is designed specifically for the serious music student, offering an in-depth study of all the elements of music theory including harmony and counterpoint. A portion of the course is devoted to listening to music in order to understand how the elements combine to create a total composition. Students will gain greater skill in music analysis, sight-singing and music dictation. Independent music performance, composition, research and attending live concerts are encouraged.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

In Beginning Guitar, students will gain the essential skills needed to play the guitar with confidence in a wide variety of genres. From learning the basics of fretting and strumming to exploring chords and melodies from popular songs, this course will provide a solid foundation for students to enjoy modern music performance. This course will also teach students how to use the guitar as a tool for musical improvisation and composition. Focusing on both traditional note reading and TAB reading, students will be able to apply their skills from Beginning Guitar to many other classes and opportunities in the Performing Arts department. 

Grades 10-12 | 2.5

This course introduces the fundamentals of playing any keyboard instrument.  A music technology lab equipped with MIDI keyboards, computers and headsets will be used to learn to read and play music in the treble and bass clef using two hands.  It is recommended that students have access to an instrument at home or outside of school.

Grades 10-12 | 2.5 | Prerequisite: B- or higher in Beginning Piano or Beginning Guitar within the previous year (Ex. Entering Grade 10, could have had Beginning Piano or Beginning Guitar in Grade 9 or 8) or Teacher Recommendation

This course provides an opportunity for students who have completed Beginning Piano or Beginning Guitar to continue their development as performing musicians. In addition, through course admission by audition, this course can provide an appropriate placement for students who have acquired some level of piano or guitar proficiency through private lessons.

Please Note: Students are only required to continuing learning piano OR guitar in this course, not both instruments. 

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5

Concert Band is open to any student playing a brass or woodwind instrument.  Students study and perform standard literature written or transcribed for concert band.  Students are expected to attend group lessons, which are offered on a rotating schedule throughout the school day.  Through group lessons and private practice, students increase their technical proficiency on their instrument.  Students are required to attend all after-school and evening rehearsals and all scheduled performances.  Enrollment in band is a prerequisite for performing in any other ensembles such as marching band, jazz band, orchestra, or percussion ensemble.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5

Concert Band (Percussion) is open to any student playing a percussion instrument.  Students study and perform standard literature written or transcribed for concert band and percussion ensemble.  Students are expected to attend group lessons, which are offered on a rotating schedule throughout the school day.   Through group lessons and private practice, students increase their technical proficiency on their instrument.  Students are required to attend all after-school and evening rehearsals and all scheduled performances.  Enrollment in band is a prerequisite for performing in any other ensembles such as marching band, jazz band, orchestra, or percussion ensemble.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5 | Prerequisite: Successful completion of an audition

Wind Ensemble is an honors-level course open to a limited number of brass, woodwind, and percussion students selected through an audition process. Audition requirements may be obtained from the Music Department. Students study more difficult repertoire written for smaller wind bands. Students are expected to attend group lessons, which are offered on a rotating schedule throughout the day. Through private practice and group lessons, students increase their technical proficiency. Students are required to attend all scheduled afternoon and evening rehearsals and all performances. Students are expected to audition for Region Band. Students not able to audition must complete an alternate performance experience. Due to the nature of the wind ensemble, the following is the recommended instrumentation. This instrumentation may be modified to accommodate balance challenges with the group. Participation in the Wind Ensemble is limited to the following instruments:

• 4 Flutes
• 2 Bassoons
• 3 Trombones
• 2 Oboes
• 2 Alto Saxophones
• 2 Euphoniums
• 6 Bb Clarinets
• 1 Tenor Saxophone
• 1 Tuba
• 1 Alto Clarinet
• 1 Baritone Saxophone
• 3 Percussion
• 1 Bass Clarinet
• 4 French Horns
• 1 Mallet Percussion
• 1 Contrabass Clarinet
• 5 Trumpets
• 1 Timpani

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5

Orchestra is open to any student playing a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, string bass).  A broad selection of music, encompassing different styles and periods, is performed.   Students are expected to attend group lessons, which are offered on a rotating schedule throughout the school day.  Through group lessons and private practice, students increase their technical proficiency on their instruments.  Students are required to attend all after-school and evening rehearsals and all scheduled performances.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5 | Prerequisite: Prerequisite:  Successful completion of an audition

Chamber Orchestra is an honors-level course open to a limited number of string players through an audition process. Audition requirements may be obtained from the Music Department. Wind, brass, and percussion students from the Wind Ensemble may be added to form a Symphony Orchestra. Students study and perform music of greater difficulty written for chamber orchestra. Students are expected to attend group lessons, which are offered on a rotating schedule throughout the school day. Through group lessons and private practice, students increase their technical proficiency on their instruments. Students are required to attend all after-school and evening rehearsals and all scheduled performances. Students are expected to audition for Region Orchestra. Students not able to audition must complete an alternative performance experience.  Due to the definition of a Chamber Orchestra, instrumentation is limited and based upon the need for a balance between violins, violas, celli, and basses.

