Performing & Fine Arts Department

Advanced Art 2D
Grade Level: 10-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: Art Foundations

Advanced art students will continue to study in Drawing, and begin to be more independent in areas of study, including Printmaking, Painting, Mixed Media, Photography, Graphic Design, Digital Art, Mixed Media processes. Students will build a portfolio of work and learn to document, photograph and build a website for their artwork. Students will have opportunities to compete in national, state, and local competitions. Art 2D will prepare students for AP Studio Art coursework.

Advanced Art 3D
Grade Level: 10-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: Art Foundations

Advanced art students will be introduced to Art Fabrication including Ceramics, Mixed Media Sculpture, Jewelry, Paper, Metals, Wood, and Glass. Students will learn elements of design and art in relation to 3D art projects. Students will build a portfolio of work and learn to document, photograph and build a website for their artwork. Students will have opportunities to compete in national, state, and local competitions. Art 3D will prepare students for AP Studio Art coursework.

AP Studio Art
Grade Level: 11-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: Art Foundations, Advanced Art 2D or Advanced Art 3D

AP Studio art is a college-level course designed for serious art students who are looking to build a strong portfolio of work. The AP College Board studio classes are based on the completion of a portfolio that is submitted digitally and physically to the college board. The portfolio consists of two sections, the sustained investigation and selected works.  Student portfolios are reviewed by college, university, and secondary school art instructors using rigorous standards. This CollegeBoard program provides the only national standard for performance in the visual arts that allows students to earn college credit and/or advanced placement while still in high school. The curriculum for this course aligns with The College Board requirements. Students are encouraged to compete in various international and national art competitions as well as state and local contests.

Morning Choir
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: None

Morning Choir is open to all students who want to improve their voice and sing in a choir. The class is designed for students who have a scheduling conflict with other Choir classes. Morning Choir will perform with the Concert Choir at Christmas and Spring concerts, and other community and school events. Students are also given the opportunity to participate in the Oregon Music Educators Association solo and ensemble contests. Morning Choir will meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Morning Choir is a year-long class and is open to all students. Students in this class can compete in district and state solo festivals and choir festivals.

Band
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: Beginner playing ability on a woodwind, brass, string or percussion instrument, as well as a beginner’s knowledge of reading music

This class is for students to participate in an instrumental wind band ensemble. Students may participate on their woodwind, brass, string or percussion instruments. This performance-based ensemble will focus on performing selections of classical, jazz and popular music as well as music appreciation and intensive listening practice. Students will be taught to develop their ear-training in order to transcribe and arrange music for the ensemble as a creative composing activity. Students will perform for school concerts (December and May), with the possibility of other special events throughout the year. Attendance is required at all performances.

Introduction to Guitar
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: None

Bring your own acoustic or classical guitar or borrow one from the school, if you are brand new to guitar, or just know a few chords, this class is for you.  The class will be fast moving and fun as we learn about guitars and how to play them.  We will be introduced to many styles of guitar playing including rock, blues, folk and classical.  This is a hands-on class that sets you up for a lifetime of guitar playing.

Guitar 2
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Introduction to Guitar

Students will need their own guitars as they learn about music and guitar playing.  Get ready for bar chords and strum patterns that will last a lifetime. We will have hands-on experience with many styles of guitar playing including rock, blues, folk and classical.  Get ready to know the guitar so well that you can sing as you are playing.  Can you read music and TAB?  You will in this class.  

Guitar 3
Grade Level: 10-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Introduction to Guitar and Guitar 2

Bring your guitar for this deep dive into Rock, Blues, Folk and Classical music.  Get ready to go up and down the neck with chords and riffs.  Take your soloing to the next level.

Guitar 4
Grade Level: 10-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Introduction to Guitar, Guitar 2, and Guitar 3

Serious guitar playing from here on in.  You are now an intermediate level musician who will play intricate songs with powerful picking patterns.  You will also learn some advanced rock, blues and classical techniques.

  Guitar 5
Grade Level: 11-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Guitar 1, Guitar 2, Guitar 3 and Guitar 4

Ready to do some advanced soloing?  Ready to know a cutting edge portfolio of music that is better than most high school guitar players in the country?  Take this class. A repeatable class for serious guitar students. 

Songwriting 101
Grade Level: 10-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Musicians who have multiple years of playing guitar or piano, students who know all about chords and want to write their own music to be a singer/songwriter.

