The Kiski School’s commitment to the arts is clearly shown in the arts requirement that all students must complete (normally in the freshman or sophomore year). Each student must take one course in each of the three disciplines: Music, Art, and Theatre. The aim of the program is to develop students who are familiar with the historical backgrounds of the arts, who have gained some hands-on experience in each of the disciplines, and who will use that knowledge and experience to build a life-long respect for and enjoyment of the arts. Advanced elective courses build on the required courses to deepen and broaden the students’ experiences with the arts.

Art History

This course opens a window to the world of art. It is an introduction to the theories, methods, and vocabularies of art history. It covers the history of visual art from Prehistoric to Contemporary times viewed from a primarily European-American perspective but including non-western traditions. The course examines painting, sculpture and architecture and develops basic skills of research, analysis, and critical interpretation of individual works of art. There is also concept reinforcing studio work. Field trips to various art museums and galleries provide students with connections between art throughout time and the world around them.

Ceramics

This semester-long studio introduces both hand and wheel methods of clay construction. The course includes an examination of clay, glaze, decoration methods, and the firing process. Individual and class critiques provide an understanding for the criteria and standards used in assessing each student’s performance.

Design/Architecture (T1)

In this course, students explore the history of Design and Architecture. Students will use this knowledge to design buildings and objects using a CAD program, as well as, hand drawings and drafting. The students then take on the challenges of building models and prototypes of their designs. The class develops skills in the woodshop as well as the computer. Emphasis is placed on creative thinking and problem solving. The course prepares students to participate in several competitions with their designs and models. It provides students interested in areas like Design, Architecture and Engineering with a taste of what these fields offer as well as projects to add to their portfolio when applying to colleges.

Digital Media (T1)

This semester-long class is designed to introduce students to visual design principles and concepts as applied to digital media-based projects. It offers students an opportunity to learn the essentials of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and explore the Adobe Creative Suite.

Fine Arts

The aim of Introduction to the Arts is to develop students who are familiar with the historical background of the arts, who have gained some hands-on experience in each of the disciplines, and who will use that knowledge and experience to build a life-long respect for and enjoyment of the arts. In each year, students will spend one quarter in each of the disciplines: Music, Art and Theater.

Glee Club

The Glee Club offers interested students the opportunity to sing staples of the choral repertoire, including a cappella. Basic tone production and musicality are stressed. Grades are determined by a combination of vocal and musicianship assessments (both written and aural) and attendance at rehearsals and performances.

Industrial Arts and Design

This semester class explores the areas of woodworking, ceramics, architectural design and model-making. Students are introduced to furniture design and woodworking with an emphasis on process and design. The course investigates flight through rockets and radio controlled airplanes. Boatbuilding is used to teach the design processes well as hand tool skills. Students are exposed to mechanical skills designing and building a motorized bicycle. The goal is to acquire a practical knowledge of the use of tools, construction techniques and design skills.

Industrial Design (T2)

Instrumental Music

Instrumental music, offers the instrumentalist (strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion) an opportunity to play in a variety of musical styles. Repertoire will include excerpts from standard symphonic and instrumental literature. Auditions are held to determine placement. Students must provide their own instruments.

Inventionland

In this interdisciplinary, project-based course, students will use hands-on, real -world innovative technology and entrepreneurial skills to take their own original ideas and turn them into working prototypes. Students learn the methods developed by Inventionland founder and CEO George Davison`82. Teams work collaboratively to generate ideas and develop a concept model, and then engineer each part of their invention in the Innovation Lab, using CAD technology.

Each team’s design is made using 3-D printing technology. To visually sell their idea, each team will use the graphic design tool Adobe Illustrator to construct the external packaging for their invention. Each team then creates a product sample of their invention, develop a marketing pitch and film an infomercial. The course culminates in a “Shark Tank” presentation in front of professional entrepreneurs and inventors.

Jewelry and Metalsmithing

This semester studio explores jewelry design and fundamental construction principles. Students are taught both basic and advanced techniques of jewelry making including: cutting, piercing, cold connections, soldering, forming, stone setting, etching and enameling. Metals include copper, brass, nickel, and sterling silver. Students create projects such as rings, pendants, belt buckles, and lapel pins. Design and problem solving, as well as proper and safe tool usage, is emphasized.

Music

Kiski students have the opportunity to pursue their musical passions or to develop new ones through the school’s music offerings. Students play instruments in several ensembles and perform for the school community during our Winter and Spring Night of Music programs. Students also have the opportunity to learn about music history and music theory through the music department’s elective offerings.

Music Appreciation

Music listening and appreciation includes an examination of universal and personal interest, taste, and discrimination in music and its historical relationship to other art forms; style periods studied will include; Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Twentieth Century; Jazz and Popular. Musical form, the variety of instruments, impact of recording/radio, and the role of music in culture will all be explored.

Music Theory and Comnposition

Music Theory and Composition – How is music put together, and why? Study of music theory allows students to immerse themselves in a performance – an understanding of composers’ intentions leads to a fuller awareness not only of their own part, but of the entire musical texture. This course will focus on analysis of music from the “common practice” period, beginning with a review of basic notation and continuing through discussion of triads, cadences, part-writing and modulation. These concepts will be applied through frequent composition assignments, culminating in a public presentation of their work.

