Courses
The Marin Catholic curriculum is designed to provide a challenging, college prep experience for all of our students.
Arts Department
The Visual and Performing Arts Department, through its curriculum reflects our philosophy of developing the whole person. Our purpose is to direct each student in recognizing and developing his or her creativity through the arts. The courses in the Department are designed to assist students in forming an appreciation of the arts and to develop skills that are commensurate with their interests, talents, and abilities. We consider the study of the Arts to be an essential component in a student's secondary education. Courses are set-up sequentially to allow students to take the art classes during their four years at Marin Catholic.Courses
Click on the course title for a full description:
- Art I - Tuchsen
- This course introduces the beginning student to the elements of art and the principles of design. It is a course that will enable the student to explore various media and expand the student's aesthetic perceptions in drawing, color theory, painting, printmaking, design, and sculpture. The course incorporates Art History primarily from the Renaissance period through Modern Art utilizing slides, videos, lectures and projects. Homework is given to reinforce studio and Art History material. One museum visit is required each semester.
- Art II
- This is the second course in the visual arts sequence. This course is designed for the student interested in further developing art and design skills. Students will continue to use the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design as they apply to drawing, painting, and printmaking. Included in the course are units in two-point perspective, drawing from observation and imagination, portrait and figure drawing, watercolor painting and printmaking. Homework is given to reinforce studio work and Art History material. One museum visit is required each semester.
- Art I - Carpenter
- This course introduces the beginning student to the elements of art and the principles of design. It is a course that will enable the student to explore various media and expand the student's aesthetic perceptions in drawing, color theory, painting, printmaking, design, and sculpture. The course incorporates Art History primarily from the Renaissance period through Modern Art utilizing slides, videos, lectures and projects. Homework is given to reinforce studio and Art History material. One museum visit is required each semester.
- Art I - Jaeger
- This course introduces the beginning student to the elements of art and the principles of design. It is a course that will enable the student to explore various media and expand the student's aesthetic perceptions in drawing, color theory, painting, printmaking, design, and sculpture. The course incorporates Art History primarily from the Renaissance period through Modern Art utilizing slides, videos, lectures and projects. Homework is given to reinforce studio and Art History material. One museum visit is required each semester.
- Drawing and Painting
- This is the third course in the visual arts sequence. This course explores and integrates the various areas of drawing and painting with the elements of art and the principles of design. Students will address mixed media, painting & drawing, design, and computer graphics on the two-dimensional level. On the three dimensional level students will explore assemblage and converting a two dimensional painting to a three dimensional surface. Increased emphasis is placed on art criticism, journaling, sketchbooks and art history. Homework is given to reinforce studio work and Art History material. One museum visit is required each semester.
- Advanced Art & Portfolio
- This course is designed for the serious art student who wants a more concentrated study in the areas of design, drawing and painting, and sculpture. Assignments are designed to encourage students to discover solutions to various problems, interpret, analyze and make judgments about their visual experiences. An integral part of the course will be discussion of artists' techniques and subject matter in the context of cultural and historical developments. Students will also develop a college portfolio and attend a portfolio day sponsored by various art schools.
- Ceramics I
- This year long course offers an experience in working with clay. Students will investigate various hand-building techniques, which include pinch, coil and slab. They will progress from hand building to wheelwork. Students study the ceramic process as well as explore the historical scientific and cultural aspects of the ceramic process. Art history is incorporated through an examination of ceramics in a variety of world cultures. The emphasis will be on hand building the first semester with an introduction to the wheel. During second semester a combination of hand building and wheelwork will be emphasized. Studio work is essential to success in this class. One museum visit is required each semester.
- Ceramics II
- This course follows Ceramics I and is designed for the student who wants to develop hand building and wheel throwing techniques at an advanced level. More in-depth projects and studio problems will challenge the student's knowledge of various techniques. Studio work is essential to this class. One museum visit is required each semester.
