Music Appreciation – S1 & S2

Course Code: OMU002/201
State Code: 05118
Grades: 9-12
Length: Year-long
Online Platform: Accelerate Education
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement: Art/GE
Course Designation: online
Description: Students will gain a thorough understanding of music by studying the elements of music, musical instruments, and music history, as well as music advocacy. Students will be introduced to the orchestra and composers from around the world. They will be required to be a composer, performer, instrument inventor, and advocate. Throughout the course, you will meet the following goals: Define music appreciation and explain fundamental elements including rhythm, harmony, melody, tempo, and meter. Describe form, timbre, and musical expression and recognize the music alphabet, clefs, and musical notation. Interpret scales, keys, intervals, and chords and explain their role in music theory and composition. Classify voices, instruments, and orchestral ensembles and describe their roles in music. Examine major figures and unique features of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music periods. Analyze major figures and unique features of Classical and Romantic music periods. Investigate major figures and unique features of early 20th century American music, jazz, and rock and roll. Explore major figures and unique features of atonal music, Broadway musicals, and music in media. Trace the evolution of drum corps, Colorguard, and music advocacy groups and their cultural significance. Evaluate how music has evolved across historical periods and continues to impact society and culture.

NEW Art Appreciation

Course Code: OAR009
State Code: 05152
Grades: 9-12
Length: Semester
Online Platform: Accelerate Education
Credit: 0.5
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement: Art/GE
Course Designation: online
Description: What makes an artwork a masterpiece? Why do artists create art? What is the difference between Rococo and Art Nouveau? In this course, students will discover the answers to these questions and more. Students examine the elements of art and principles of design and explore how artists have used these elements and principles in the creation of art for centuries. When you log into Accelerate, you can view the entire course map—an interactive scope and sequence of all topics you will study. The units of study are summarized below: Module 1: Elements of Art & Principles of Design, Module 2: Ancient Art, Module 3: Medieval Art, Aegean, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Art, Module 4: The Renaissance to Rococo, Module 5: Pre-modern Art to Modern Art, Module 6: Modernism and Post-modernism.

NEW Art History

Course Code:
State Code:
Grades: 9-12
Length: Semester
Online Platform: Accelerate Education
Credit: .5
Prerequisite: none
Graduation Requirement:
Course Designation: online
Description: This Art History course integrates the four components of art study: art production, historical and cultural context, critical process, and aesthetic process. Students will be able to identify and describe art from prehistoric times to modern time. Throughout this course, students will discuss various artworks, research artists, and create documents and presentations demonstrating concepts learned. Module 1: Fundamentals of Art History. Module 2: Art of Early Times and Major Civilizations, Module 3: Art During the Middle Ages, Module 4: The Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo Periods, Module 5: Modern Art.

NEW Beginning Drawing

Course Code:
State Code:
Grades: 9-12
Length: Semester
Online Platform: Accelerate Education
Credit: .5
Prerequisite: none
Graduation Requirement:
Course Designation: online
Description: In Drawing, students will experiment with several different art materials and tools to see what each tool can do best. Students will explore ordinary things around them to become more observant of the structures and meanings of things which can be seen in their home and community. Student work will be their own study of the forms, textures, movements, and patterns of the things that are seen every day. Each project and each lesson is based on the one before it; so lessons should be completed in the order they are given. Directions should be followed exactly regarding which materials, sizes, and subject matter to use for each project. Each lesson will be a study of a new way of drawing. The examples given will show only the method and materials to be used, never the same subject or size as the project assigned. The examples are never to be copied. An example will only show one way of using the technique described. By becoming more observant, experimenting with new materials, and exploring a variety of methods, students will continue to grow in artistic skill and enjoyment. Beyond fundamental skills built are various levels of creativity. Each lesson provides room for expressing the technical skill learned in a unique, creative way.

NEW Beginning Painting

Course Code:
State Code:
Grades: 9-12
Length: Semester
Online Platform: Accelerate Education
Credit: .5
Prerequisite: none
Graduation Requirement:
Course Designation: online
Description: This course introduces students to classical and contemporary painting, techniques, and concepts, with emphasis on the understanding of its formal language and the fundamentals of artistic expression. Painting from still life, landscape, and life models from observation will be geared towards realism. At the same time, various other painting styles could be explored. Color theory, linear perspective, compositional structure, figure/ground relationships, visual perception, spatial concepts, and critical thinking skills will all be emphasized. Students will study and research major painting styles and movements in historical context. The hope is that students will use this global approach to develop a “critical eye” in evaluation of contemporary painting. Acrylic and watercolors are the mediums used in this class. The main emphasis of this course is to encourage and nourish individuality and creativity. Materials list: Acrylic paints, Acrylic Brushes (to include a flat brush and a round brush), Watercolor paints and brushes, Newsprint, Pencil & Eraser, Colored markers, Watercolor paper, Cardstock paper, 1 white canvas (9"x12" or larger), Sketch & Drawing paper, Paper towel, Newspaper, Palette, Palette knife, 2 wide mouth jars or containers for water (one for cleaning, one for wetting the brush as needed), Mirror.

NEW Advanced Drawing

Course Code:
State Code:
Grades: 9-12
Length: Semester
Online Platform: Accelerate Education
Credit: .5
Prerequisite: none
Graduation Requirement:
Course Designation: online
Description: In Advanced Drawing, students will be reviewing basic drawing skills and the elements and principles of design, while exploring deeper how they are used in art. Students will also explore in-depth several different types of media and artistic styles in order to define their personal aesthetic and design their own compositions. In each section, students will observe and analyze various artworks to expand their knowledge of art history and develop their personal aesthetic. All projects in this course will be an original composition by the student. After instruction and research, students will be given prompts and guidelines on how to create each project, but the final outcome will be unique to each person. At the end of the last four modules, students will participate in either a self- or peer-critique. This is to help students learn to analyze their work and grow as an artist from the input of others. At the end of the course, students will compile and organize their artwork into a digital portfolio and write an artist statement. This can be used as a record of personal accomplishment or as an application to a secondary art program or job.

NEW Theatre Studies

Course Code:
State Code:
Grades: 9-12
Length: Semester
Online Platform: Accelerate Education
Credit: .5
Prerequisite: none
Graduation Requirement:
Course Designation: online
Description: Have you ever wondered how a play goes from the playwright’s mind all the way into a multi-million-dollar Broadway production? In this course, students learn the whole process. This course provides a thorough introduction to the theater by providing an overview of major topics in theater studies, with a blend of theoretical and practical lessons. In the first half of this course students will learn about the definitions of theater, theater history, and contemporary theatrical genres. The second of half of the course will guide students through all of the elements of putting on a professional theatrical production. Students will learn about the entire production process, from playwriting through opening night, including elements of technical theater, the rehearsal process, and audience response. Whether the student is an aspiring actor, technician, director, producer, or even just an avid theatergoer, this course will be of interest.