FINE ARTS ELECTIVES

 

Art

 

MA670                                                                                                                 Grade Placement:                          6

This beginning course in middle school visual art includes introductions to the basic elements of art, the principles of design, and their application to the four basic strands of the TEKS for art.  Students develop visual ideas from their environment, create hands-on art and activities with a variety of two- and three-dimensional art media, are introduced to the concepts of art history and various cultures, and learn to make informed judgments and critical analyses about visual art.  The course is an elective in the middle school curriculum and meets either each day or as a part of the Fine Arts wheel.

 

MA770, MA771                                                                                                Grade Placement:                          7

This intermediate level middle school visual arts course continues the development of student competencies in elements of art and principles of design through application of the TEKS.  Students are considered more informed and have a developing background in visual arts.  Student development of visual ideas from the environment are more advanced, hands-on art activities are more challenging, and more intensive art history and cultural experiences are offered.  Students make more informed judgments about their likes and dislikes in their art.  The class is an elective in the middle school curriculum and meets each day.

 

MA870, MA871                                                                                                Grade Placement:                          8

This third year visual art course is a continuation of middle school art experiences relating to the visual art TEKS.  Students may have previous visual art knowledge in the elements of art and principles of design.  This knowledge is extended in the form of more challenging two- and three-dimensional art applications and concepts, more intensive art history and cultural studies, and more critical decision-making in the realm of art aesthetics.  The class is an elective in the middle school curriculum and meets each day.

 

 

Music, Orchestra, and Band

 

MK670  General Music                                                                                  Grade Placement:                          6

This course combines music appreciation and history through discussions of choral and instrumental styles, eras, and composers.  Emphasis on American and Texas heritage is stressed as students sing and play different instruments while applying appropriate articulation, dynamic contrast, tempo, and style.  Musical elements – melody, harmony, rhythm, and meter – are created, defined, and explored as students learn a variety of repertoire.  Students are encouraged to read, compose, and perform simple melodic or rhythmic phrases individually or in small ensembles.

 

MK673, MK773, MK873  Mixed Choir                                                    Grade Placement:                6, 7, 8

This course introduces studies of vocal and choral techniques with special attention to “proper” vocal tone, diction, and vocal development.  Emphasis is given to music theory, notation, sight singing, and ear training.  Choral literature ranges from easy to moderately difficult and often reflects changes in key signature, meter, and harmonic structure.  Ensembles and repertoire vary as determined by the vocal ranges of students.  Opportunities to perform in district-wide solo and ensemble and choral contests/festivals are provided.

 

MK674, MK774, MK874  Advanced Choir                                             Grade Placement:                6, 7, 8

Generally, instructor approval or an audition is needed to participate in this class.  Students are expected to read and perform, two, three, and/or four-part music with variances in key signatures and meter.  Studies continue to address various styles, periods, and cultures.  Performances are memorized, and demonstrate the abilities of the choir to create accurate intonation.  Students perform individually or in small/large ensembles in district-wide festivals/competitions.

 

MK770, MK870  Vocal Music                                                                     Grade Placement:                     7, 8

Students learn to develop their voice, pitch and rhythmic accuracy, and develop choral techniques that demonstrate variances in timbre, articulation, and meter.  Students are expected to perform music from memory using expression, articulation, and tonal control, as well as identify and sing various intervals as indicated in sight singing exercises and repertoire.  Solo and ensemble performances are provided, as well as participation in district-wide festivals/competition, Middle School All-Region Choir, and campus programs.

 

MO670, MO770, MO870  Beginning Orchestra                                  Grade Placement:                6, 7, 8

These beginning orchestra courses introduce students to all string instruments.  These courses include the care and handling of instruments, posture and playing position, instrumental techniques, reading, history, sensitivity through performance, and evaluation of performances.

 

MO671, MO771, MO871  Intermediate Orchestra                             

MO672, MO772, MO872  Advanced Orchestra                                   Grade Placement:                6, 7, 8

These courses teach students about the proper care and handling of instruments, bowing techniques, posture and playing positions, and other instrumental techniques.  Students are introduced to various musical concepts related to tone quality, pitch style, tempo, blend, and balance.  Students are expected to demonstrate accurate intonation when reading and performing various tonal patterns.  Cultural diversity and historical analysis is researched, discussed, and addressed as students learn repertoire for community and school performances.

 

MO673  D Band                                                                                               

MO674  C Band                                                                                               

MO675  B Band                                                                                               

MO676  A Band                                                                                                Grade Placement:                          6

These beginning band courses introduce students to brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.  These courses include the care and handling of instruments, posture and playing position, instrumental techniques, reading, history, sensitivity through performance, and evaluation of performances.

 

 

MO677, MO777, MO877  Beginning Piano                                          Grade Placement:                6, 7, 8

This introductory course in piano is for the student who has no keyboard background, but wants to learn to play songs for enjoyment and/or to improve music skills in reading and performing.  Students are taught technical exercises, scales, chord progressions, and study pitch, note values, style, tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and articulation while learning repertoire from various periods of music.  Performance opportunities vary from campus to campus, and are generally classroom based where students serve as role models and apply criteria for evaluation.

 

MO678  Beginning Guitar                                                                            Grade Placement:                          6

This course introduces the students to the guitar.  It includes the care and handling, posture and playing position, instrumental techniques, reading, history, sensitivity through performance, and evaluation of performances.

 

MO773, MO873  D Band                                                                             

MO774, MO874  C Band                                                                              

MO775, MO875  B Band                                                                              

MO776, MO876  A Band                                                                               Grade Placement:                     7, 8

In these courses, students are taught critical analysis through sound quality, pitch, style, tempo, blend, balance, phrasing, dynamics, and articulation.  Music theory taught in band includes knowledge of note values, key signatures, scales, intervals, terms, signs, and chord structure.  Ongoing instruction in instrument care, posture, playing position, embouchure, and technical skills is involved.

 

MO778, MO878  Intermediate Guitar                                                      Grade Placement:                     7, 8

Students are taught repertoire from various ethnic cultures, styles, and periods.  Students are expected to harmonize simple tunes using basic chords learned in beginning guitar.  Explorations in strumming techniques with respect to style, pop, rock, and classical are accented.