CBC High School
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Course Offerings Fine & Performing Arts Departments

ART
Ceramics 1
Ceramics 2
Design
Digital Media 1
Digital Media 2
Drawing 1
Drawing 2
Painting 1
Painting 2
Photography
Photography 2
Portfolio
Sculpture
MUSIC
Advanced Piano
Band

Guitar
Honors Music Ensemble
Introduction to Audio Engineering
Jazz Band
Rock Band
Music Practicum
Percussion
Piano
Rock History
Vocal Music

THEATER
Introduction to Theater
Acting
Advanced Theater
Improvisation
Theater Stagecraft
Theater Design & Production
Theater Practicum

MEDIA PRODUCTION
Video Production
Advanced TV Production
Video Production Practicum


The Fine and Performing Arts Department, composed of the Art, Music, Media Production, and Theater programs, is dedicated to developing a life-long sense of art awareness and appreciation in the student. Through the course content, productions, projects, public performances, and exhibitions, the Department seeks to provide all students with the opportunity to develop specific skills in each of the arts. The member programs strive to develop the arts as a means of expression for our young people, as an active addition to the co-curricular program of the school community, and as a reflection of a society’s moral and ethical integrity. It will be further demonstrated that the arts offer a unique chance to develop a well-rounded, confident, and open sense of self-worth.

Click HERE to view the list of courses that qualify as Fine Arts or Practical Arts graduation requirements.
BUSINESS
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
GENERAL STUDIES
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
LANGUAGE ARTS
MATHEMATICS
RELIGION
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
WORLD LANGUAGES
 
CERAMICS 1
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will focus on basic ceramic hand-building techniques. Students will be introduced to various types of clay, glaze materials, the kiln, and firing processes. Students will learn the coil, slab, and pinch  methods to create both functional and sculptural pottery.
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CERAMICS 2
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Teacher approval; Ceramics 1
Course Description: This course will expand on skills learned in Ceramics 1.  Students will be introduced to new techniques in surface decoration, explore wheel-thrown pottery, and experiment with glaze application. Students will create both traditional and contemporary functional and sculptural pottery.  Students that were successful in Ceramics 1 should take this course.

Students are eligible for college credit through the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
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DESIGN
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This is a great beginning class for students that are unsure of their artistic talents or don’t feel they have a strong art background. This course will focus on the primary building blocks for the visual arts, the elements and principles of design.  Students will be exposed to a variety of materials such as oil and chalk pastels, paints, colored pencils, and printing ink.  Students will create artwork that demonstrates both two-dimensional and sculptural art techniques.
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DIGITAL MEDIA 1
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: In this course, students will learn the fundamental features of Adobe Creative Suite by using student-focused exercises. Students will learn about image and video editing, animation, and graphic design. They will complete projects focused on, but not limited to, illustrating, designing, retouching, animating, and layout. Students who are interested in technology and art should take this class.
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DIGITAL MEDIA 2
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Teacher approval; Digital Media 1
Course Description: In this course, students will learn more advanced techniques and features of Adobe Creative Suite, photography, and video editing for digital media by using student-focused exercises. Students will create photographs and videos that will be used as part of their projects. Students will develop and complete commercial projects focused on, but not limited to, illustrating, designing, retouching, animating, video, and layout.

Students are eligible for college credit through the University of Missouri-St. Louis if they meet all UMSL program requirements.
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DRAWING 1
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will focus on basic drawing techniques.  Students will learn how to draw still lifes using grids, landscapes showing depth, and objects in 1- and 2-point perspective.  Students will explore different drawing mediums including graphite pencil, color pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and pen and ink. Students will also learn about the elements and principles of Art while learning about the world’s most famous works of art. Subject matter is from direct observation, photographs, imagination, and contemporary and historical works. Students who are interested in Art and creative process should take this class.
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DRAWING 2
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Teacher approval; Drawing 1
Course Description: This course will expand on skills learned in Drawing 1. Focus will be on developing personal style, skill, technique, and creativity. Students will choose an area of emphasis and complete a series of works that demonstrate exploration and development of the drawing process.