Learn how to make songs and produce music.  Use piano and guitar, but also use garage band to create digital music. Designed for musicians who have multiple years playing guitar or piano, students who know all about chords and want to write their own music or be a singer/songwriter.

Music Technology
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: None

Students will be introduced to electronic music, MIDI, piano, sound systems, audacity, digital and analog audio, and Propellerhead's Reason. This project-based class will provide students with the proper tools to create and master an original music composition using the computer programs Audacity, Garage Band and Reason 7.0. Students will learn the basics of musical notation, harmony, composition, styles and aesthetics. Students will have the opportunity to perform original compositions in a final class concert. No musical background needed.

Introduction to Theater 
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester 
Prerequisite: None

The purpose of the Introduction to Theater course at La Salle Prep is to give all students a strong foundation of stage skills to aid in the early exploration of performance techniques, storytelling and essentials. The course is designed to expose the student to all areas of the theater both on stage and off, through individual and group performances, projects and written assessments. This isn’t just an acting class, this is a class helping build foundational skills in storytelling, finding your own voice, building your confidence and developing your creative problem solving skills. 

Directing and Management
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester 
Prerequisite: Introduction to Theater or Technical Theater, or with Teacher Permission

The purpose of Directing and Management at La Salle Prep High School is to further develop the art-form of storytelling, organizational management, leadership skills and prepare the student for a life-time of learning and service to creative arts and the world.As a performance and production based class, the student will be expected to write, design, organize, sometimes act and  direct a variety of stories. In part, a student’s grade will be reflective of both the work they do in the class and the quality of that work. The student will have an opportunity to develop their interest and talent in the various skills needed in mounting a production; working with actors. Learning problem-solving and proactive leadership skills, developing your own “style” of leadership and helping you learn strategies for building healthy relationships and healthy communities. 

Technical Theater and Scenic Construction
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester 
Prerequisite: None

The purpose of the Technical Theatre & Scenic Construction class at La Salle Prep High School is threefold. One, to learn, build and increase the skills of the student in all aspects of production design. Two, to develop the techniques needed to design and implement production designs and other technical elements; and third, to support the design and production work for the Fall production, the Winter One-Acts and the Spring Musical. This is a hands-on class in which we learn to use power tools, interpret sketches and blueprints, design our own projects and build the worlds of the La Salle shows. Have you thought about using a chop saw, staple gun and rotary blade? Join this class to learn those skills through project based learning.

Advanced Acting and Production
Grade Level: 11-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: Completion of one of the following courses Introduction to Theater, Directing and Management, Technical Theater and Scenic Construction and audition or application

The purpose of Advanced Acting & Production at La Salle Prep is to further develop the art-form of acting and prepare the student for a lifetime of learning and service to art and the world. As a performance-based class, students are expected to produce the winter show in the fall, and the Filmmaker’s Gala and Theater Awards Night in the spring. Students have an opportunity to develop their interest and talent in the various skills needed in mounting a production; such as acting, lighting, sound design, set production, costume design, and production make-up artistry etc. This course counts towards the Fine Arts graduation requirement.

Filmmaking and Screenwriting
Grade Level: 10-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: Demonstrate an interest in filmmaking and screenwriting

This filmmaking course will feature a mixture of project based and dynamic production and project based curriculum for students interested in developing as digital storytellers. It is appropriate for students motivated to learn about cinema as an important medium for self-expression and art. This course will be project intense, time-consuming, structured, and rewarding. Filmmaking is a time-sensitive activity and requires each student to work in a cooperative environment and show leadership in managing time, personalities, and projects. Because a portion of this class is project based, students will be expected to, at times, work independently while still managing deadlines. During the first semester students will learn about filmmaking techniques and basics of Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Audition and Animate while developing an original short film script. Second semester students focus on enhancing their technical and creative skills while shooting a short film to be premiered at the Filmmaker’s Gala in May.

Senior Theater Capstone
Grade Level: 12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Application and approval from Fine Arts Department and Administration

The senior capstone project at La Salle Prep is an application based one semester project open to seniors ONLY. It is available to one senior per semester. The interested senior must fill out the application and submit a written proposal to the theater teacher and to La Salle administration. Interested students must also interview with the theater director and Administration for approval. Once approved the student will work independently with a weekly check up with the theater director and must present their research and project at the end of the respective semester. If approved, this is a 0.5 credit independent study course.