Arts

Creative development is probably the most important ingredient in the making of an educated person. It is important in helping students learn to meet life's procession of challenges by accepting responsibility, finding solutions, and achieving goals. The Arts department encourages students to enrich and expand the means by which they personally express their artistic vision -- setting into motion a lifelong course of exploration and performance excellence. Every concert, exhibition, or production is either a direct culmination of course work in the classroom or a course in itself. Each is a tribute to the observations, analyses and decision making processes necessary for creative and human development. In the Arts department students experience the joy of creativity by participating personally in the creative process through the study of the fine and performing arts.

Requirements:
One and one-half credits in grades nine through twelve with at least one-half credit in studio or performance and at least one-half credit in appreciation or history.

Private Music Lessons
Lessons meet once per week
Arranged through the Music Department office, Private Music lessons are available to students in all grades. Lessons are given once a week, by professional musicians on the staff of the department, and are available on all instruments, including voice. All students taking private lessons are expected to practice diligently and come to their lessons prepared. Students pay an annual fee of $1200.00

Music: Full-Credit Courses

Advanced Placement Music Theory (673)
Prerequisite: Approval of Department Chair required.
History/Appreciation
Grades 10-12
This course is designed to develop a student's ability to recognize, understand, and analyze the basic components and materials of music heard or presented in full score. Students will be addressing fundamental aural and compositional skills with both listening and written exercises. Weekly lab sessions will serve to develop skills in sight singing and in musical dictation. Admission to the course is open to students actively engaged in private lessons and/or a performance ensemble whether on campus or off campus.

Honors Seminar in Music (670)
Prerequisite: Approval of the Department Chair required.
History/Appreciation
Grades 11-12
This course in listening and analysis explores musical styles of various eras: Renaissance to Contemporary. Class discussions, listening sessions, and reading assignments are occasionally supplemented by field trips to open rehearsals and other musical events in New York City. A basic knowledge of music is essential in addition to a genuine desire to learn to enjoy many styles of music.


Music: Half-Credit Courses

American Music (668)
History/Appreciation
Grades 9-12
Rich in American folklore, this course is a survey and appreciation of American music's diverse streams: folk music (from both European-American and African-American traditions), sacred music, bluegrass, rock & roll, Tin Pan alley, ragtime, blues, jazz, and twentieth-century fine-art compositions. There is a strong emphasis on roots and traditions, as they give birth to the music of today. There are several listening projects throughout the year. The only prerequisite is a desire to listen to all kinds of music.





Introduction to History of Music (669)
History/Appreciation
Grades 9-12
This course is designed for students with little or no background in music who desire to become aware of the role music has played in the formation of Western civilization. We emphasize the evolution of musical styles and concepts in relation to the cultures in which the composers lived. Students are required to listen to music outside of class.

Music and Technology (676)
Prerequisites: Intermediate level arts course and permission of the instructor
Performance/Studio
Grades 11-12
limited to 5 students
.
Music and Technology are blended through the art of recording. Digital masters are recorded, edited, arranged and post-produced in the on-campus recording studio. Students are expected to work on recording Horace Mann performing groups in all musical genres. Understanding of musical theory, terminology, and familiarity with computers is strongly recommended for candidates for this course.

Music Theory I (672)
History /Appreciation
Grades 9-12
This course in traditional musical composition emphasizes the harmonizing of melodies, the writing of original melodies and the study of basic musical forms. It also develops ear training and sight singing. Students should have some previous experience in either group singing or private instrumental studies.

Orchestra (679)
Prerequisite: Audition and approval of the instructor
Performance/Studio
The orchestra rehearses and performs masterpieces from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary eras, and its members experience firsthand some of the great musical compositions of Western culture. Concerts each trimester enable students to share the joy of music making both on campus and with audiences in Manhattan. All orchestra members are expected to take private instrumental instruction to continue their growth as musical artists.

Glee Club (663)
Prerequisite: Audition and approval of instructor
Performance/Studio
Singers are expected to learn how to sight sing, blend, articulate and shape phrases, and develop sound vocal technique. There are additional rehearsals for those dedicated singers who join the Chamber Chorus and its subgroups: The Boys’ Ensemble and the Girls’ Ensemble. These smaller groups are open by invitation only. Students are also expected to participate in a Saturday workshop each trimester. The Glee Club has presented its diverse programs not only on campus and in Manhattan, but also to audiences out of town, from the Old North Church in Boston and the National Cathedral to halls in Europe, Israel, and Brazil.

