Art Fundamentals (FA100C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: None

Learn the language of art and explore various techniques and media. Observe works of art from chosen time periods and movements. Art skills will be developed through a variety of assignments.

Ceramics I (FA101C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: None

Design and construct hand-built pottery using pinch, coil and slab methods. Use glazing and other decorating techniques to complete designs in clay.

Drawing I (FA102C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: None

Acquire skills in drawing through guided daily practice. Work from observation in pencil, charcoal, color pencil and pen and ink.

Fine Art Photography (FA103C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: None

Effectively manipulate the elements and principles of design in photography, learn digital SLR camera settings, and use computer software for editing.Be introduced to the history of photography and alternative processes as well as careers in photography.

Graphic Design I (FA104C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: None

Learn the basic concepts of 2D design and illustration. Drawing, painting, and digital techniques will be explored. Use the scanner, digital photography, and various programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Sculpture I (FA105C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: None

Design and make large and small 3D work in a variety of materials including cardboard/paper, wood, wire, plaster, fibers, stone and found objects.  Demonstrate skills in design and construction.

Ceramics II (FA200C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite:  Ceramics I

Further develop skills and techniques of hand-built pottery, glazing, and decorating from Ceramics I. Develop skills of wheel-thrown pottery.

*Dual Credit through UMSL is offered in this course.

Drawing II (FA201C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite:  Drawing I

Expand skills learned in Drawing I with more intensive study of composition and additional media techniques. Work from observation and imagination as well as an approach for interpretation of subject matter.

*Dual Credit through UMSL is offered in this course.

Graphic Design II (FA202C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: Graphic Design I

Study 2D design in greater depth from Graphic Design I through intensive use of graphic programs on computers for various 2D tasks.

*Dual Credit through UMSL is offered in this course.

Painting (FA203C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite: Drawing I

Learn the techniques and methods of painting with tempera, watercolor, and acrylic paint. Apply design principles and color theory to communicate ideas visually.

*Dual Credit through UMSL is offered in this course.

AP Art History (FA500A/FA500B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: Students must have a 3.0 GPA or Teacher Approval

Engage in an introductory college art history survey course to examine and critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from a variety of cultures and time periods. Understand how and why works of art function in context, such as politics, class, religion, patronage, audience, gender, ethnicity, and world view.

*Dual Credit through UMSL is offered in this course.

AP Drawing (FA501A/FA501B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: Two Previous Art Courses

Create a body of college level work and submit their portfolio to the AP College Board for evaluation. Portfolio includes a broad range of drawing issues and media with abstract and observational work. Line quality, light and shade, rendering of form, composition, surface manipulation, the illusion of depth and mark-making are addressed. A qualifying score can earn college credit or advanced placement.

AP 2-D Art and Design (FA502A/FA502B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: Two Previous Art Courses

Create a body of college level work and submit their portfolio to the AP College Board for evaluation. This portfolio addresses 2-D Design Principles showing mastery of medium, process, and purposeful decision-making composition and execution of the work.

AP 3-D Art and Design (FA503A/FA503B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: Two Previous Art Courses

Create a body of college level work and submit their portfolio to the AP College Board for evaluation. This portfolio addresses 3-D Design Principles as they relate to depth and space, color/light, mass, form, plane, plus volume and surface. Showing mastery of medium, process, and purposeful decision-making composition and execution of the work.

Drama I:  Introduction To Drama (FA106C) 

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite:  None

Students will study the concept of “ensemble” as the foundation of performance.  They will experience the core theatre components that contribute to theatre and explore their acting and technical preferences, including stage make-up and basic stage combat techniques.

*Dual Credit through Missouri State is offered in this course.

Drama II: Intermediate Acting (FA107C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite:  Drama I or Improvisation

This course is designed for students who wish to develop the craft of acting. Students will work with modern acting theory through advanced scene study. We will study comedic acting, realism, and acting for the camera.

Technical Theatre (FA110C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite:  None

Students will learn the fundamental skills of technical theatre.  This will include shop and stage safety, as well as the basics of set and costume construction, lighting techniques and sound production.

Improvisation (FA108C)   

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite:  None

Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting in the moment and in response to the stimuli of one’s immediate environment, fellow actors and inner feelings. Students will learn the basic skills of improvisation for performance and will perform small group and individual scenes using various training techniques such as freeze improv, sketch comedy, stand up, and commedia dell’arte.

Advanced Drama (FA204C)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Semester

Prerequisite:  2 drama courses or Teacher Approval

This course is laboratory setting designed for the student interested in all aspects of putting together a production. We will explore choosing a play, the auditioning and casting process, directing, set and costume design elements, stage management, and props. The final will be a performance for a live audience.

Marching Band (FA111A/FA111B)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Fall Semester

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of previous year’s Kirkwood Band curriculum and Teacher approval

• Band is a one year course. 
• All students will be enrolled in MARCHING BAND Semester 1. 
• All students must be enrolled in MARCHING BAND to qualify for CONCERT BAND, WIND ENSEMBLE or SYMPHONIC BAND.
• All rising Freshmen will enroll in CONCERT BAND Semester 2.
• All rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors will be assigned to WIND ENSEMBLE or SYMPHONIC BAND Semester 2 by audition.

