Upper School Curriculum Guide 2023-2024

Art 4

Students continue to develop their artistic voice while they learn to apply the principles of art (line, shape, value, texture, and color) by completing a variety of increasingly more demanding projects – ranging from drawing exercises to printmaking to works in clay progresses, While still improving basic skills, students take the initiative to develop independent projects that reflect their interests and needs with the ultimate goal of producing portfolio quality work.

Skills Developed

• Improvement of visual art skills (drawing, painting, printmaking), composition/design
• Material management (proper  care and safe use of tools and materials)
• Artistic process (developing ideas  to produce artwork using a variety of media, tools, and processes)
• Critical analysis/aesthetic understanding
   

Knowledge Developed

• Identification and use of the elements of art/principles of organization
• Use of appropriate vocabulary during the creation  of artwork
• Use of appropriate vocabulary during the critique of artwork
• Development of artistic voice

AP Studio Art

The AP program is for serious seniors who have demonstrated excellence, self-motivation, and dedication in studio art.  Portfolio guidelines, established by The College Board's AP Program, require the submission of a minimum of 27 works demonstrating Breadth (12 works), Concentration (10-12 works), and Quality (five works). Students interested in this class will experience college-level learning and the inherent demands of that learning level.

Skills Developed

• Outstanding visual art skills (drawing, painting, printmaking), composition/design
• Material management (proper  care and safe use of tools and materials)
• Artistic process (developing ideas  to produce artwork using a variety of media, tools, and processes)
• Critical analysis/aesthetic understanding
   

Knowledge Developed

• Identification and use of the elements of art/principles of organization
• Use of appropriate vocabulary during the creation  of artwork
• Use of appropriate vocabulary during the critique of artwork
• Development of artistic voice

• Students learn interpretative methods
• Students develop awareness of film aesthetics
• Students learn to interpret, make connections, ask questions and make inferences by thinking critically

Knowledge Developed

Mixed Choir

Have you always wanted to learn how to sing well? Or do you simply enjoy music and being with other people? For all these, and many other reasons, the Mixed Choir is your place to learn the basics of how to sing, read, and appreciate music. Through daily rehearsals and a wide variety of musical styles, students will learn about healthy vocal production, musicianship skills and sight-reading, as well as the skills necessary for ensemble singing.

Skills Developed

• Produce proper vocal tone appropriate to various styles of music
• Demonstrate ability to sing accurately in 1, 2 and 3 parts
• Communicate expressively through dynamic contrast, vocal tone, facial expression and body language
• Identify and solve issues of balance, blend, and ensemble
• React appropriately to a conducting gesture
• Read music (both pitch and rhythm) from a printed score

Knowledge Developed

• An understanding of the fundamentals of musical notation, including pitches and note values, key and time signatures, and musical terms
• A vocabulary to describe the standards of vocal/choral excellence
• Knowledge of the musical, literary, historic, cultural, and/or religious context of chosen repertoire

Concert Choir

For the motivated and experienced choral singer, Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble for those students who are proficient with vocal technique and musicianship and wish to develop those skills to a mastery level. In addition to presenting three to four concerts throughout the year, the choir performs at various school functions, and represents Darlington at various civic and school-related events on and off-campus, including a choir tour during the spring semester. A successful Concert Choir member is dedicated and invested.

Skills Developed

• Demonstrate ability to sing accurately in parts
• Produce vocal tone appropriate to various styles of music
• Communicate expressively through dynamic contrast, vocal tone, facial expression, and body language
• Identify and solve issues of balance, blend, and ensemble
• React appropriately to a conducting gesture
• Read music (both pitch and rhythm) from a printed score

• An understanding of the fundamentals of musical notation, including pitches and note values, key and time signatures, and musical terms
• A vocabulary to describe the standards of vocal/choral excellence
• Knowledge of the musical, literary, historic, cultural, and/or religious context of chosen repertoire

At least one year of prior choral experience is strongly encouraged.

Membership is based on auditions held in the spring for the following year (and in the first week of school for new students).  Auditions are comprised of a student's demonstration of music reading ability, intonation, and musicality.