Students are eligible for college credit through the University of Missouri-St. Louis if they meet all UMSL program requirements.
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PAINTING 1
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will focus on basic painting techniques.  Students will learn color theory, color mixing, and a variety of paint application techniques. Students will explore different painting mediums including acrylic, oil, watercolor, and mixed media. Subject matter will be from direct observation, photographs, imagination, and contemporary and historical works.
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PAINTING 2
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Teacher approval; Painting 1
Course Description: This course will expand on skills learned in Painting 1.  The focus will be on developing personal style, skill, technique, and creativity.  Students will choose an area of emphasis and complete a series of works that demonstrates exploration and development of the painting process. Students that were successful in Painting 1 should take this course.

Students are eligible for college credit through the University of Missouri-St. Louis if they meet all UMSL program requirements.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Course Description: This course introduces students to the technical aspects of photography. Students complete photographic assignments related to basic camera operation and exposure control through the use of traditional and digital photographic techniques. This course will also explore career options in the field of photography. This course does not include dark room experience.
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PHOTOGRAPHY 2
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Teacher approval; Photography 1
Course Description: Students expand on the features and aspects of photography. Students complete photographic assignments using advanced camera settings, lens techniques, and image manipulation. This course is designed for students who are motivated to create individualized work for a portfolio. This course does not include dark room experience.
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PORTFOLIO
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors and Seniors; Teacher approval; Completion of a level 2 course in the area of interest
Course Description: This is an independent study class for which each student, with guidance from and in collaboration with an instructor, will design an individualized curriculum revolving around the student’s interests and needs. Highly-motivated students that have successfully completed levels 1 & 2 in a particular medium and want to further their skills should take this course.  Students that are pursuing art in college and are preparing a portfolio for admission should take this course during their junior year.
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SCULPTURE
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: Students will explore various sculptural materials, such as paper-maché, cardboard, clay, wood, and metal to create three-dimensional works of art. Emphasis will be on students executing, understanding, and discussing quality craftsmanship, successful composition, productive conceptualization, and creative problem-solving. Students will gain an appreciation for the purpose and history of sculpture as an art form and use this opportunity to cultivate their own artistic skills.
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ADVANCED PIANO
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Piano or teacher approval via audition
Course Description: This course is performance- and theory-based and continues the teaching of piano skills. It will allow students to develop a wider array of skills required to play more advanced music as well as a thorough understanding of the theoretical concepts in music. Students will also have performance opportunities as well as the opportunity to work with an ensemble of other piano players on large-scale pieces of music.
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BAND
Course Information
College Prep 2 Semesters 1.0 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will connect the student band musician to the broad world of music in a meaningful way. Band doubles as both an instrumental lab course and a music performance course. Students taking band must be able to demonstrate through audition that they possess music reading and technical skills on the intermediate to advanced level. Development of instrumental technique through large and small ensembles is a key component of the course. Band will be involved in many performances. All student band members are also members of the Band of Brothers, whose performances are incorporated into student life and who are typically called on to be ambassadors of our school. They perform at various venues and events that represent our school--athletics events, grade school performances, Open House, etc. Band may also take an overnight, out of town tour in the spring. Instrumentation includes woodwind, brass, percussion, and strings. Rhythm section (drum set, bass, guitar, and piano) may also be considered for membership.
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GUITAR
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This class provides students with the opportunity to learn to play the guitar in several different styles, namely rock and classical. This includes an introduction to basic note reading, music terminology, good playing habits, appreciation of different styles of music and knowledge of beginning level solo work. The students will learn to apply the notes on the staff to the guitar and thus be able to play chords along with songs.
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HONORS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Course Information
Honors / A.P. 2 Semesters 1.0 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors and Seniors; Completed application; Director approval

Course Description: This course exists in conjunction with and is bound by the same course description as the corresponding regular ensemble (Jazz Band, Concert Band, Vocal Ensemble). To earn Honors credit, the student must meet the following additional requirements:

1) The student must prepare and audition for the District Honors Ensemble during the first semester. If the student is selected for District Honors Ensemble, he must also prepare and audition for the State Honors Ensemble.
The student must prepare a solo and participate in the District Solo and Ensemble Festival. If the student receives a Superior (I) rating at District, he must also perform that solo at State.
3) The student must complete a research project, including a written paper and presentation on his chosen subject.
4) The student must prepare for and complete a jury for the music program faculty.
5) The student must study with a mentor, which may be an approved private instructor or other approved mentor.
6) The student must function in a leadership role in a satisfactory way within the ensemble.
7) The student must complete service hours directly to the music program.
8) The student must compile a portfolio of work representative of their efforts.