Jazz Ensemble (683)
Prerequisite: Audition and approval of the instructor
Corequisite: Enrollment in Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Performance/Studio
This course is for students serious about studying and rehearsing both traditional and contemporary jazz music. The ensemble prepares for numerous performances and serves as a colloquium on the varied performing styles in jazz. Students are expected to take private lessons while in the ensemble.

Jazz Choir (667)
Prerequisite: Audition and approval of instructor
Performance/Studio
Grades: 10-12
The Jazz Choir provides students the opportunity to study and perform modern jazz standards, a cappella jazz arrangements, and popular music selections at various concerts and events throughout the year.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble (681)
Prerequisite: Audition and approval of instructor
Performance/Studio
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble performs advanced works for the wind band repertoire. Often invited to perform at festivals and school functions, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble performs at a variety of functions both on campus and off. All members are expected to take private instrumental instruction while in the ensemble.

Theatre Arts: Full-Credit Courses

Seminar in Acting (692)
Grades: 11 & 12; Grade 10 with permission
Prerequisite: Introduction to Theatre or Intermediate Acting or by approval of the instructor
Performance/Studio
Students participate in an intense study of various acting techniques. The first part of the course concentrates on an actor's tools through sense and emotion memory, improvisation and basic acting exercises. Scene study and technique are then studied in depth with individual critique and coaching by the instructor. Classic readings by Stanislovski, Boleslavsky, and Robert Lewis are essential to the course. Throughout the year students perform monologues, scenes and, occasionally, short plays.

Theatre Arts: Half-Credit Courses

Introduction to Theatre (690)
History/Appreciation
Aiming to broaden students' appreciation of the range and levels of theatrical performance, the course concentrates on three points in the history of theatre: (1) classical tragedy, (2) medieval Japanese theatre (Noh, Bunraku and Kabuki); and (3) contemporary theatre in some aspect (for example: Afro-American theatre; or Strindberg; or Brecht; or twentieth-century Russian theatre). The class is required to attend all three mainstage high-school productions at Horace Mann as an additional requirement to both attendance and participation in class. Occasional quizzes and regular weekly homework assignments complement the classwork.

Intermediate Acting (691)
Prerequisite: Audition and approval of the instructor
Performance/Studio
As students grow in strength and their minds grow in analytical power, Intermediate Acting includes Power yoga, "Action" exploration, meditation/visualization, theatre games, improvisation, scene study, the Suzuki Method, the Linklater Vocal technique, and creating point of view from their own writing. All of these techniques lead to an invited performance at year's end.

Performance in Major Theatre Productions (699)
Full participation in a trimester play is required to receive a third-credit. Meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday, last period until 5:45 P.M.
Performance/Studio
Three fully staged productions of important examples of world theatre are undertaken each year. Through them, students explore the art of theatre in all of its complexity. The Theatre Company aims to create the most professional productions possible. Actors learn style, interpretive skills, movement, vocal production, and gain experience in making commitments and meeting deadlines.

Stagecraft (Crew) (695)
Active participation for a trimester is required to receive a third-credit. Meets Tuesday and Thursdays from last period until 5:45 P. M.
Three fully staged productions of important examples of world theatre are undertaken each year. Through them, students explore the art of theatre in all of its complexity. The Theatre Company aims to create the most professional productions possible. "Techies" learn technical skills such as carpentry, painting, sound engineering, and set decoration and gain experience in making commitments and meeting deadlines.





Theatre Production and Design
Theatre Production and Design (TPD) is offered in two half-credit courses, TPDc ("conceptual")and TPD t ("technical"). Both parts will be offered each year, and can be taken separately, but both are needed to qualify a student to design a Horace Mann main stage production. Grades: 10-12.

Theatre Production and Design C (Conceptual) (693)
TPDc studies the creative process by which design concepts are arrived at. Both visual and textual meaning are examined, and their structural connections explored using examples from theatrical productions, films, opera, and dance. The role of art history in the determination of style is also introduced. Both scenic and lighting design are addressed. Reading, discussion, and design projects make up most of the work required of students. The principal aim of this part of the course is to provoke new ways of thinking about how a design emerges, moving from a more literal approach to a more metaphorical one, incorporating layers of meaning successfully.