Page to Screen

Since the beginning of the industry, film has looked to literature for story ideas. This course will examine the texts that several famous films are based on, and analyze not only the literature, but also the choices that were involved in putting the stories on screen, and how they reflect on the message of the piece, and the moods of the culture.

Production Studio (T2)

In this semester long elective students will be exposed to all phases of the media production process, including any necessary software, equipment, and hard skills required to complete a list of productions. Four competitive group projects will be completed throughout this semester long course in the areas of video, photography, graphics, and music/audio. Students will meet with “clients” (who are members of various areas and disciplines within the Kiski community) to mimic real world production meetings. Each group will then create their representation of the client’s needs, with the client ultimately picking their favorite production. Each product will follow a similar progression with some variance dependent on the medium: Client meeting, concept design, creative brief, pitch approval, scripting/designing, story/mood boarding, pre-production coordination, production, post-production, client feedback and final approval, distribution of content.

Sculpture

This semester-long studio emphasizes sculpting in a variety of media including clay, plaster, wire and reed. Students learn how to give meaning to forms in space through design principles and sculpting techniques. Grading is based on solutions that demonstrate an understanding of project objectives as well as effort, creativity, timeliness, presentation, and mastering of techniques.

Solisti or Double Quartet

This course allows the advanced vocal musician the opportunity to explore choral literature from all eras and in all styles, from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary pop. Enrollment in this course is dependent on a successful audition. Proper tone production, diction, blend and style are emphasized.

Studio Art

The Studio Art class provides its students with exposure to a wide range of media and ways to use their creativity. Students will explore ceramics, painting, woodworking, paper craft, architectural model making, and more. Working on basic skills such as drawing and sculpting are achieved through fun and engaging projects that challenge the students. Throughout the term, students will work individually and in teams to come up with creative solutions to the assignments. The goal is to assist students in finding their creative voice and developing their skills in art. The course may be repeated.

Studio in Drawing and Painting

Students explore a variety of materials and techniques as they learn to draw and paint. The course focuses on basic principles of drawing and design. Drawing from life is an important component in teaching students how to translate what they see to a two-dimensional surface. Projects are evaluated with regard to their creativity and formal qualities. Each student keeps a sketchbook for weekly assignments. Students are challenged with both frequent self-examination and class critique of completed art works that mark progress in the class, fostering a sense of accomplishment and an understanding of the critique process. This is a strong portfolio-building class for those interested in applying to a university that requires an art portfolio. The course may be repeated.

Survival Art

Lasting one semester, Kiski’s Survival Arts course explores primitive craft skills such as woodworking (using the pole lathe and draw horse to create furniture and utilitarian objects), wood fired pottery, rope work and knot tying. It also teaches survival skills related to making objects such as a bow to make fire, making cordage, and designing and creating a shelter. The culminating experience is to take these skills out into the surrounding environment and use them to live with nature. The course reinforces skills learned in other areas of studio art and industrial arts, as well as Woodshop and Outdoor Club. It strives to place these skills into more of a wilderness or primitive setting. The course creates useful objects, practices wilderness skills, and instills conservation and stewardship for the environment.

Survival Arts (T2)

Lasting one semester, Kiski’s Survival Arts course explores primitive craft skills such as woodworking (Using the pole lathe and draw horse to create furniture and utilitarian objects), wood fired pottery, rope work and knot tying. It also teaches survival skills related to making objects such as a bow to make fire, making cordage, and designing and creating a shelter. The culminating experience is to take these skills out into the surrounding environment and use them to live with nature. The course reinforces skills learned in other areas of studio art and industrial arts, as well as Woodshop and Outdoor Club. It strives to place these skills into more of a wilderness or primitive setting. The course creates useful objects, practices wilderness skills, and instills conservation and stewardship for the environment.

Theatre: Embodying a Character (T1)

This semester-long class is designed to provide students with an in-depth exposure to three major areas of digital media: digital photography, digital video and computer aided design. Digital photography will explore manipulating the data to create visually stunning pieces of art, utilizing programs like Adobe Photoshop and paint programs. When focusing on digital video, the students will learn how to master Adobe Premier. The conclusion of the class will expose the students to drafting and CAD programs. This course will require that a student have a digital camera and a serious interest in the use of digital material, or an interest in applying to a school for art, architecture or design.

Theatre: Backstage (T2)

In this second semester course students will spend much of their time engaging in performance of the theatre arts, though with a greater emphasis on styles of acting and historic periods. Students will read and perform from a major work representative of each period and will learn about the technical and cultural aspect of theatre. The course begins with Greek tragedy and progresses through Roman comedy, Shakespearean theatre, the eighteenth century comedy of manners, and finally modern drama. All students enrolled in the theatre course will be involved in the school’s dramatic productions, either through performance or back-stage work.

Students will be graded on in-class performance as well as written tests and evaluations of the works that are viewed and/or discussed in class.

Visual Arts

This art class is designed to give the student a broad exposure to the visual arts, while gaining a foundation of understanding for the principles and process of design. Both creative thinking and studio projects are incorporated into this course. Students explore a variety of art media through both two and three dimensional art forms. Students will also be provided access to the mac lab and to Adobe Illustrator to explore, not only hand built techniques, but computerized methods of designing artwork. The artist is a problem solver, along with a unique and informed voice. Our students are challenged to frequently self-examine, and are exposed to methods of constructive critique when talking about their own work and the work of their peers. We encourage students who enjoy this course to become further involved with the community of the Arts at Kiski.