Fine Arts

Imagine five theatrical productions per year, musical performances across the state, dance programs at every level, a full orchestra, choir, jazz ensembles, band, art shows in our very own art gallery, and KSPB, the largest student run radio station west of the Mississippi River. Well, imagine no more. These are all part of the Fine Arts Department here at Stevenson.

As a young person interested in the arts, you probably understand that it may be impossible to truly capture the quality of a fine arts program in words. This is especially true here at Stevenson where the arts are at the core of what makes Stevenson a unique place to grow and learn. Stevenson offers a rigorous academic environment where you will be surrounded by other students who also share your passion for the arts.

Each year our school calendar is filled with a variety of performances ranging from our weekly informal jam sessions and monthly “Coffeehouses” to our annual winter and spring music concerts, dance concerts, art shows, theatrical productions and a yearly musical. In addition, every third year we take the show on the road, sometimes to Europe or maybe even to Hawaii where sixty-five of our best actors and musicians will perform that year’s musical production in front of sold out audiences for two weeks.

Course Offerings

Art Courses

Introductory Art-2D

This beginning art class exposes students to the fundamentals of art. Students discover the elements of art and principles of design as well as explore the foundations of art history. Exploration in figure drawing, observational rendering, one and two point perspective and color theory, along with some three-dimensional design work in clay, are starting points for the student?s creativity. Through class critiques, students evaluate their own work and analyze the work of others.

Introductory Art-3D

For students with a limited art background, this course introduces the techniques behind ceramics and sculpture, including use of a potter?s wheel, glazing, and firing. The concepts of additive, subtractive, and found object sculpture are emphasized. Students also develop basic drawing skills and explore color theory. Through class critiques, students evaluate their work and analyze the work of others.

Digital Art

Students will embrace the computer as their primary art medium in this course, an introduction to the basic components of Adobe Photoshop software. Projects are designed to promote experiential learning through manipulation of the digital camera, scanner, color printers and mixing mediums, while developing a comfort level with digital imaging in Photoshop, "e-Portfolio" databasing, and an awareness of how e-technology is affecting the world.

Intermediate Art: Fashion

Through exposure to current publications, students in this section of the art program become familiar with developments in European and American fashion trends. Each student works toward an individual style that reflects the detail, construction, texture, and pattern of the garment rendered. Through original design of garments as well as development of illustration techniques, students develop unique additions to their portfolios.

Intermediate Art: Architecture

This class allows students interested in exploring a career in architecture to aquire rendering skills using perspective principles; to design and build models with accompanying plans; to make presentations of each design completed; and to study the lives of significant architects. Guest architects will also make presentations to the class. Drawing, models, and plans enhance the individual's portfolio preparation.

Intermediate Art: 3-D

Serious art students explore the aesthetic and technical aspects of 3-dimensional design. Students develop skills and learn techniques in sculpture and participate in a range of experiences including clay modeling, stone carving, wood construction, welding and metal fabrication working in stained glass, glass slumping and plaster casting. Slide portfolios of finished work complete the course.

Advanced Ceramics

Prerequisite: Introductory Art-3D
In this advanced class, students expand upon skills they learned in Introductory Art-3D. Because advanced students work alongside beginners, the course encourages interactive teaching; it also helps students become technically skilled in the use of the potter?s wheel and in advanced hand-building techniques. Classes make use of high-fired electric kiln glazes and alternative firing methods.

Advanced Art: Studio

Students focus on an independent subject or theme, rendering pieces on that theme in any drawing, painting, and photographic or three-dimensional medium of their choice. Class work further develops each student?s style in a variety of drawing, painting, and design media. Work is photographed in slide form and assembled into individual portfolios.

Advanced Art: 3-D

Serious art students continue to explore the aesthetic and technical aspects of 3-dimensional design. Students develop skills and learn techniques in sculpture and participate in a range of experiences including clay modeling, stone carving, wood construction, welding and metal fabrication working in stained glass, glass slumping and plaster casting. Slide portfolios of finished work complete the course.

Advanced Placement Studio Art: Drawing or 2-D Design

A select group of students, chosen by the faculty for excellence in studio art motivation and potential, prepare a rigorous portfolio of work in preparation for submission to the College Board for College Credit. Working independently with close supervision, students have access to the art studio during weekends and after school for independent studio work. Students create 24 total works to meet the rigorous, national porfolio requirements.

Advanced Placement Art 3D

This two year course is designed to prepare sculpture students for the Advanced Placement Portfolio requirements. Students work in the sculpture studio to create sculptural forms and art work in stone, wood, metal, glass, plaster and found objects. After two years of instruction in various techniques and materials and the development of their concentration? or Thesis, students will submit their slides of their portfolio to the College Board for college credit.

Photography Courses

Beginning Photography

Prerequisite: personal 35mm camera
Students learn elementary skills such as loading and operating the camera and bulk-loading black and white film. From assignments throughout the year, the course emphasizes hands-on lab work; students gain confidence in changing film to reels, developing film, and printing the negatives. Each student creates a binder-style portfolio with photos and write-ups that describe his or her process in completing it.

Intermediate Photography

Prerequisite: Beginning Photography
Continuing in the same tradition as the beginning course, this intermediate class acquaints students with the design and composition of images. As the student?s portfolio grows, the course emphasizes higher-quality results through the use of alternative printing techniques.

Advanced Photography

In this class, experienced and dedicated students of photography pursue their craft and artistic expression through the production of a finished portfolio. Year-long, class members explore and employ alternative techniques, as well as those basic to making strong photographic images. The course also includes field trips.