- Beginning Acting
- Course work in the first semester is designed to stimulate the actor's imagination as well as help him/her develop a sense of security and freedom in performance. Rudimentary acting technique will be explored through improvisation, movement exercises, voice exercises, scene work and text analysis. The first semester culminates in the production of a one-act play. During the second semester, the focus will be on comedy and improvisation. The nature of comedy as well as many of its genres will be explored: contemporary comedy, classical comedy, improvisation, clowning, and commedia dell'arte. The second semester will culminate in a production of scripted and improvised scenes.
- Advanced Acting
- This class is designed to further develop the skills learned in Beginning Acting. Contemporary and classical styles of theatre will be introduced and performed: classical Greek theatre, Shakespearean theatre, modern British comedy, and children's theatre. Theatre history, audition techniques, and performance analysis will also be significant components of this course. The year will culminate in a performance of a full-length play. (This course may be repeated for credit.)
- Drama Internship
- Students assist with classroom activities, stage management, set/ props building, and production management.
- Chorale
- This is an elective course offering continuing instruction in choir and vocal techniques. As part of the choral experience, you will expand your range; sing on pitch with good breath control and projection; sing solos (not optional); recognize and sing basic intervals within an octave; sing harmony in groups up to five parts. The course also includes music fundamentals, theory, performance, listening, improvising, and continuing how to read standard music notation. Music will be selected from a wide variety of styles from the main eras in music.
- Symphonic Band
- Advanced Concert Band. This is an elective course offering continuing instruction in band and instrumental techniques. As part of the band experience, you will expand your range; play on pitch with good breath control and projection; play solos (not optional); recognize and play basic intervals within an octave; play in small ensembles (up to five parts). The course also includes music fundamentals, theory, performance, listening, improvising, and continuing how to read standard music notation. Music will be selected from a wide variety of styles from the main eras in music. Public performance is mandatory.
- Instrumental Music
- This is an elective course offering beginning and continuing instruction in instrumental techniques (including guitar). As part of the experience, you will expand your range; play on pitch with good breath control and projection; play solos (not optional); recognize and play basic intervals within an octave; play in small ensembles. The course also includes music fundamentals, theory, performance, listening, improvising, and how to read standard music notation and tablature. Music will be selected from a wide variety of styles from the main eras in music. Public performance will be encouraged.
- Jazz Ensemble
- This is an elective course offering continuing instruction in modern jazz band and instrumental techniques. As part of the band experience, you will expand your range; play on pitch with good breath control and projection; play solos (not optional); recognize and play jazz intervals within your range; understand and play jazz harmonies. The course also includes music fundamentals, jazz theory, performance, listening, improvising, and continuing how to read standard music notation. Music will be selected from the Twentieth Century with particular emphasis on our nations musical heritage, Jazz. This class meets as a Pre-Period (7AM, Tuesday - Friday) and adds an additional period to the student's schedule.
- AP Music Theory
- This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Music Theory Examination in the spring. It introduces harmonic analysis, advanced sight singing, transposition, and realization of figured bass notation. Students study excerpts from classical scores and transcribe recorded examples by ear. Tests and homework in music theory, ear training, score analysis and transposition are required. This course currently meets outside the regular schedule and adds an extra period to the student's schedule. See instructor for scheduled meetings.
- Photography
- This course is a basic introduction to black and white photography. Students will learn how to see the world through the camera and to develop a language of photography as an image-making medium. This course will focus on basic darkroom procedures for developing and printing black and white film, and investigating new technologies utilizing the digital image and the computer. In particular, students will learn about light, the pin-hole camera, different types of 35 mm cameras (SLR and point and shoot), film technology, wet and dry printing techniques, special effects, the basics of Photoshop and the history of photography. Working in the darkroom and on the computer are important components of this course. Students are expected to have access to a 35mm or digital camera. Final outcome will include keeping a portfolio of negatives, prints, and finished work.
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