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INTRODUCTION TO AUDIO ENGINEERING
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester 0.5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Course Description: In this introductory course, students learn about the physics of sound and the history of recording technologies. They learn about the four stages of professional music recording projects: recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Using an open-source recording and mixing program, students will practice the techniques used by sound engineers to produce multi-track recordings. Through a series of engaging hands-on projects, students learn the fundamental concepts of audio engineering.
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JAZZ BAND
Course Information
College Prep 2 Semesters 1.0 Credit
Prerequisites: Audition; Director approval
Course Description: This course will connect the student band musician to the broad world of jazz music in a meaningful way. To be selected, the student must demonstrate that he possesses advanced music reading and technical skills at an elite level, as this band contains the most advanced musicians at CBC. The student will develop and improve existing technical, musical, and improvisational skills on his chosen instrument. The student will learn how to blend his individual performance with that of other students into a cohesive and musical ensemble. CBC Jazz Band will be involved in many performances throughout the school year. Its members are also members of the Band of Brothers,whose performances are incorporated into student life and who are typically called on to be ambassadors of CBC. They perform at all kinds of venues and events to represent our school--athletic events, grade school tours, Open House, etc. Jazz Band may take an out of town/overnight trip in the spring. This class meets as an X-Period class.
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ROCK BAND
Course Information
College Prep 2 Semesters 1.0 Credit
Prerequisites: Audition; Director approval

Course Description: This course will connect the student musician or audio engineer to the broader world of music through performance and recording in a meaningful way. Rock Band doubles as both a music lab course and a music performance course. This course requires co-curricular commitment at various performances and events. Students will have one of two roles in the class: 1) performing musician or 2) audio engineer.

Musicians taking Rock Band must be able to demonstrate through audition that they possess music reading and technical skills on the intermediate to advanced level. The performance of vocal and instrumental technique in an ensemble setting using modern musical genres (rhythm and blues, folk, pop, rock, soul, contemporary christian, etc.) is a key component of this course. Musicians will also record their music throughout the school year.

Audio engineering students taking Rock Band must have completed Introduction to Audio Engineering as a prerequisite. They will continue to expand upon the basic skills learned in that class through live sound in rehearsals and performances and the recording process.

Rock Band will be involved in many performances. They will be incorporated into student life and will be called on to be ambassadors of our school. They perform at various venues and events that represent our school--athletics events, Masses, grade school performances, Open House, etc. Rock Band may also take an overnight, out of town tour in the spring. Instrumentation includes durm set, guitar, bass, piano, and vocals.

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MUSIC PRACTICUM
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Teacher approval
Course Description: This course is designed to provide the advance level music student an opportunity to create a curriculum with the instructor that best fits the strengths of the student. This could include advanced music theory, assisingt with directing rehearsals, or any other projects as designed.  This class meets as an independent study schedule determined by the student and the instructor.
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PERCUSSION
Course Information
College Prep 2 Semester 1.0 Credit
Prerequisites: Audition; Director approval
Course Description: The percussion course is designed for those beyond the beginning stage of playing a percussion instrument. This includes techniques and increased knowledge of note reading, music terminology, good playing habits and intermediate solo and band music. The students will participate and learn music in the form of a marching drumline, percussion ensemble and novelty percussion.  Public performances are part of the requirements of the course. Percussion may also take an out of town/overnight trip in the spring.
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PIANO
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will provide students with the opportunity to learn to play the piano. This includes an introduction to basic note reading, music terminology, good playing habits, appreciation of different styles of music and knowledge of beginning level solo work. The students will learn to apply the notes on the staff to the piano and thus be able to play chords along with songs.
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ROCK HISTORY
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course presents a survey of the history of Rock and Popular music in the 20th and 21st centuries. Topics that will be discussed include the influence of Blues and Jazz on today’s popular music, from rock to country to rap. This course is for the student with no knowledge of musical forms or traditions. It will include extensive listening and on-line learning to enhance the students understanding of the topics.
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VOCAL MUSIC
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester 0.5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: One of the essential qualities of a singer is the ability to perform through song. In this course, students will learn how to weave song and story together, utilizing proper singing techniques and music theory. The course will examine a variety of genres, such as modern and Golden Age musical theatre, pop, and more. Students will be required to sing by themselves and in a duet setting, gaining confidence in their own performance abilities.
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INTRODUCTION TO THEATER
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will introduce students to the world of dramatic arts. It will examine a variety of elements and principles used in the process of theatrical production and appreciation of theatre arts by familiarizing students with the basic production elements and by helping students develop the analytical skills to think, speak, and write critically about theatre. Students will examine critical approaches to understanding play scripts and performances. Activities will focus on the relationship between theatrical theory and practice, the various creative and production roles essential to theatre, as well as major artists and movements throughout theatrical history.
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ACTING
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course serves as an introduction to the craft of acting. It allows students to develop physical awareness, concentration, imagination, and trust consisting of work in voice, movement, and text analysis. Basic physical, vocal, and analytical concepts, along with acting methods, vocabulary, and the discipline required of the beginning actor will be explored. No prior acting experience is necessary.
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ADVANCED THEATER
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors and Seniors
Course Description: This course will further develop the actor’s improvisational skills as well as examine various acting styles, from Shakespeare to the method to acting for the camera. Students will rehearse and perform scenes from plays and film, write and perform their own material, and improvise scenes and dialogue. In select semesters, the class may produce and perform a play. Students in Advanced Theater will develop their skills in Directing and Play Analysis. 

