Art Courses

Build your experience here.

Course offerings are full of information that you will need to know as you journey through high school. Spend some time getting to know what to expect, the programs we offer, and plan ahead for how you'll challenge yourself to grow during your time with us.

Pro Tip:

Colleges also have course catalogues that you will need to follow closely to make informed decisions about which classes you'll need to take. Get into practice now so you know how to navigate it later!

Dance

Dance I: Survey (Grades 9-12)

Dance: Theory and Practice (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: Dance 1 or Teacher recommendation

Advance your skills and understanding of the elements and principles of dance gained in Dance Survey.
A major thrust of the course is to utilize the elements and principles in developing broader and deeper understanding of the range of dance forms, styles, and techniques: modern, ballet, ethnic, and jazz.

Dance: Composition (Grades 10-12)

Dance: Ensemble (Grades 10-12)

Music

Orchestra (Grades 9-12)

Beginning Strings (Grades 9-12)

Course Level 1 | Course fee may apply

Beginning Strings provides an experience designed to develop technical and musical skills for string players at the basic and intermediate levels.
Play violin, viola, cello, or bass
Primary emphasis is on tone development, reading music and learning to play in an ensemble.
This course provides each student with an opportunity to study a wide variety of repertoire representative of diverse styles, forms, cultures, and historical periods.
Participate in concerts, festivals, and community events.
CCS-owned instruments are available for students that do not own their own instrument.

Small Instrument Ensemble (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 3 | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation | Course fee may apply.

The Fort Hayes String Ensemble is open to 10-12th grade students enrolled in Orchestra.
The focus of the course includes advanced technique and repertoire with an overview of composers, musical genres and music theory.
The ensemble frequently performs outside the school day for CCS District and community events.

Basic Instrumental Music (Grades 9-12)

Course Level 1 | Course fee may apply

Students will receive instruction designed to accommodate their existing skill level.
Instrumentalists who are changing instruments or who require additional help may enroll in this course.
The course is designed for students with little or no experience in instrumental music and serves as a preliminary class for Instrumental Music Performance courses.

Concert Band (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation | Course fee may apply

Study, rehearse, and perform a wide variety of music in band performances at football games, parades, concerts, competitions, festivals, and community events.
Rehearsals begin two weeks prior to the beginning of the school year and will continue with marching band activities through the football season.

Modern Band (Grades 9-12)

Music Technology I (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 1 | Course fee may apply

Learn how to record audio with a device, such as a computer, phone, or other system, then import that recording into a DAW for editing.
Learn additional technical skills that are specific to creating music utilizing music technology via various devices.
This course is Part II of a two-semester course structured as Music Technology I and Music Technology II.

Music Technology II (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 2

Review audio operations learning in Technology I
Review hot to record, important and edit audio.
Learn about overall process of music mixing in music technology and how to organize a music project for mixing.
Learn how to choose microphones for different sound sources (e.g. voice, kick drum, piano, etc.) and where to place microphones for optimal recorded sound.
Learn to manage and conduct a productive recording session.
This course is Part II of a two-semester course structured as Music Technology I and Music Technology II.

Piano I (Grades 9-12)

Piano II (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: Piano I | Course fee may apply.

Designed for students who want to continue developing the fundamentals of piano playing and begin to build an understanding of musical theory and composition.
Continue to develop proper piano playing techniques and reading skills but focus on how to write your own music.
Curriculum focuses on playing music from fully written staff notation as well as music from a lead sheet/fake book.
This course will also assist students in their preparation for college study in music.
Perform and compose music through the use of an electronic piano lab.

Jazz Ensemble (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 3 | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation | Course fee may apply

Participate in Jazz Ensemble performances at school concerts, festivals, social events, and community events.
Students will study the mastery of jazz techniques.
This course is open to students playing the saxophone, trumpet, percussion instruments, piano, bass, or guitar in the band or orchestra.

Mixed Chorus I (Grades 9-12)

Soprano & Alto Chorus (Grades 10-12)

Mixed Ensemble (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 3 | Pre-req: Audition or teacher recommendation | Course fee may apply

Perform a wide variety of music and musical styles, ranging from popular to classical music.
This group is composed of outstanding vocal students with advanced choral experience.
Members should display a high degree of musical knowledge, technical skill, and sensitivity.
This ensemble will perform frequently throughout the community.

AP Music Theory (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 3 | Pre-req: Teacher recommendation | Course fee may apply

Further develop aural, analytical and composition skills introduced in Basic Music Theory.
Instruction will include the study of musical form, four-part common practice period writing, figured bass realization, and instrumentation.
Emphasis will be placed on diatonic/harmonic pitch collection, functional triadic harmonies, complex meters and rhythms, sight singing, and keyboard harmony.
As parts of the College Board's Advanced Placement Program, this course may result in college credit depending on student's score on the National Advance Placement Examination at the end of the course.

Theatre

Theatre Survey: Technical Theatre & Production (Grades 9-12)

Theater Survey: History & Performance (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 1

Students will focus on basic performance skills and techniques throughout history from Greek Tragedy to Asian Theater of the 1800s.
Explore play structure, varieties of drama, dramatic criticism, and beginning acting skills and vocabulary.
This course is reading and writing intensive and recommended for those desiring a basic introduction to theater, appropriate etiquette, standard terminology, and common practices.

Stagecraft I (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: 1.0 credits in Theatre Survey

This is a hands on course.
Learn all aspects of technical theater work.
The classroom will be heavily supplemented with real-life backstage work in lighting, construction, set design/decoration, sound, publicity, and assorted scene shop tasks.
Students will be part of a professional, functioning theater and therefore must be prepared to operate power equipment, to learn and apply safety.