Theatre Production and Design T (Technical) (694)
TPDt introduces the theatre design student to the various techniques used in turning design concepts into reality. The class will focus on the practical skills needed to convey the design idea in the areas of scenic, lighting, and costume design. Theatrical rendering in a variety of media will be explored as well as model making, lighting plots, costume sketches, and drafting. The focus of the class will be on conveying one’s ideas in the most effective and clear manner. The class will also discuss materials and techniques available to theatre production designers and how these materials can affect design choices.

Dance in Historical and Cultural Perspective (696)
History/Appreciation
This course looks at dancing as it exists in a variety of cultures -- including our own -- as an art form, as an expression of religious beliefs, as a social activity, and as popular entertainment. Through a combination of visual materials, readings and discussion combined with a major studio component where we try out different ways of dancing, the class asks and answers such questions as "What is dancing?", "Why do we dance?", "Why are there enemies of dance?", "Where does choreography come from?", and "What can we learn from the history of dance?"

Dance Workshop (697)
Performance/Studio
Dance Workshop is broken into three components: Technique, Improvisation, and Performance.

In the first trimester students are introduced to the basics of Ballet Technique. Proper alignment is discussed in reference to both esthetic line and what is safe and healthful to the body. Ballet barre and center work are used to both loosen and warm the muscles of the body as well as develop strength, coordination, and musicality.

Other dance techniques are also explored, including tap, modern, lyrical jazz, swing, contemporary release technique, and various world forms of dance (perhaps flamenco, traditional Japanese or Irish step, depending on interest).

The second trimester begins with the exploration of improvisation and choreography skills. Students will create their own dance works, which will be performed for the class. Open discussions will be used to further refine the choreographic vocabulary and technique. Partnering skills will be developed using what is often called "Contact Improvisation." Open "contact jams" will be used to further the partnering movement dialogue.

Finally, in the third trimester we will begin to set specific dance works in hope of creating an informal showing for performance. Music selection will be discussed and students will develop finished dances to be presented in the dance studio for an invited audience.

Grades are based on participation and willingness to explore.


History of Art: Full-Credit Courses

To prepare for the Advanced Placement Art History exam, at least one and one-half credits are recommended. Ideally, a student will take Survey One first, either for half- or full-credit and the following year take Survey Two for full-credit. (A.P. standing also entails four architecture projects and an outside reading assignment; two projects may be done each year or all four in a single year.) Half-credit courses are open to ninth grade and above; full-credit Survey courses are recommended for eleventh and twelfth grade. Tenth graders are eligible if they have room in their programs, as are ninth graders who have room and have received departmental permission.

Honors/Advanced Placement Art History: Survey One & Survey Two
Course material is largely modeled on the standard college art history survey course with supplementary projects that take advantage of the resources of New York City. The Surveys are designed to complement each other but either may be taken separately; Survey One need not precede Survey Two. A.P. and Honors sections meet together; A.P. standing entails extra coursework and requires at least one previous half-credit course in art history plus department approval. (The surveys may also be taken for half credit; see Introduction to Art History, below.)

History of Art Survey 1 -- The Ancient World Honors (656) AP (658)
Prerequisite: Departmental approval; course meets every day.
History/Appreciation
Covers art and architecture from the Paleolithic period (cave art) through Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and European Medieval to the art of Renaissance Northern Europe. All full-credit students participate as museum guides in the eighth-grade history trip to the Metropolitan Museum. Two (of four) architecture projects are required; they will involve visits to buildings in Manhattan.

No prerequisite; recommended to students who have not taken art history previously. (May be taken as a half-credit course. See below.)

History of Art Survey 2 - The Modern World Honors (657) AP (659)
History/Appreciation
Covers art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment Europe, and the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries. Students preparing for the Advanced Placement exam will complete a total of four architecture projects and an outside reading assignment. All full-credit students participate as museum guides in the eighth-grade history trip to the Metropolitan Museum.

Recommended for a second course in art history. (May be taken as a half-credit course. See below.)


History of Art: Half-Credit Courses

History of Art Survey One -- The Ancient World (649)
History/Appreciation
Covers art and architecture from the Paleolithic period (cave art) through Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and European Medieval to the art of Renaissance Northern Europe. Two exams per term; no projects or papers required.

No prerequisite; recommended for a first course in art history, ninth grade and above; good preparation for Advanced Placement Art History. (Survey Two, full-credit, above.)

History of Art Survey Two -- The Modern World (650)
History/Appreciation
Covers art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment Europe, and the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries. Two exams per term; no projects or papers required.

Recommended as a second course in art history, or for the student not planning to apply for Advanced Placement.

