GROUP 6 – THE
ARTS 4 CREDITS
Each student in the Utica Academy
for International Studies will select an art focus that will progress
throughout their four years, with an opportunity of dropping their art at the end of sophomore year to take an additional class from Groups 3, 4, or 5. As the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Learner Profile requires students who are well balanced and culturally aware,
the arts component of the curriculum is essential. Course emphasis is on
creativity in the context of disciplined, practical research into the relevant
genres. Students will have a choice of one of the following tracks for their duration of time at the Academy:
Instrumental Music
Vocal Music
Visual Arts
Theatre Arts
Course Descriptions:
BAND 9 – 9th grade (1 credit)
Students taking Band 9 (Concert Band) will find it to be a similar experience
to their participation in junior high band. The focus of the freshman band is
to meld the various musical backgrounds with which students enter UAIS and
create a new sense of identity as an ensemble. After the completion of Concert
Band, as sophomores, band students will join the upperclassmen in Symphonic
Band (grades 10-12). While on a daily basis many rehearsals will resemble
a traditional band classroom, the primary contrast is found in the emphasis on
frequent small group work. In keeping with the IB philosophy, students are
encouraged to think independently and develop the ability to identify, analyze,
and synthesize musical problems and concepts and share in the responsibility
for their musical learning and growth. UAIS is a member of MSBOA
(Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association), and all band students are
welcome and encouraged to participate in district Solo & Ensemble festival
in January or February. Many of our students meeting the criteria go on to
state Solo & Ensemble festival in March. Other opportunities such as honors
band festivals may also be available. School-based performances include a
winter concert in November or December, a spring concert in March, and
graduation in June. Because of the
diverse nature of the IB program, our band repertoire includes traditional band
compositions as well as jazz- and internationally-influenced works.
INSTRUMENTAL SOLO AND ENSEMBLE
–10th-12th grades (1 credit)
Instrumental Solo & Ensemble (Symphonic Band) is a continuation of Concert
Band. Students will further develop their musical and leadership skills
in a cooperative learning environment. All Symphonic Band members are
strongly encouraged to perform in an ensemble or as a soloist at MSBOA Solo
& Ensemble festival. The winter concert, spring concert, and graduation
are the three required performances for Symphonic Band throughout the school
year.
VOCAL SOLO
AND ENSEMBLE – (1 credit; 9-12 graders)
All students are welcome in this course! This is a course for students
who have always wanted to learn to sing, as well as for those who have
experience and want to continue developing their skills. Students taking
Mixed Chorus will delve into vocal technique, vocal performance, applicable
music theory concepts, and the study of music history in the context of the
chosen choral repertoire. Students will learn how to care for and use
their voices as musical instruments; learn to “speak” the language of music
through study of terms, symbols, sight-singing, and choral repertoire; develop
poise and confidence as they perform live concerts; learn to recognize and
appreciate high-quality ensemble singing; perform a widely varied repertoire of
music, including jazz, choral, pop, musical theater, multi-cultural/world music
(in a variety of languages); reflect on the artistic value of the art of
singing and its social/historical relevance. There are two required evening
concerts per school year, and there are usually additional engagements as
opportunities arise. UAIS Mixed Chorus also participates in the MSVMA
Vocal Festival in the spring. There are also occasional opportunities for
solo performing and piano accompanying for those interested.
IB MUSIC
HL/SL (1 & 2) – 11, 12 (2 credits)
Co-Requisite: Vocal or Instrumental Solo and Ensemble
The IB Music course will focus on the study of all major style periods of
Western music and a survey of non-Western world music. This course is designed
for both vocal and instrumental musicians to meet the requirements of the IB
Diploma program. The purpose of this course is to promote curiosity in, and
sensitivity to, the musical world which surrounds us.The study of music allows
for exploration of the shared human perceptions and emotions which temper our
lives. The aims of this music course will be to give students the opportunity
to explore and enjoy the diversity of music throughout the world, encourage
students to develop perceptual skills through a breadth of musical experiences,
where they will learn to recognize, speculate, analyze, identify, discriminate
and hypothesize in relation to music, enable students to develop creatively
their knowledge, abilities and understanding through performance and
composition, and assist students to develop their musical potential. Objectives
are that candidates who have completed the course will be expected to demonstrate
the use of appropriate musical language and terminology to describe and reflect
their critical understanding of music, development of perceptual skills in
response to music, and knowledge and understanding of music in relation to time
and place.
ART
FOUNDATIONS - 9th Grade (1 credit)
Through a variety of teaching approaches, all students are encouraged to
develop their creative and critical abilities and to enhance their knowledge,
appreciation and enjoyment of visual arts. The Art Foundations course will
introduce fundamental concepts in art theory and design to enable students to
achieve a novice to intermediate level of proficiency in visual art and
design. Students will be introduced to art concepts and techniques
through practical work and reflective journaling. The aim of Art
Foundation is to prepare students with skills essential for success at Visual
Arts HL and SL enabling students to meet a number of objectives outlined in the
class syllabus.
2D & 3D STUDIO – 10th Grade (1
credit)
Prerequisite: Art Foundations
In 2D & 3D Studio, students will be introduced to art concepts and
techniques through practical work in the studio. Students will: explore media,
including the use of material and equipment, explore and develop artistic
qualities in visual arts, study the relationships between form, meaning, and
content in visual arts, study a variety of social and cultural functions of
visual arts, and appreciate and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
Students will build on skills learned in the Art Foundations course and further
investigate past, present and emerging visual arts from a local, national and
international perspective. Students will expand their personal creativity and
further develop their reflective capacity as it relates to their skill in
producing and evaluating artistic design and practice.