Acting I (Grades 10-12)

Acting II (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 3 | Pre-req: Acting I, Stagecraft I, or Teacher recommendation

Student will expand their study of voice, movement, characterization, and concentration.
Students will focus on script analysis, monologue and scene study, art as a social action, ensemble building, audition etiquette and investigation into theater arts as a career and college study.
Acting II is a continuation of Acting I and is designed for the student who is seriously interested in acting and performance.
After school rehearsals may be required.

Fundamentals of Technical Theatre (Grades 11-12)

Course Level: 3 | Pre-req: Stagecraft I

This is an opportunity for select students to apply and build their resumes, backstage knowledge and abilities.
This course is almost entirely active learning in and out of the classroom.
The Fort Hayes Stage Crew is traditionally well respected and depended on to serve all other Performing Arts departments on campus and occasionally off campus.
Students will take high levels of responsibility running events as Stage Manager or Assistant Stage Manager.
This course is repeatable and significant after school commitment.
Students are required to serve a minimum of 50 hours in after school crew work.

Theatre Seminar (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 3 | Pre-req: Acting II or Teacher recommendation

This class allows the opportunity for students on a performance track to take part in and develop theatrical works.
Performances outside of class will be mandatory.
Students will act in, direct, design, and produce original and established scripts.
Students will also study the history and context of theater across all cultures.
This course can be repeated.
There is a significant after school time commitment.

Visual Arts

Beginning Drawing (Grades 9-12)

Course Level: 1

No previous drawing experience required.
Students will work on developing the ability 'to see', to focus on the observation of three-dimensional forms and translate to the two-dimensional picture plane.
There will be a variety of exercises and assignments designed to enhance this process.
Basic approaches include mark-making, line quality, value and shading, texture and the various methods that emphasize spatial qualities.
Students will learn composition strategies and explore the usage of drawing media, such as charcoal, pencil, pen, brush/ink, pastel, paint, and printmaking.
Students will be exposed to the historical aspects of art making through the incorporation of Art History in the learning process.

Studio Sculpture & Ceramics (Grades 9-12)

Advanced Ceramics (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: Intro to Ceramics

Advanced Ceramics is a studio course for student to further explore the design concepts, forms and function within ceramic pieces.
Students will be encouraged to investigate hand-building techniques further in creating sculpted clay pieces
Students will also continue their work in wheel throwing, expanding in the shapes and sizes of the pieces thrown.
Students will delve into a variety of glazing and decoration techniques for applying color to their pieces.

Art Specialization: Computer Graphics (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: Beginning Drawing *Typically during Senior Lunch*

Computer Graphics I introduces students to Adobe software through a project based curriculum.
Students will have projects that build on skills from one to the next, beginning simply and ending with much more complex projects.
Projects explore ideas around Typography, Digital Painting, Digital Collage, and Marketing.

Art Specialization: Advanced Drawing and Painting (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: Beginning Drawing

This course will provide students with the opportunity to build on the skills learned in beginning drawing and will help students find their personal voice.
Explore a wide variety of traditional and contemporary drawing, printmaking and painting skills and techniques including linear and volume and perspective drawing, figurative and portrait skills and abstract and experimental work.
This course will also introduce narrative ideas, collaborative projects and conceptual art techniques.

Art Specialization: Beginning Photography (Grades 10-12)

Course Level: 2 | Pre-req: Beginning Drawing *Typically during Senior Lunch*

This class is an introduction to the art of photography.
Students will be looking at the historical and artistic development of the art form through projects and assignments.
Learn about the art of photography through studying and critiquing contemporary and masters of photography as well as students' own work.
Develop a portfolio and artistic skills.
Learn the process of manipulating images through the use of Adobe Photoshop software.
Look at the impact and importance in photography in culture and society.

AP Art Studio Portfolio (Grades 10-12)

Coursework: Advanced Placement

Course Level: 3 | Pre-rec: Teacher recommendation

This course involved 2D Design, Illustration, Cartoon development, etc.
AP Art Studio courses are college-level classes designed for students who are seriously interested in exploring and expressing themselves through visual art.
Learn about design, technique, media, criticism, aesthetics, and art history
Develop mastery in concept, composition, and execution of artistic ideas.
Students submit portfolios for evaluation near the end of the school year.
First semester, students will be introduced to a wide variety of art making and design techniques, expanding their artistic breadth.
Second semester, students individually select and develop, in depth, a concentrated artistic concept/idea.

Scheduling

Students will be expected to carry a full schedule for the entirety of the time they are with us. We are committed to making sure the students are prepared for leadership and service as a citizen in a global society. For the mission of Fort Hayes (to create expectations of excellence within students through challenging and collaborative learning by bending the arts, academic and career programs) to be fully realized, we as a school along with our families, must collaborate to position or students in a way that they are competitive and well educated when they graduate high school.

To ensure that students are enrolled in the appropriate classes for graduation and scheduled in a 10-period configuration, there are several principles that will guide this task:

Graduation Requirements (not optional)
Class Size Balance (not optional)
4 Core Subjects (not optional)
1 Non-Instructional Period (Student Mentoring)
Multiple Arts Integration Classes (not optional)
Full Schedule for 4 years (no early leave and no late arrival)
Teacher Recommendations
Student Requests

When a student/family chooses Fort Hayes, these are the requirements for attending our school. We believe in rich and vibrant emergence in the Arts and have built our scheduled based on a 10-period extended day.