Students are eligible for college credit through the University of Missouri-St. Louis if they meet all UMSL program requirements.
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IMPROVISATION
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This class will explore the fascinating world of improv theatre. This performance-based course will use theatre games, short- and long-form improvisation, sketch comedy, and stand-up comedy to form the bulk of the course work. Through theatre games and improvised experiences and performances, students will work towards freeing themselves physically, vocally, emotionally, and mentally to stimulate creativity, imagination, self-expression, and the collaborative spirit.
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THEATER STAGECRAFT
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will introduce students to the basics of theater technical production in a working theater shop.  Students will develop skills used by theatre technicians while building scenery and properties for theatre productions. Students will learn basic elements of theater safety, stagecraft terminology, history of stage, carpentry, lighting, sound, stage management, costuming, and stage rigging. Students will learn to operate tools and stage machinery and practice the roles of theatre production technicians, crews, and designers. Students interested in architecture, engineering, management, and the arts will benefit from the hands-on experience.
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THEATER DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors and Seniors; Teacher approval; Theater Stagecraft

Course Description: The course is designed as a continuation of the Theater Stagecraft course of study with a greater emphasis on the design elements found in theater and film production. Students will produce and evaluate design sketches and scale models for theater and TV productions. Students will design and supervise the production of stage elements for the theatre program's stage productions. Students will also learn the history of stage design and participate in analysis and discussion of stage design. The course will appeal to students interested in art, set design, sound, lighting, production and stage management, architecture, and construction.

Students are eligible for college credit through the University of Missouri-St. Louis if they meet all UMSL program requirements.

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THEATER PRACTICUM
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Open to Juniors and Seniors; Teacher approval
Course Description: This course is a chance for theater students to explore further interests in the study of theater, such as lighting design, sound design, directing, costuming, prop building, etc. The student work will be supervised and guided by a member of the department staff.
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VIDEO PRODUCTION
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This course will give students practical experience in all elements of video production. Students will be introduced to proper script development, camera techniques, sound recording, announcing, and editing through a series of assignments targeting those techniques. Emphasis will be on skills needed in various types of video production. Produced material will be broadcast on KCBC. Students interested in writing, film, and the arts would benefit from this course.
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ADVANCED TV PRODUCTION
Course Information
College Prep 2 Semesters 1.0 Credit
Prerequisites: Teacher approval
Course Description: This class will meet in the morning before school and will constitute the staff of KCBC, the campus television station. This is an X-Period class.
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VIDEO PRODUCTION PRACTICUM
Course Information
College Prep 1 Semester .5 Credit
Prerequisites: Video Production, Advanced Video Production, or involvement with Cadet Student Network (CSN); Teacher approval
Course Description: This course focuses on the practical application of video production skills including, but not limited to, advanced camera techniques, non-linear video editing, storyboard development, directing, audio production, uses of lighting, interview styles, and location setups. Students will work collaboratively or independently as active, self-directed learners to create real-world projects with specific deadlines. This course offers an opportunity for students to develop the requisite experience to excel in the fields of broadcast journalism, communications, or multimedia production.
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