High School Fine Arts
HIGH SCHOOL FINE ARTS OPPORTUNITIES
Music
Music Curriculum
Choir
Bella Voce (Advanced Women's Chorus)
Bella Voce is an advanced women's chorus, that requires at least one year of prior experience in Prima Voce (Women's Chorus). Auditions for placement in the following year take place in March. The ensemble will perform challenging treble repertoire in three and four parts with a focus on developing mature tone and expression in the female voice. In addition to quarterly concerts, District and State Choral Festivals, the Bellas will also perform at churches and community events. We are a close-knit group that enjoy collaborating with each other and building camaraderie together.
Chamber Chorale
This is a highly selective mixed ensemble made up of juniors and seniors. Auditions for the following yearare held in March. Members focus on learning and performing challenging repertoire with attention to the detail, aiming to produce high quality performances. This group performs frequently throughout the year for community organizations, church services, District and State Choral Festivals, as well as school concerts. Chamber Chorale is recognized as one of the top ensembles in the State of Michigan, maintaining a long history of vocal excellence.
Men Aloud (Men's Chorus)
This choral ensemble is composed of 9th through 12th grade men. Emphasis is placed on developing the unique qualities of the male voice, fostering camaraderie, and building vocal confidence. The music to be performed is developmentally appropriate and represents a variety of styles and levels of difficulty. Some time will also be devoted to the study of music theory. Performances include three concerts involving all of our high school choirs, Chapel services, District and State Choral Festivals.
Prime Voce (Women's Chorus)
This choral ensemble is composed of 9th through 12th grade women. Members will continue to develop their skills in voice production, build creativity and musicality, while learning and performing music in two and three parts that represents a variety of styles and levels of difficulty. Some time will also be dedicated to the study of music theory. Performances include three concerts involving all of our high school choirs, chapel services, and District and State Choral Festivals.
Band
Jazz Band
Jazz Band is a performance based class where students can explore different styles of instrumental music, learn improvisation, sight reading, learning music theory and composition. Jazz Band is a one semester course that meets throughout the school year, outside of the typical school day, including some evenings or mornings. Some students may be able to take this course for one semester only.
Percussion
Percussion class is a part of the band curriculum that performs with the Band(s) and Symphony Orchestra in all performances. The class covers general percussion techniques, percussion ensembles, band music, orchestra music and drumline. Eligible students have participated in band on percussion in 8th grade OR have been selected through a successful audition with the band director. Some students may be able to take this course for one semester only.
Symphonic Band
This is a large ensemble of selected musicians who study and perform major works of band repertoire. Placement is determined by an audition with the director.
Orchestra
Sinfonia
Sinfonia is a large String orchestra ensemble that helps develop the musicianship of string students through technical study and performance. Previous experience playing an instrument and reading notated music is required. This group performs in a formal setting three times a year and also participates in MSBOA activities.
Symphony Strings
Symphony Strings is a large string orchestra ensemble that studies and performs major works of symphonic literature. This is an auditioned group and auditions are held in March with the director for the following year. This group performs in at least five formal concerts each year and participates in MSBOA activities.
Extra Curricular Music Opportunities
Drumline
Drumline is open to all students (including non-music students). It is a high-energy performance ensemble that provides entertainment at GRCHS home football games and select other school events. Students learn how to play and march with the snare, tenor, and bass drums with proper timing and technique.
Gospel Choir
Students and staff of all skill levels are welcome to join the Gospel Choir, which meets once each week during the lunch hour. The Gospel Choir assists in leading chapel and participates in several performances during the school year.
Visual Arts
Visual Arts Curriculum
Art Foundations
This course covers a variety of art media, such as drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics. The focus is on both the technical and conceptual aspects of creating art. This class is suitable for students at all skill levels, from those who think they can only draw “stick figures” to those with advanced level artistic interests.