Required marching clinics and rehearsals for the Pioneer Pride Marching Band will be held 2 weeks before the first week of school in August.  The Pioneer Pride Marching Band perform at school assemblies, all home football games (including home playoff games and the state final playoff game), and the Green Tree Parade.  All percussion students are required to complete an audition in April administered by Kirkwood band teachers to be considered for Marching Drumline the following year.  
Public performances are a requirement of this class.

Concert Band (FA111A/FA111B)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9

Spring Semester

Concert Band members will perform standard works for the high school band and learn fundamental skills in tone production, technique, rhythm, intonation, ensemble playing, sight-reading and musicianship while mastering Grade 2-4 Band Literature.  This ensemble will perform public concerts in and outside of school and at the MSHSAA Large Group Festival. 
Public performances are a requirement of this class.

Symphonic Band (FA111A/FA111B)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Spring Semester

Symphonic Band members will perform standard works for the high school band and will further develop skills in tone production, technique, rhythm, intonation, ensemble playing, sight-reading and musicianship.  This ensemble will perform public concerts in and outside of school and at the MSHSAA Large Group Festival. 
Public performances are a requirement of this class.

Wind Ensemble (FA111A/FA111B)

.5 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Spring Semester

Wind Ensemble members will perform standard works for the high school band while developing their skills in tone production, technique, rhythm, intonation, ensemble playing, sight-reading and musicianship while mastering Grade 3-5 Band Literature. This ensemble will perform public concerts in and outside of school and at the MSHSAA Large Group Festival. 
Public performances are a requirement of this class.

Jazz Band (FA117A/FA117B)

.5  Fine Art Credit or Elective with Pass/Fail

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: Audition is held in early September

Jazz Band members will learn the concepts of playing in the jazz style (phrasing, improvisation, articulations, rhythm patterns, and blend). Jazz band classes are an extension of the regular band class. In order to develop the skills necessary to participate in Jazz Band, students must be concurrently enrolled in a band class (except for Bass, Guitar and Piano players). The Jazz Band meets one evening per week.

Concert Orchestra (FA112A/FA112B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: Audition or Teacher Approval

This course is for the student who is interested in performing string orchestra literature. Music of all historical periods will be studied and performed.  Fundamentals in scales, rhythm, intonation, shifting positions, ensemble playing and sight-reading will be learned along with performance techniques and musical style.
Public performances are a requirement of this class.

Symphonic Orchestra (FA112A/FA112B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite:  Audition or Teacher Approval

This course is for the student who is interested in performing symphonic orchestra literature.  Music of all historical periods will be studied and performed. Fundamentals in scales, rhythm, and intonation will be enhanced along with performance techniques and musical style. A demanding concentration of the subtleties of performance techniques and musical style is a focus for this group.  
Public performances are a requirement of this class.

Men’s Chorale (FA120A/FA120B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: None

This class provides male students with opportunities to develop their singing voice, acquire more competence in sight-reading, tone production, intonation, rhythm and ensemble singing.  Students will perform a variety of choral compositions of contrasting style, periods and cultures.  This ensemble will perform graded public concerts in and outside of the school day.  Students enrolled in this course must be aware of the requirements to attend and participate in ALL graded extra rehearsals and public performances.

Women’s Chorale (FA121A/FA121B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite:  None

The Choir provides female students with opportunities to develop the singing voice, acquire more competence in sight-reading, tone production, intonation, rhythm and ensemble singing.  Students will perform a variety of choral compositions of contrasting style, periods and cultures.  This ensemble will perform graded public concerts in and outside of the school day.  Students enrolled in this course must be aware of the requirements to attend and participate in ALL graded extra rehearsals and public performances.

A Cappella Concert Choir (FA206A/FA206B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite:  Audition or Teacher Approval

In this ensemble, students learn and perform advanced choral literature.  Music of all historical periods will be studied and performed as well as music from various world cultures.  Skills in tone production, intonation, rhythm, ensemble singing and sight-reading will be explored and refined through daily rehearsal.  This ensemble will perform public concerts in and outside of school and at the MSHSAA Large Group Festival.  Students enrolled in this course must be aware of the requirements to attend and participate in ALL graded extra rehearsals and public performances.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble (FA207A/FA207B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite:  Audition or Teacher Approval

Vocal Jazz Ensemble studies and performs a wide range of classic and contemporary vocal styles in the vocal jazz idiom.  The content includes, but is not limited to, the following concepts:  extensive sight-reading at an upper level, practicing and using vocal improvisation, exploration of vocal jazz tone color/quality of production, public performance, studying of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic structure in vocal jazz and popular choral music.  Public performances are presented throughout the year and at Major Jazz Festivals.  Students enrolled in this course must be aware of the requirements to attend and participate in ALL graded extra rehearsals and public performances.

Music Theory (FA301A/FA301B)

1 Fine Art or Elective Credit

Grade: 10, 11, 12

Year

Prerequisite: Some previous music experience and Teacher Approval

This is a class in which students learn the basic principles of music theory including scales, chords, 4-part writing, analysis, ear training and composition.  Students taking this class must have some previous music background.