Fine & Performing Arts
The visual and performing arts programs offer students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of courses and activities. The department offers courses for beginners as well as accomplished musicians, actors, and artists. The faculty members promote excellence while encouraging each student to develop to his or her fullest potential as an artist.
Visual Art Courses
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08_9103_0 Visual Arts 6
Grade: 6
Prerequisite: None
Description: The standards for grade six art emphasize exploration of studio processes, using the elements of art and the principles of design, students will investigate a variety of experiences and concepts. Students will explore various two-dimensional and three-dimensional art media, using a variety of expressive and technical approaches. Through critical analysis and evaluation, students determine how artists convey meaning through the use of forms, media, and symbols.
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08_9105_0 Visual Arts 7
Grade: 7
Prerequisite: None
Description: The Visual Arts 7 course is for students who want to focus on advancing their own visual art skills. Students continue the exploration, analysis, and investigation of the creative process. The course will explore color, line, space, emphasis, proportion, perspective, and the creative process. Students apply elements of art and principles of design to solve artmaking challenges using various processes and materials both in 2-D and 3-D works of art. They develop critical thinking skills and expand their vocabulary as they explore the meaning of works of art through the evaluation of subject matter, themes, and symbols. Students develop an increased awareness of their relationship to art and investigate visual arts careers.
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08_9115_0 Visual Arts 8
Grade: 8
Prerequisite: None
Description: The Visual Arts 8 course is for students who want to focus on advancing their own visual art skills through application, and discussions around art history, art theory, culture and citizenship. Students will apply and synthesize previously learned concepts with more complexity and refine technical skills. The course will explore color, value, proportion, unity, variety, observation and expressive drawing techniques. Students make conscious choices of media, processes, and techniques for expressive and creative purposes in original 2-D and 3-D works of art. They will develop critical thinking skills in the analysis and critique of the work of self and others. Students make connections between art experiences and other fields of knowledge in order to develop solutions to real-world problems.
Performing Arts - Music Courses
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09_9208_0 General Music
Grade: 6
Prerequisite: None
Description: The Grade Six General Music course enables students to continue acquiring musical knowledge and skills through singing, playing instruments, performing rhythms, moving to music, composing and improvising. Emphasis is on the development of fundamental skills in reading and notating music and in personal expression through music. Students explore components of a creative process as they define, organize, and share music ideas. Students examine a variety of musical styles and works from periods of music history. Students identify ways in which culture and technology influence the development of music and describe connections between music and other fields of knowledge.
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09_9215_0 Band First Year
Grade: 6, 7
Prerequisite: None
Description: Students begin to develop fundamental skills and musicianship on their instrument. Students demonstrate knowledge of musical terms and symbols, rhythmic and musical notation, fingerings/slide positions, and an understanding of pitch differentiation. They begin to develop a characteristic sound as it relates to tone quality and intonation. Instruction and grouping may be differentiated based on instrument choice.
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09_9216_0 Band Second Year
Grade: 6
Prerequisite: Completion of First Year Band and Teacher Recommendation
Description: Students develop and extend fundamental skills and musicianship on their instrument. Students demonstrate knowledge of musical terms and symbols, rhythmic and musical notation, fingerings/slide positions, and an understanding of pitch differentiation. They demonstrate a mature sound as it relates to tone quality and intonation. Instruction and grouping are differentiated based on students’ prior experience in Band coursework.
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09_9217_0 Orchestra First Year
Grade: 6, 7
Prerequisite: None
Description: Students begin to develop fundamental skills and musicianship on their instrument. Students demonstrate knowledge of musical terms and symbols, rhythmic notation, fingerings, and location of pitch. They begin to develop a mature sound as it relates to tone quality and intonation. Instruction and grouping may be differentiated based on instrument choice.
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09_9218_0 Orchestra Second Year
Grade: 6
Prerequisite: Completion of First Year Orchestra and Teacher Recommendation
Description: Students develop and extend fundamental skills and musicianship on their instrument. Students demonstrate knowledge of musical terms and symbols, rhythmic notation, fingerings, and location of pitch. They demonstrate a mature sound as it relates to tone quality and intonation. Instruction and grouping are differentiated based on students’ prior experience in Orchestra coursework.
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09_9231_0 Middle School Concert Band
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation
Description: This course focuses on developing musicianship by studying chromatic scale, major scales, (rudiments and various rolls), intermediate methods and rhythms, concert music, and rehearsal skills. Students increase individual technical skills while developing their understanding of the collaborative skills required to create and refine music for ensemble performance.Music literacy skills are emphasized as students read, notate, sight-read, and perform music. Students respond to, describe, interpret, and evaluate music as performers and listeners, and experience music from a variety of cultural influences, styles, composers, and historical periods. Students compare and contrast career options in music and examine the relationship of instrumental music to the other fine arts. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in local, district, and regional music events as appropriate to level, ability, and interest.
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09_9231P_0 Middle School Band Percussion
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation
Description: This course focuses on developing musicianship by studying mallets (chromatic scale and major scales); snare drum (rudiments and various rolls); timpani; accessory percussion including, but not limited to: bass drum, triangle, and tambourine; intermediate methods and rhythms; concert music; and rehearsal skills. Students increase individual technical skills while developing their understanding of the collaborative skills required to create and refine music for ensemble performance. Music literacy skills are emphasized as students read, notate, sight-read, and perform music. Students respond to, describe, interpret, and evaluate music as performers and listeners, and experience music from a variety of cultural influences, styles, composers, and historical periods. Students compare and contrast career options in music and examine the relationship of instrumental music to the other fine arts. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in local, district, and regional music events as appropriate to level, ability, and interest.