Advanced Art Studies
Intended for junior and senior students with a serious interest in the Visual Arts, this course emphasizes independent work. Students will develop a portfolio based on a conceptual theme of their choice and have opportunity to visit an art museum. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisites: DRAWING, PAINTING, PRINTMAKING
Ceramics & Sculpture I
This class explores ceramic media in contemporary sculpture, teaching basic construction and finishing techniques, hand building, wheel thrown pottery, surface design, glazing and kiln firing. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Ceramics & Sculpture II
Students will advance their three-dimensional concepts, skills, and processes in ceramics and sculpture, focusing wheel techniques, hand building, Raku firing, and creating a large-scale group sculpture for installation on the school campus. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: CERAMICS AND SCULPTURE I
Design Thinking
This course uses design thinking to solve various design problems, focusing on human-centered design, prototyping, testing, and collaboration. Students will work on projects such as furniture and practical solutions for school inefficiencies. This class may be taken only twice.
Digital Communications Studio (10th - 12th Grade)
This studio class integrates knowledge and skills from Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, and Video Production, allowing students to research, design, and develop solutions, and present their work in a public forum. Students will document their work in a portfolio that may be used for postsecondary planning and college applications. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: One of the following courses must be taken prior to Studio: Graphic Design, Illustration & Animation or Video Production
Drawing
Students will explore various drawing methods and materials throughout this semester. This course provides a comprehensive study of various forms of drawing and multimedia work. Emphasis is placed on learning skills and techniques that will enable students to effectively communicate meaningful visual concepts through their work. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Gone Boarding (12th Grade)
This is a semester-long, two-period class designed to engage, inspire, and empower students to explore their passions while learning essential skills and fulfilling Visual, Performing & Applied Arts and Physical Education credits required for graduation. Students design, construct, and learn to ride all types of boards, including surfboards, snowboards, longboards, paddleboards, and wakeboards. Every student leaves the class with a finished board of their own vision, design, and construction. But much, much more than that, students develop essential skills by putting them into direct practice. This class, taught in our applied tech lab, leverages the process of shaping a board and - ultimately - developing grit, building confidence, creating, innovating, and being inspired to discover themselves and their potential.
Graphic Design
This class covers designing for print and web media, including photography, advertising and web-based media using Adobe Design Suite software. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Illustration and Animation
Students explore digital art making combining traditional techniques with digital tools and experimenting with 3D modeling and 3D printing using Adobe Software. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Painting
This course allows students to explore painting methods and materials in depth. Students will start with basic painting techniques and progress to more advanced thematic paintings. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Printmaking
This course allows students to explore various printmaking methods including colligraph, etching, reduction, and silkscreen prints. The focus is on combining student-generated ideas with the graphic possibilities involved in printmaking. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Yearbook
This is a general elective course where students are responsible for producing the school yearbook. This involves design, photography, layouts, wording, sales, budgeting, and meeting all company deadlines for a finished-published school yearbook. Students are expected to work both in class, and outside of class hours including evenings and weekends to ensure that all school activities are represented in the yearbook. Additionally, students are involved in selling advertisements to help cover the costs.
Performing Arts
Performing Arts Curriculum
Acting 1
This class introduces students to the basic principles and techniques of performing, including vocal technique, pantomime, and improvisation. Students have opportunities to perform in class with monologues, duo and group scenes, and through study of various types of theatre styles.
Production
This class instructs students in the technical aspects of the theatre, including basic principles of set design, set construction, lighting, costume and makeup, sound, special effects, and business practices. Students have the opportunity to develop their own production during the year.
Musical Theatre
This class is an exploration of American Musical Theatre. Students study the work of actors/singers/dancers and use their gained knowledge to develop as performers. Students prepare and present as soloists as well as members of small groups and larger ensembles. Since this is a workshop course, students prepare material for class presentation and critique, as well as take part in daily exercises. There is a focus on the audition process as well as musical theatre history and repertoire. Grading is based on student’s daily involvement and preparedness.
Extra Curricular Performance Opportunities
Forensics
Students who are interested in enhancing their public speaking and acting skills can join the forensics program. The forensics team also competes competitively against other schools.
Improv
Students meet every Monday night from 6-8 pm at school to develop and practice their improvisational acting skills. The team focuses on fast-paced, short-form improvisational comedy and performs two public shows during the school year. Auditions are held at the beginning of the year and are open to students from all grades. The Improv season runs from September until the end of March.
Plays and Musicals - The Stage Company
Students have the chance to audition for parts in the annual play/musical productions. Auditions are open to the entire student body. In addition to acting, students can get involved in various crews and committees such as student directing, makeup, lighting, set/props collection and construction which are crucial to the production.