Digital Photography

Prerequisite: Permission by instructor.
This course introduces students to the digital single lens reflex camera as a tool for capturing images in the RAW format. Adobe's new Lightroom Program and Photoshop CS3 will be utilized. Development of the photographer's eye and creating portfolios in printed and electronic formats are the primary goals.

Drama Courses

Beginning Acting

The beginning drama student learns the fundamentals of acting and theater arts, including mime, vocal projection, stage movement, and basic characterization. Each class begins with physical warm-ups to highlight the actor?s most important tool, the body. The course emphasizes the ability to sustain concentration and stage presence.

Intermediate Acting

Prerequisite: Beginning Acting, or permission of instructor
Intermediate Acting, continuing the focus of the beginning acting class, prepares the students for more advanced work and performance.

Advanced Acting

Prerequisite: permission of instructor
For the committed actor or actress, Advanced Acting offers a wide choice of arenas for student performance; frequent school plays provide opportunities for actors. All students will present two 3-5 minute monologues suitable for college or conservatory auditions.

Technical Theater

Prerequisite: permission of instructor. In this course students explore various areas of technical theater such as lighting, costumes, sound, scenic design, set construction, properties and theater management. Lecture is balanced with hands-on work to familiarize students with the craft of technical theater. Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in co-curricular Performing Arts productions.

Musical Theater

The musical theater class is designed to develop skills in all elements inherent to the art form: acting, dancing, and singing. Students are exposed to the history and tradition of musical theater through the study of its rich repertoire.

Dance Courses

Beginning Dance

This class offers an introduction to the various styles of dance, including modern and jazz dance. In addition, the class explores partnering dance through swing and salsa dance styles. Students discuss the history of these styles and learn terminology pertinent to dance.

Intermediate Dance

Prerequisite: Beginning Dance, or permission of instructor
This class further explores the dance styles introduced in the Beginning Dance course. Students study ballet, modern and jazz technique, as well as partnering skills. Students also work on sequencing skills, phrasing, and body articulation as it applies to the choreography presented.

Advanced Dance

Prerequisite: Intermediate Dance, or permission of instructor
This course gives more attention to technique in jazz, ballet, and modern dance. As a final project, dancers choreograph their own dance, or collaborate with other students in the class on an original project. Students participate in dance presentations throughout the year.

The Principles of Choreography

This course provides an introduction to choreography. Form in dance is emphasized with students developing the ability to create movement that is meaningful and communicative. Students will create dances that reflect cultural or historical ideas. Music of cross-cultural styles is observed and utilized while creating original dance pieces. Discussion of the affect music has in relationship to the storytelling movement process is an important component of this course.

Music Courses

Concert Band

Prerequisite: previous instrumental instruction
The concert band enables students to study an instrument through band literature of various styles and levels of difficulty. Several small ensembles, such as brass quintet, saxophone ensemble, and pep band, are formed from the concert band.

Jazz Band

Admission by audition
Students learn jazz and improvisation through practice of the big band sound and format. When appropriate, the group also forms smaller jazz rock bands and jazz combos.

Beginning Group Singing

This course is designed to provide all students with an opportunity to increase knowledge of individual vocal technique, breathing, posture, diction, stage presence, ensemble singing (blend, balance), music reading, ear training, and sight-singing. The class format will be a ?master class? setting in which students will perform solo or small ensemble pieces for the class, while learning basic stage etiquette and poise in a non-threatening, informal atmosphere.

Mixed Chorus

This course, offering a wide variety of choral and musical experiences, stresses proper breathing, support, tone production, and posture while singing in four-or-more-part harmony.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Through this course students have an opportunity to gain experience and develop a feel for vocal jazz.

Chamber Singers

Admission by audition
An ensemble of no more than 35 vocalists, this group performs a variety of vocal pieces, a cappella.

Guitar

This course is for students who wish to acquire a basic knowledge of the guitar, including tuning the instrument, knowledge of chords, finger strumming, bar chords, scales and exercises, and performance of modern, folk, and rock music.

String Orchestra

Admission by audition
Students increase their repertoire by performing literature from a variety of musical periods. Opportunities are also available for performing in small chamber ensembles such as string quartets and trios.

Piano, Voice, and Instrumental Lessons

Regularly scheduled private lessons are arranged by the director of music.

Music Theory and Improvisation

This is a beginning course in theory, improvisation, and composition of music. Students are introduced to the elements and movement of chord structure, harmony, melody, and rhythm.

Handbell Choir

The handbell choir is for musicians interested in learning the technique of ringing and performing with handbells.

Music and Computers

Using the computer as a "virtual recording studio," this course focuses on Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), and digital audio. Students learn MIDI fundamentals and sound production using software-based synthesizers, sampling, and software multi-track sequencers for creation of student compositions. Students will be introduced to basic digial audio theory, and learn skills in hard-disk recording and editing with ProTools and other multi-track audio software.

Advanced Placement Music Theory

Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Offered to students in grades eleven and twelve who demonstrate basic music theory knowledge on an entrance exam and an upper intermediate level of skill in instrumental or vocal music, this course is designed to encompass a wide range of musical study with emphasis on the fundamentals of theory, music handwriting skills, form analysis, ear training, rhythmic and melodic dictation, and basic melodic and harmonic composition.

Radio Courses

Beginning Radio

On KSPB, the school?s 1,000-watt FM radio station, students practice the fundamentals of radio broadcasting, including presentation of music, public service, news, sports programming, and basic radio engineering.

Advanced Radio

Prerequisite: Beginning Radio. In Advanced Radio broadcasting, students host a radio show per week and also work in areas such as public service, news, music, sports, and education programming. Advanced Radio students must be capable broadcast engineers with considerable knowledge of broadcast equipment and radio law.