yearly with the Wind Ensemble to form
the Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra
will perform a wide variety of literature,
from traditional to contemporary.
Opportunities for other seasonal
and community performances exist,
such as the themed concert series in
February. Membership in the Orchestra
qualifies each student to audition for
and participate in MMEA District I
and statewide festivals. Outside practice
is required, as are after-school and
evening rehearsals, concerts and special
performances.
Orchestra
1 credit
Grades 9,10,11, 12
Prerequisite: By audition only
This select group of strings will study
and perform more advanced orchestral
literature, as well as advanced string
techniques. The Orchestra combines
with the String Orchestra and Wind
Ensemble to form the Symphony
Orchestra. The Orchestra will
perform a wide variety of literature,
from traditional to contemporary.
Opportunities for other seasonal and
community performances exist, such as
the themed concert series scheduled in
February. As a member of the Orchestra
each student is eligible to audition for
and participate in MMEA District II
and statewide festivals. Outside practice
is required, as are after-school and
evening rehearsals, concerts and special
performances.
Wind Ensemble
1 credit
Grades 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Concert Band and by
audition only
This select group explores traditional
chamber and concert band music and
makes up the wind and percussion
section of the full orchestra. Members
of Wind Ensemble are also members
of the combined concert band that
performs at the annual holiday and
spring concerts, as well as the local
Veterans and Memorial Day Parades.
Additional rehearsal time after school
and individual practice are required.
As a member of the Wind Ensemble,
each student is eligible to audition for
and participate in MMEA District I and
statewide festivals.
10
THEATER
Theater Basics
0.5 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12
Theater Basics students will focus on the
beginning language, history and practice
of theater and performance. Through
class work, viewings and improvisations,
each student will develop a set of skills
that will help him or her more fully
appreciate the processes of theater and
performance. Class work will include
improvisation, acting basics for stage
and camera, script reading and writing,
film as a visual/performing art, and
public performance opportunities with
a focus on story and how the story is
performed. Student goals for Theater
Basics include increased confidence in
public presentation and performance.
Acting I – Performance and Design
1 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12
Acting I students will focus on the
beginning of language, history and
practice of theater and performance.
Through class work, viewings and
improvisations, each student will
develop a set of skills that will help
him/her more fully appreciate the
processes of theater and performance.
Class work will include improvisation
acting basics, script reading and writing,
public performance opportunities and
a focus on story and how the story is
performed. Student goals for Acting I
include increased confidence in public
presentation and performance. On the
design side of Acting I, students will
employ a hands-on overview of what is
required to support stage productions.
Primarily: lighting design, set design
and construction, stage management,
house management, props design and
construction. A brief introduction to
sound, costuming and make-up combine
for support of most productions.
Acting II
1 credit
Grades 10, 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Acting I or approval by
instructor
This workshop-based course is for the
more serious performance student
and is designed for those interested in
advancing their acting skills. Class will
consist of exploratory exercises in scene
study, monologue, improvisation and
acting technique. Focus will be given to
acting styles and character work using
a variety of scripts, both professional
and student-written. Both classroom
performance and participation and
public performance are required.
A variety of live and technological
performance venues will be explored.
VISUAL ARTS
Artists begin their journey in the TA
Arts Department with Visual Arts I.
This course is the prerequisite for all
other visual art classes* and gives the
artist a solid foundation in the elements
and principles of art that are necessary
for success in the advanced art courses.
Successful completion of Visual Art
I allows students to take a variety of
semester-long studio electives and fullyear courses.
* Transfer or residential students with
equivalent introductory visual arts
course(s) may have this requirement
waived by the registrar or counselor.
If you are a serious art student interested
in pursuing the Visual Arts Diploma
Endorsement or a career in the visual
arts, a variety of courses are offered
that will cultivate your experience and
aptitude in the visual arts. Meet with
your counselor to plan appropriate
courses to meet the requirements of
this endorsement. After successful
completion of Visual Art I and two
studio electives, juniors and seniors may
take the Portfolio Preparation course
and/or Honors Visual Arts. For highly