Chorus (Full-Year)

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5

Chorus is a full-year choral ensemble open to students without an audition. In Chorus, students will learn how to improve their vocal technique and music reading through singing a variety of music. Previous musical experience is not necessary to be successful in this class. All Chorus classes combine for dress rehearsals and concerts. Chorus performs at both the Winter and Spring Choral Concerts and may have a few additional concert opportunities throughout the year. Attendance at all dress rehearsals and concerts is required. 

Chorus (Semester Option)

Grades 10-12 | Credits 2.5

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5 | Prerequisite: Successful completion of an audition

Concert Choir Honors is a full year elective course offered to 10th through 12th grade students. Enrollment is by audition only. Concert Choir Honors students should anticipate additional after school and evening rehearsals in preparation of many public performances and choral festivals.  Concert Choir Honors students are required to attend all rehearsals and performances as part of the course requirement. Qualified advanced students are expected to audition for Regional and New Jersey All-State Chorus. This course emphasizes advanced applications of previously learned fundamentals of ensemble singing through study and performance of quality vocal music. Solo and small ensemble singing are an integral part of this course. The size of the Concert Choir is dependent on a balance of voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass).

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 5 | Prerequisite: Successful completion of an audition

Bella Voce Honors is a full year elective course offered to 10th through 12th grade students. This course is designed to focus and explore literature and vocal technique specifically for the mature treble voice. Enrollment is by audition only. Bella Voce Honors students should anticipate additional after school and evening rehearsals in preparation of many public performances and choral festivals. Bella Voce Honors students are required to attend all rehearsals and performances as part of the course requirement. Qualified advanced students are expected to audition for Regional and New Jersey All-State Chorus. The course emphasizes advanced applications of previously learned fundamentals of ensemble singing through study and performance of quality vocal music. Solo and small ensemble singing are an integral part of this course.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

This semester course offering is designed for all students seeking a strong art foundation and an outlet for creative expression. It is a foundational course, covering multiple mediums of artmaking and the keystone in a sequence of courses that will enable all students to develop conceptual and technical skills in preparation for greater success in all visual art endeavors. The course is recommended for, but not limited to, students preparing to apply for future enrollment in Honors Studio Art and/or Advanced Placement Studio Art. It is also highly recommended for students with an interest in art or an art-related career.

Grades 10-12 | 2.5

Students are made aware of the varied occupations and careers that comprise the commercial art field through projects that emphasize visual communications. Basic and advanced activities along with layout principles are introduced and explored through Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and digital tablets. The course highlights the importance of visually exploring and discussing the creative process through skill development and critique. The course is 100% computer based (Mac). Projects may include, but are not limited to layout and lettering design, corporate and personal logos, posters, invitations, CD covers, cereal box covers, soda cans, business cards, and contests for meeting the needs of the client. This course serves are a pre-requisite to Digital Graphic Arts & Design Workshop.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

Students learn to create living spaces by designing floor plans and elevations to scale. Principles of design such as color, pattern, and texture are then applied to the students’ designs to complete the process. Board work as well as computer aided design will be used.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

Students learn basic hand-building techniques for forming clay and treating clay surfaces, including ceramic staining and glazing. Throwing techniques on the potter's wheel will be demonstrated. This course serves as a prerequisite to Ceramics Workshop.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

Students will design and create 3D forms using additive and subtractive methods. A variety of materials such as paper, board, wire and plaster may be used to explore relationships of volume, texture and space. This course serves as a prerequisite to Sculpture Workshop.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

Students will develop miniature sculptural forms as functional jewelry. Students gain basic sculptural and body adornment skills using various materials.   Embellishment of both 2 and 3D surfaces through selected materials and techniques are accomplished.

Grades 10-11-12 I Credits: 2.5

Partner Art is designed with an inclusion model in mind. Peer models will work together with classified students receiving specialized programming through a curriculum designed to cultivate and promote student leadership, peer mentoring, collaboration and creativity. The focus of this class will be to provide students with a variety of creative experiences in a variety of different art forms. Peer assisted learning will be used to cultivate partner relationships. Students interested in being placed in the course as a peer model will complete an application and be selected to participate in the course.  Approximately two students per semester will be selected for placement. 

Related Course:

Partner Film and Acting

Available in the Performing Arts catalog.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

This course will afford students the opportunity to explore the uses of science fiction in the movies from the beginnings of filmmaking until today. Unit topics will include: “Humans and Technology," “Knowledge Isn’t Always Power," “The Search for Meaning," “Strange Phenomena," "Science Fiction as a Critique of Society,” and
"People in Time and Space." Film clips and full feature films will be shown from a variety of different Science Fiction movies. This is the perfect course to complement the full year Film Appreciation course or to be taken all on its own! 

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

The art of storytelling through pictures comes to life in this exciting new course! With comic books, editorials, caricatures and children's books, you’ll interpret a variety of texts - short story, poetry, interview, editorial non-fiction, essay – through the techniques and media of a professional illustrator. You’ll get a chance to experiment with painting, drawing, printmaking and design tools to develop a personal style. Whether you are interested in pursuing illustration as a career or just have a story to tell, Illustrating the Written Word is for you!