History of Photography (654)
History/Appreciation
Grades 10-12
This course will present an overview of the major historical and critical issues in 19th and 20th century photography. We will also explore contemporary uses of photography, including the emerging field of digital imagery. As a medium, photography is closely linked to cultural, scientific, and technological developments. We will examine photography's history and status as an art form, as a vehicle for social issues, and as a technological practice. There will be introductory lectures, viewing of slides, occasional field trips, and class discussions. Students will complete reading assignments and project research, and will make presentations to the class. We will examine such recurring themes as "Art or Technology," and "Document or Fiction." Questions regarding the role of photography in constructing notions or reality and notions of racial, sexual, and gender identity will be addressed. There will be a final project in lieu of a final exam.

Introduction to History of Art: Exploration of Art and Expressions (651)
History/Appreciation
This course is concerned with how, why, and what we define as art. During the first trimester, the class explores museums and galleries through individual reports and class trips. In the second trimester, contemporary art is related to current social, political, and economic issues following an introduction to world Art Traditions. Student discussion is encouraged to foster understanding and appreciation of the arts of diverse cultures. Western art from the Renaissance to the present is the third trimester focus.

The goal throughout the course is to discover why art is important, to interpret how we feel and think about the dramatic role of art and life. How can art foster democracy and sustain hope and faith? The curriculum includes cultural understandings, the impact of media, and, most important, it focuses upon just how and what we see in order to interpret and improve our lives.

Studio Art: Half-Credit Courses

The Studio Arts division at Horace Mann School offers students intensive and comprehensive instruction in several major disciplines of art. Each studio discipline is designed with a specific, formal sequence of courses, from the Foundation level through the Honors Level, thereby insuring an appropriate level of mastery at every stage of a student's program of study.

Most Studio Arts courses must be taken in the sequence I, II, III, then IV or Honors. Disciplines can be crossed only by returning to the Foundation level course in the newly chosen discipline. Students who wish to begin at a higher level, or to take courses out of sequence, can do so only with departmental approval. Such students must demonstrate an appropriate level of mastery through an interview process and portfolio presentation.

The Studio Arts Division strongly encourages interdisciplinary work among its students, enriching a core study sequence with the philosophy, mediums, methods, and technologies of related and disparate artistic disciplines, the sciences, and the humanities.


Foundation Level
Studio/Performance
Foundation Level courses introduce students to the vocabulary, craft, and aesthetic of specific artistic mediums. Through both the hands-on creation and the verbal reflection and evaluation of work, students learn the language of visual thinking.

Foundation level courses are open to students in grades 9-12.

Ceramics I (601)
In ceramics courses, students explore hand building along with instruction on the pottery wheel on introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. Basic slab, coil, pinch, and carving methods are introduced.

Drawing and Painting I (611)
An introduction to the fundamentals of art, this course develops "visual literacy" through the study of the basic design concepts: line, shape, and color. Students are encouraged to develop the confidence and ability to express their perceptions. Course work includes studio and out-of-class assignments.

Photography I (621)
This course introduces the basic technical and aesthetic concerns of black-and-white photography, visual thinking, personal expression, camera handling, and darkroom procedures. The "hands-on" experience is supplemented with classroom discussions, lectures, slides, demonstrations, and readings. Topics include defining a subject, the principles of exposure and contrast, film development, and printmaking. Darkroom time during school hours is an integral part of the course. Students must have access to a 35mm camera with manual controls and must purchase their own film and printing paper. Financial assistance is available to qualifying students to provide equipment and materials.


Printmaking I (631)
This course introduces the basic techniques of printmaking. Using the woodcut technique, students carve a wood surface to create an image. Multicolored woodcuts are created using two blocks. Etching is an intaglio technique done on a metal plate using an etching solution. Students will learn to print on an etching press. In the silkscreen technique, an image is created on silk with crayon or glue through a white shellac process. Photo-silkscreen is another technique used in the course. Drawing is necessary in creating images for all printmaking processes.

Introduction to Sculpture (641)
Introduction to Sculpture is structured to enable students to explore the possibilities of three-dimensional space using components from art history, computer design and analysis, and both conventional and non-conventional sculpture materials. Drawing will be used extensively in the planning of sculpture projects. New and existing skills will be developed and applied through studio work in the course of the year. Materials used include cardboard, paper pulp, paper, clay, wood and plaster. Skills involving carving, molding, carpentry and engineering will be enhanced and/or developed. Projects will encompass cast paper pieces, collaborative works and one or more projects focusing upon the use of color in three-dimensional space.