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09_9234_0 Middle School Symphonic Band
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: Audition and Teacher Recommendation
Description: Students extend their knowledge of instrument-specific techniques while expanding their vocabulary of scales, arpeggios, and rudiments in more complex rhythmic patterns. Ensemble skills become more developed as students participate and collaborate with others to create and recreate music. Music literacy and performance skills are emphasized through performing and sight-reading progressively challenging literature. Students investigate connections between music skills and college, career, and workplace skills and investigate current and emerging technology in music. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in local, district, regional, and state events as appropriate to level, ability, and interest.
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09_9236_0 Middle School Concert Orchestra
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation
Description: The Charlottesville Concert Orchestra program is a class that works on intermediate middle school orchestral techniques. Students increase individual technical skills while developing their understanding of the collaborative skills required to create and refine music for ensemble performance. Music literacy skills are emphasized as students read, notate, sight-read, and perform music. Students respond to, describe, interpret, and evaluate music as performers and listeners, and experience music from a variety of cultural influences, styles, composers, and historical periods. Students compare and contrast career options in music and examine the relationship of instrumental music to the other fine arts. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in local, district, and regional music events as appropriate to level, ability, and interest.
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09_9239_0 Middle School Sinfonia Orchestra
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: Audition and Teacher Recommendation
Description: The Charlottesville Sinfonia Orchestra program is a class that works on advanced middle school orchestral techniques. Students extend their knowledge of instrument-specific techniques while expanding their vocabulary of scales, arpeggios, and rudiments in more complex rhythmic patterns. Ensemble skills become more developed as students participate and collaborate with others to create and recreate music. Music literacy and performance skills are emphasized through performing and sight-reading progressively challenging literature. Students investigate connections between music skills and college, career, and workplace skills and investigate current and emerging technology in music. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in local, district, regional, and state events as appropriate to level, ability, and interest.
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09_9245_0 Introduction to Guitar
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: None - no previous experience is needed
Description: Beginning Guitar gives students the opportunity to learn via collaboration with peers, to gain responsibility and self-discipline through musical expression in a group activity. This course will include the study of beginning guitar techniques such as basic scales, strumming patterns, arpeggios, use of a pick, and chord progressions.
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09_9254_0 Introduction to Piano
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: None
Description: Class piano is for beginning piano students at the 7th and 8th grade level who have had little to no previous keyboard experience.
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09_9269_0 Sixth Grade Chorus
Grade: 6
Prerequisite: None
Description: The sixth grade chorus course enables students to develop choral skills, including singing in unison and two-part harmony, with emphasis on vocal production and technique. They learn to read, write, and notate music using basic music theory concepts and perform music from a variety of music styles, composers, cultural influences, and historical periods. Students identify the steps of a creative process and apply emerging music skills to create and notate original work. Students examine career options in music and identify the relationship of choral music to other fine arts. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in local and district music events as appropriate to level, ability, and interest.
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09_9270_0 Seventh Grade Chorus
Grade: 7
Prerequisite: None
Description: The Seventh Grade Chorus course is for students who want to focus on developing their own choral sills. It enables students to obtain musical knowledge and skills in the choral setting. Students develop choral skills, including singing in unison and two-part harmony, with emphasis on vocal production and technique. They explore and perform music in a variety of music styles. In addition, students develop an understanding of acceptable concert etiquette. Opportunities are provided for students to explore choral music as a means of expression and communication. Students are also provided with opportunities to participate in local, district, regional, and state events.
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09_9271_0 Eighth Grade Chorus
Grade: 8
Prerequisite: None
Description: The Eight Grade Chorus course enables students to build upon the skills and knowledge acquired in previous years. As students perform choral works and develop sightreading skills, they expand their performance abilities and creativity. Through the collaborative environment of the choral setting, students demonstrate teamwork and display leadership skills. Students apply steps of a creative process to identify and examine inquiry-based questions related to choral music. They explore and perform music from a variety of musical styles, composers, cultural influences, and historical periods. Students investigate connections between music skills and college, career, and workplace skills and analyze cross-disciplinary connections with music. Opportunities are provided for students to participate in local, district, regional, and state events as appropriate to level, ability, and interest
Performing Arts - Theatre Courses
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Grade: 6, 7, 8
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course introduces students to fundamental concepts of theatre and fosters theatre literacy. Through experiences involving inquiry, investigation, improvisation, performance, and production, students acquire skills in communicating ideas, thinking critically, and working collaboratively. This course prepares students for further theatrical study and nurtures an engagement with many forms of theatre. [6th Gr - 10_1393_0; 7th Gr - 10_1394_0; 8th Gr - 10_1395_0]
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10_1390_0 Intermediate Theatre - Theatre Arts I
Grade: 7, 8
Prerequisite: Completion of Middle School Drama
Description: This course strengthens and expands upon the concepts and skills introduced in grade six. Students continue to develop collaboration skills while increasing their understanding of theatre performance. They focus on more complex experiences and expand their understanding of the cultural aspects of theatre. Students continue to refine the creative process while developing their communication and critical-thinking skills. This course prepares students for further theatrical study and exposes students to pathways for theatre-related careers.
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10_1391_0 Advanced Theatre - Theatre Arts II
Grade: 8
Prerequisite: Completion of Middle School Drama, and Audition; or Completion of Intermediate Theatre
Description: This course is for students who want to advance their own Theatre arts skills. Students develop collaboration skills while increasing their understanding of theatre performance. They focus on more complex experiences and expand their understanding of the cultural aspects of theatre. Students continue to refine the creative process while developing their communication and critical-thinking skills. Students conduct character analysis to research, develop, and present a scripted character, explore technical theatre and production concepts, and write critiques. This course prepares students for further theatrical study and exposes students to pathways for theatre-related careers. This course prepares students for theatre arts studies at the high school level.