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5

This course will focus on two- and three- dimensional animation, the elements of art and principles of animation. Skill development emphasizes the interactive use of drawing and design fundamentals, 
story boarding, set building, composition and imaging, editing, lighting, audio and sound creation, as well as discussion of the creative process and critique. Students will be introduced to the 12 principles of animation and will stress their importance while creating original story-driven work. The techniques of still framing, stop motion, and claymation will be used with Mac computers and Creative Cloud Adobe Photoshop, large Wacom digital tablets and digital cameras. Why just watch cartoons when you can learn to create your own?

Grades 11-12 | Credits: 2.5

Within this course, students are introduced to the basic functions and proper use of the airbrush.  Masking methods, freehand illustration techniques and design principles are applied to class projects.  Care and maintenance of the airbrush are stressed.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in Introduction to Ceramics

This course provides a greater concentration in all areas, including hand building, glaze chemistry, kiln loading and firing, clay making and the potter's wheel.  Instruction is individualized, allowing students to develop their own ideas and areas of concentration. Advanced students are expected to help in the introductory classes and to produce quality work on the potter's wheel.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in Digital Graphic Art & Design Level I (or grade of A in 9th grade Intro to Digital Graphic Art & Design)

A second step to the precursor Level I class, students will continue to be made aware of the varied occupations and careers that comprise the commercial art field through projects that emphasize visual communications. Advanced activities along with layout principles are stressed and explored through Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, digital tablets, and digital cameras. This course is 100% computer based instruction (Mac) and is designed for students looking to build a portfolio in order to major in the Graphic Arts as well as the student who just enjoys the creation of digital art. Projects include, but are not limited to typography, 100 triangle composition, metalwork and coin creating, photo mosaic and photo colorizing composition.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in Introduction to Photography (See Practical Arts- Engineering and Technology for information on Introduction to Photo Course Code 1251)

**Note: Students taking this course will earn Visual Art Credits
Photography Workshop is a sequential course that builds from the basics in the introductory course. Students are introduced to photographic accessories including lenses, different format cameras, use of color filters and studio lighting.  Conceptual images, as well as digital and computer enhancement, will be explored. Emphasis is placed on photographic techniques found in the works of the experts, unique images and mastery of composition through shooting and printing.

Grades 10-12 | Credits: 2.5 | Prerequisite: Grade of B- or better in Introduction to Sculpture

The  Sculpture  Workshop  is  for  students  with  a  strong  command  of  the  fundamental  elements  and principles of art who are interested in further developing visual artistic sensibilities in 3-dimensional artwork. In building a portfolio and by maintaining a sketchbook, students experience a variety of concepts, techniques and approaches designed to encourage creative as well as systematic investigation of formal, technical, and expressive issues in a 3-dimensional format.  This course will provide an opportunity for students to continue to develop original sculpture by exploring the plastic possibilities of various concepts, forms, and processes.  Among the materials that may be used are stone, clay, plaster, wire, metal, plastic, wood, Styrofoam, foam core, and found objects.

Grades 12 | Credits: 5-5 | Prerequisite: Students must satisfy an application process including interview, written statement, and samples of prior work.

This course is designed for the advanced visual arts student and attempts to help students qualify for credit in Advanced Placement in colleges. Students will be required to create and submit an extensive body of 2-dimensional work.  It requires a high degree of commitment to studio work and to the purposes of a program designed to meet college standards. Students can choose to prepare for either the AP Drawing Portfolio or the AP 2D Design Portfolio.

Grades 11-12 | Credits: 5

This course examines the developments in painting, sculpture and architecture from ancient times to the 21st century.  Designed to foster student understanding and enjoyment of works of art, this course aims to develop their ability to examine art intelligently, acquainting them with the major forms of artistic expression in their own time and cultivating an understanding of art from other times and cultures.  No prior experience in art is assumed.  Indeed, students who have done well in other humanistic studies such as history and literature, or in any of the studio arts, are especially encouraged to enroll.  The course attempts to help students qualify for credit and advanced placement in colleges.  It requires a high degree of commitment to academic work and to the purposes of a program designed to meet college standards. However, the course may be taken for high school credit only.  Students electing Advanced Placement Art History have the option of receiving high school credits in either art or social studies. Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.

Grades 11 & 12 | Credits: 5

Humanities is a once-in-a-lifetime, seniors only arts course where we talk about human experiences that everyone who has ever lived dealt with. Through wacky activities, hands-on explorations and collaborative play, you will experience the arts, performances, history, philosophy, cultural figures from the past and present and learn something about yourself in the process.  Don’t leave high school without taking this class! 

A Sampling of What We Study:

• Get rebellious by joining a Punk Band
• Create beauty by sculpting the human form with Play-Doh
• Emote through Live Poetry Performances
• Relate to nature through a Recycled Fashion Show
• Explore musical diversity by creating a Song Remix
• Combat intolerance through Graphic Design
• Express your opinion through Protest
• Give back to your world through a Community Service Start-Up
• Follow society’s rules through 18th Century Dance
• Connect with your inner child through Outdoor Play
• Find Society’s boundaries with Graffiti Tags

Meets NCAA Core Course Requirements.