IB VISUAL ARTSHL/SL (1 & 2) –
11th-12th grade (2 credits)
Prerequisite: 2D/3D Design
The aims and assessment objectives are the same for visual arts
students at both HL and SL. Through a variety of teaching approaches, all
students are encouraged to develop their creative and critical abilities and to
enhance their knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of visual arts. Studio work
involves practical exploration and artistic production. Investigation work
involves independent contextual, visual and critical investigation and
reflection, both visual and written. An integrated relationship between studio
work and investigation work is essential throughout the course. Option A (HL
and SL): Option A is designed for students who wish to concentrate on studio
practice in visual arts. Students will produce investigation workbooks to
support, inform, develop and refine studio work through sustained contextual,
visual and critical investigation. At both HL and SL, the investigation
workbooks are integral to studio practice and should reflect the student’s
critical visual and written investigation.
AP ART
HISTORY--11th and 12th Grades (1 credit)
The AP Art History course prepares students for the AP Art
History exam. The course covers art from the Paleolithic period
through postmodernism and is designed to provide students with the same
material covered in an introductory college course in art history.
Students gain knowledge or architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art
forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts. Students
examine and critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from the past
and present and from a variety of European and non-European cultures. In
this course, students engage in both visual and historical study about art and
its contexts. Students develop an understanding of artworks in their context,
considering issues of patronage, gender, politics, religion, and
ethnicity. Attention is given to the interpretation of a work of art
based upon its intended use, audience, and the role of both the artist and
work of art in a particular society. Throughout the study of AP Art
History, students examine how and why the work looks the way it does, what it
means within its particular context, and how and why it has this meaning.
ADVANCED
STUDIO ART --11th-12th Grades (1 credit)
Prerequisites: Art Foundation, 2D/3D Design or Portfolio Review
This class is for students who have a desire and motivation
in pursuing personal individual art projects. Students will utilize the
techniques taught in the prerequisite courses. Artists will further
develop their creativity, style, and complexity of ideas through traditional
and experimental works. The advanced class will focus significantly on
personal approaches to creating works of art.
THEATRE ARTS I – 9th grade (1 credit)
The focus of this course is on development of voice, movement, and
imagination. Students will use a range of theatre techniques and practice
to understand character as an actor and/or audience member. Students will
develop their understanding on practical approaches to production aspects that
influence performing conventions. Emphasis is placed on foundational
approaches to performing and the social application of the various
skills. Students engage practically in creating and presenting
performances. This is strengthend through the development of acting as a
means of self-expression. Individual and ensemble-driven performance are
both implemented regularly as the central focus of the class
curriculum. Studied texts include Commedia dell'Arte: An Actor's
Handbook, Lazzi: The Comic Routines of the Commedia dell'Arte, The Theatre and
Its Double, The Moving Body, and Theatre of the Oppressed.
THEATRE ARTS
II – 10th grade (1 credit)
Prerequisite: Theatre Arts I
The focus of this course builds upon the foundation of Theatre Arts I, engaging
students in more difficult and culturally-diverse theatrical studies and
experiences. Development of theoretical approaches to acting and the
staging of theatre is introduced and examined. Application of theoretical
approaches to dealing with acting and production is implemented in the study of
texts, performances, and practical exploration. Awareness of cultural and
historical impacts on the practice of theatre is explored and
demonstrated. Students learn to perfect their acting skills and apply
their knowledge of theatre in various theatrical contexts across various
styles, forms, eras, and cultures. Reflective approaches on their own
development within theatre is developed and strengthened. Students
demonstrate an ability to interpret types of performances analytically and
imaginatively. Studied texts include Commedia
dell'Arte: An Actor's Handbook, Lazzi: The Comic Routines of the Commedia
dell'Arte, The Theatre and Its Double, The Moving Body, and Theatre of
the Oppressed.
IB THEATRE HL/SL (1 & 2) – 11th-12th
grade (2 credits)
Prerequisties: Theatre Arts I and II
The theatre course emphasizes the importance of working individually and as a
member of an ensemble. Students are encouraged to develop the organizational
and technical skills needed to express themselves creatively in theatre. A
further challenge for students following this course is for them to become
aware of their own perspectives and biases and to learn to respect those of
others. This requires a willingness to understand alternative views, to respect
and appreciate cultural diversity, and to see the varied role that theatre
plays in reflecting these. As a result, the theatre course can become a way for
students to celebrate the international and intercultural dynamic that inspires
and sustains some forms of contemporary theatre, while appreciating the
specifically local origins that have always given rise to performance, and
which, in many parts of the world, still do. At the core of the theatre course
lies a concern with clarity of understanding, critical thinking, reflective
analysis, effective involvement and imaginative synthesis—all of which should
be achieved through practical engagement in theatre. Theatre students at both
SL and HL are presented with a common core syllabus that encourages the
development of certain skills, attributes and attitudes, as described in the
“Objectives” section of this guide. Due to the nature of the theatre course,
there may be no great difference in the complexity or artistic merit of the
work produced by students at SL and HL. Works studied include: The
Servant of Two Masters and Other Italian Classics (Bentley), Waiting for
Godot (Beckett), A Streetcar Named Desire (Williams), Doctor
Fausus (Marlowe) and Death of a Salesman (Miller).