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, with a prerequisite of at least one year of Prima Voce (Women's Chorus). Students will audition in March for the following year's placement. The ensemble will perform challenging treble repertoire in three and four parts with attention paid to mature tone and expression in the female voice. In addition to quarterly concerts, District and State Choral Festivals, the Bellas will sing for churches and community events. We are a close-knit group that enjoy each other's collaboration and build camaraderie together.
Chamber Chorale
A highly select mixed ensemble made up of juniors and seniors. Auditions are held in March for the following year. Members focus on learning and performing challenging repertoire with attention paid to the details that produce high quality performances. This group sings many times throughout the year for community organizations, church services, District and State Choral Festivals, as well as the concerts at our school. Chamber Chorale is recognized as one of the top ensembles in the State of Michigan, and continues a long history of vocal excellence.
Men Aloud (Men's Chorus)
A choral ensemble made up of 9th through 12th grade men. Emphasis is placed on developing the male voice’s unique qualities, camaraderie, and building vocal confidence. 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)
A choral ensemble made up 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 that offers an opportunity to learn about different styles of instrumental music. Jazz incorporates learning the skill of improvisation, sight reading, learning music theory and composition. Jazz Band is a one semester course that will meet throughout the school year, outside of the typical school day, and during 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 and will perform with the Band(s) and Symphony Orchestra on all performances. Music will consist of general percussion techniques, percussion ensembles, band music, orchestra music and drumline. Students eligible for this class will have participated in band on percussion in 8th grade OR may be selected by successful audition with the band director. Some students may be able to take this course for one semester only.
Symphonic Band
Large ensemble of selected musicians who study and perform major works of band repertoire. Placement is based on an audition with the director.
Orchestra
Sinfonia
Large String orchestra ensemble that continues development of 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. They also participate in MSBOA activities.
Symphony Strings
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. They also participate in MSBOA activities.
Extra Curricular Music Opportunities
Drumline
Drumline is open to all students (including non-music students). This is a high-energy performance ensemble, which 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
Students will explore a variety of art media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics. Emphasis is placed on both the technical and conceptual aspects of making art. This class is for anyone--from the student who thinks he/she can only draw “stick figures” to the student with advanced level artistic interests.
Advanced Art Studies
This course is designed for junior and senior students who have a serious interest in the Visual Arts and can work well independently. Students will develop a portfolio that is based on a conceptual theme of their choosing. Students will also have the opportunity to go on a field trip to an art museum. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisites: DRAWING, PAINTING, PRINTMAKING
Ceramics & Sculpture I
Discover the possibilities of ceramic media in contemporary sculpture. Work with clay as a sculptural material while focusing on basic construction and finishing techniques. Learn 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
Explore three-dimensional concepts, skills, and processes of ceramics and sculpture. Emphasis is placed on advancing the student’s ability on the wheel, hand building sculptural techniques, and Raku firing. Students will also produce a large-scale group sculpture that will be permanently installed on the school campus. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: CERAMICS AND SCULPTURE I
Design Thinking
Students will use design thinking to develop practical and innovative solutions to a variety of design problems. This process will focus on human-centered design, prototyping and testing, and working in collaboration with a team. Design problems will range from furniture design to offering practical design solutions to inefficiencies within our own school. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Digital Communications Studio (10th - 12th Grade)
The knowledge and skills students acquire throughout our Media Communications classes (Graphic Design, Illustration & Animation, and Video Production) come together in this Studio class as they identify projects of interest and then research, design, and develop solutions, ultimately presenting 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 a variety of 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)
Gone Boarding 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. Gone Boarding allows students to 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
Students will learn how to design like the pros while exploring the art of sharing ideas and information with others. This class includes photography, print media (T-shirts, magazines, posters, etc.), advertising (logos, branding, and infographics), as well as web-based media including simple animation. The Adobe Design Suite will be highlighted while learning Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Flash. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Illustration and Animation
Students will explore art making with digital tools, including developing original characters, scenes, objects, motion graphics, and other dynamic digital imagery. Traditional drawing, painting, sketching, sculpture, and mixed media techniques will be combined and elevated within a digital platform. Students will also have the opportunity to experiment with 3D modeling and 3D printing. The key programs used will be Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Painting
This course will allow students to explore painting methods and materials in depth. During this course, students will have the opportunity to move from a study of basic painting techniques into more self-directed and advanced thematic paintings. This course may not be taken more than twice.
Prerequisite: ART FOUNDATIONS
Printmaking
This course allows students to explore various methods involved in the exciting printmaking process, including colligraph, etching, reduction, and silkscreen prints. Emphasis is placed on the synthesis of 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. Students produce our school Yearbook in all its facets: design, photography, layouts, wording, sales, budgeting, etc. and meet all company deadlines for a finished-published school yearbook. Students are expected to not only work in class, but have evening and weekend responsibilities as well, to ensure all clubs, athletics, dances, plays, concerts, etc. have representation in this all-school publication. There will also be selling of advertisements to help defray the costs.
Performing Arts
Performing Arts Curriculum
Acting 1
This class introduces the student to the basic principles and techniques of performing, including vocal technique, pantomime, and improvisation. The students have opportunities to perform in class with monologues, duo and group scenes, and through study of the 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 interested in developing, refining, and testing their public speaking and acting skills are offered the opportunity to be involved in the forensics program. The forensics team also competes competitively against other schools.
Improv
Students meet every Monday night at school from 6-8 pm to develop and practice their improvisational acting skills. The team learns fast-paced, short-form improvisational comedy and performs two public shows during the school year. Students must audition at the beginning of the year to be considered for this team. Students from all grades are invited to the auditions. The Improv season runs from September until the end of March.
Plays and Musicals - The Stage Company
Each year students have the opportunity to try out for parts in the play/musical productions. The auditions are open to the entire student body. Besides being actors, students are able to participate in a wide range of related crews and committees, which are essential to the production including student directing, makeup, lighting, set/props collection and construction.