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.
 

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

La Salle Concert Choir is open to all students who want to learn how to improve their voice and sing in a choir. Students will perform in concerts, competitions, festivals, and other events. They will develop an appreciation for and an interest in music and the fine arts as a part of their lives.  This choir class can be taken for credit each year (freshman through senior year) and can be taken for all 4 years. Choir is a year-long class and fulfills 1.0 credit of the Fine Arts requirement. With the teacher's recommendation, students can opt to have half of their year fulfill their Speech Requirement (.5 credit).  Students in this class can compete in district and state solo festivals and choir festivals.
 

Band (zero period)
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. 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), athletic events at La Salle and other special events throughout the year. Attendance is required at all performances. Band students are eligible to compete in the annual State Solo & Ensemble contest, as well as All-State Band and WIBC contests. 

Beginning Brass
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 1.0, Full Year
Prerequisite: Instrument rental required, no prior musical experience necessary

For students interested in learning how to play a brass wind instrument (trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba) but have not yet had the opportunity. Students will learn everything needed to start playing including correct playing technique, reading sheet music, proper instrument care, a daily practice routine and hours of ensemble performance practice. Students will perform with other ensembles at the end of each semester as part of music department concerts. Attendance is required for all performances.
 

Guitar 1
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 2
Grade Level: 10-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Guitar 1

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.

  Advanced Guitar 
Grade Level: 11-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Guitar 1 and Guitar 2

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. 

Electronic Music 1
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: None

This is an introductory course to audio production and musical composition. Electronic Music is a project-based class that provides the knowledge and tools for anyone to create their own music using electronic instruments, sampling and looping. Expect to learn how music works from a new perspective and learn how to analyze musical styles in order to sharpen your skills. No prior musician background is needed, just bring your best listening ears. All class work is designed to be completed during class time without the need for additional homework. By the end of the semester, you should be able to create new music from your mind to share with the world.

Electronic Music 2
Grade Level: 9-12
Credit: 0.5, Semester
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Electronic Music 1 or teacher recommendation

Electronic Music 2 is designed to continue and develop skills learned in Electronic Music 1. This project-based class will touch on more advanced musical composition ideas and extended production techniques within the Soundtrap and Reaper DAWs, in addition to learning about the science and construction of synthesized sounds. Students can expect to record and manipulate audio using a variety of samplers and synthesizers for projects. All class work is designed to be completed during class time with a minimal need for additional homework.
 

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. 

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

The purpose of Designing and Directing 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. 

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.

Technical Theater & 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.

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.