Intermediate Level
Studio/Performance
Intermediate Level courses expand on the foundation level and introduce new ideas and methods. Intermediate Level courses are open to students in grades 10-12.

Ceramics II (602)
A continuation of Ceramics I - the sequence of skill building continues. Projects are assigned as exercises to develop technical proficiency and challenge students' imaginations.

Drawing and Painting II (612)
Students extend their skills in drawing and painting. Emphasis is on narrative drawings in various media and the study of several techniques of painting.

Photography II (622)
Students are encouraged to expand their understanding of the possibilities of photography as an artistic medium while continuing to refine their technical skills and individual interests. The course explores various approaches to photography including documentary, narrative, constructed image, experimental methods and digital imaging. Sensitivity to the qualities of light and control of lighting conditions are also stressed. The basic principles of color photography are presented, and one project incorporates the use of color slides. Field trips to galleries and exhibitions are planned when possible.

Printmaking II (632)
Students may choose two out of three mediums in which to work in depth. In etching, various techniques will be introduced such as aquatint, sugarlift, spitbite, and crayon transfer with multicolor etching. In silkscreen, students will learn how to work with a multicolored photo-silkscreen as part of the project. In woodcut, multiblock printing and cutblocks are introduced. Understanding of composition and organization of images is emphasized.

Sculpture II (642)
Students will learn to further explore three-dimensional space through the use of mixed media, sound, light, and movement. Folded sculpture and soft sculpture are possibilities which will be presented. Skill in casting objects will be developed.

Advanced Level
Studio/Performance
Advanced Level courses extend the Intermediate level and focus more on the refinement of skills.
Advanced Level courses are open to students in grades 11-12 only.

Ceramics III (603)
At this level students may join with the Honors students 3 days per week. They extend their studio explorations with a broader range of clay and glaze opportunities. More emphasis is placed on wheel skills. The projects are also more individualized.



Drawing and Painting III (613)
This is an advanced course in the techniques and media of drawing and painting. This course is for students seriously interested in developing their abilities. This course allows students the opportunity to concentrate on individual projects in preparation for the A.P. level.

Photography III (623)
This course emphasizes individual choice of subject matter and method. Building on a firm understanding of photographic techniques, exposure, film processing, and printmaking, students are encouraged to investigate the interrelationships of subject, concept, technique, and presentation. Class discussions and slides introduce students to special topics in contemporary photographic practice and theory. Each student will create a "body of work" or portfolio which will be discussed in depth by the class.

Photography IV (624)
Photography IV is a continuation of Photography III for qualified students.

Printmaking III (633)
This course provides students with the opportunity to develop their expertise in an area of printmaking which they choose (e.g. woodcut, etching, silk-screen). Methods of making viscosity prints are also introduced. Students are encouraged to explore a particular technique and material in order to express their personal artistic statements.

Advanced Sculpture (643)
Students learn to express their personal concepts and feelings through three-dimensional work by using materials of their choice. Students will undertake large-scale work as a main focus, accompanied by research from varied sources including museums and special exhibits. Written work such as journals, reviews of exhibitions, and studies of artists are emphasized.

Video Production (628)
Prerequisites: any intermediate level course and permission of the instructor.
Performance/studio (Not offered in 2001-2002)
In this intensive advanced level course, students will become familiar with interweaving the technologies of analog and digital video through the stages of conception, shooting, and post-production work such as editing, sound, and special effects. Short videos will be made in narrative, documentary, and animation. Emphasis will be on visual and formal considerations, and on creating a unified work. Teamwork and individual direction are necessary.

Studio Arts: Full-Credit Courses

Honors Level
Grades 11 or 12 only
Prerequisites: Departmental Approval
Performance/Studio
The honors level courses demand of students the highest standards of critical thinking, creative process, and assured technique in their respective fields of study.

Honors Ceramics (605)
Honors Drawing and Painting (615)
Honors Photography (625)
Honors Printmaking (635)
AP Drawing and Painting (617)

The emphasis in these courses is on individual choice of subject matter and technique. Assigned work begun at the start of the fall trimester will allow students the time to design individual projects. Most class periods will be devoted to lab time, and students should come to every class prepared to work. Class participation will be heavily weighted in grading along with the evaluation of projects, participation in critiques, research workbooks, and, finally, portfolio/exhibit presentations. The entire arts faculty will participate in the mid and end-of-year evaluations. The AP Portfolio in Drawing and Painting and the General Portfolio for Ceramics Honor Students is an option for students.