AP Music Theory 

Why did the composer choose to write the melody this way? Why does this chord tug at my heartstrings so strongly? And why does this piece just seem strange?AP Music Theory develops a student’s ability to recognize, understand and describe the basic processes and materials of music as they are heard or presented in a musical score. Students will use listening, singing, and written exercises to develop aural, analytical, and composition skills.

Skills Developed

• Write and analyze music following common practice techniques in contrapuntal techniques, voice leading, chord progressions and figured bass.
• Identify and recite intervals, chords and scales both aurally and on paper.
• Identify and recite melody, harmony, and rhythm both aurally and on paper through sight-reading and dictation.

Knowledge Developed

• Basic pitch and rhythm notation
• Tonality -- major, minor
• Scales -- major, minor, modal, pentatonic, whole tone
• Intervals and transposition
• Introduction to melodic organization and counterpoint
• Triads and seventh chords
• Roman numeral analysis and figured bass Symbols
• Part writing
• Cadences
• Harmonic progression
• Texture/form
• Non-harmonic tones/motivic treatment
• Secondary dominants/tonicization
• Modulation to closely related keys
• Introduction to extended harmony

Required Prerequisites

• Teacher recommendation along with theory level placement test
• Ability to read music
• Performance ability on an instrument or in voice

At the Upper School, students will find that the Wind Ensemble is extremely versatile. This award-winning group plays music from the standard concert and symphonic repertoire. The Wind Ensemble offers every student the opportunity to build proficiency beyond his or her current skill level.

Skills Developed

• Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
• Reading and notating music
• Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments
• Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines
• Rhythm reading proficiency

Knowledge Developed

• Listening to, analyzing, and describing music
• Evaluating music and music performances
• Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
• Understanding music in relation to history and culture
• Appreciation of music of multiple styles and genres

• Suggested previous ability on instrument
• Ability to read music

Orchestra

Skills Developed

• Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
• Reading and notating music
• Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments
• Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines
• Rhythm reading proficiency

Knowledge Developed

• Listening to, analyzing, and describing music
• Evaluating music and music performances
• Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
• Understanding music in relation to history and culture
• Appreciation of music of multiple styles and genres

Required Prerequisites

• Suggested previous ability on instrument
• Ability to read music

Special Notes

• Spring competitive festival is required (excluding special circumstances).
• Each participant is required to provide proper concert attire (black tuxedo for gentlemen and black floor-length gown for ladies).
• Orchestra members are encouraged to audition for the string quartet. 

Skills Developed

Will vary by student, but will include:

• Keyboard skills
• Performance skills
• Collaborative piano (accompanying skills)
• Written and aural music theory skills

• Ability to read musical notation, including pitches and note values, key and time signatures, and musical terms
• Scales (major and minor) intervals, and chords
• Ability to read chord charts and lead sheets
• Ability to play cadences and harmonize a melody
• Expression through musical means such as dynamics, tempo, tone, and phrasing.
• Knowledge of the musical, literary, historic, cultural, and/or religious context of chosen repertoire

• A serious interest in acquiring and/or furthering one’s ability to play piano and understand music theory.

• Rehearsal of assigned repertoire
• Musicianship skill practice
• Theory assignments
• Lectures on theory principles
• Listening activities
• Studio performances and discussion
• Individual practice time outside of class

• May be taken as a course in the fundamentals of music theory, with a keyboard emphasis.

Photography

Students will study cameras, camera technique, composition, critique, exhibition, and survey historical and contemporary photographers. Students will use Adobe Photoshop to scan, print, digitally retouch, enhance, and alter photographs, and create digital composites to express new ideas. Project assignments, demonstrations, critiques and lectures will provide in-depth experiences in the aesthetic, cultural and historic dimensions of the mediums. Students will develop a personal body of work from which they will design a professional portfolio of mounted and matted prints together with an online gallery. They will also participate in a cross-cultural exchange sharing their work. Students will submit their work for publication, compete in national contests, and exhibit their work in the yearbook, in the hallways, and in the community. Some photographing outside of school time is required.

Advanced Media: Yearbook I, II, III

In this course, students will produce the Jabberwokk, Darlington’s annual yearbook. Course fundamentals include basic news writing, reporting, editing, and photography. Students will write news stories and take photos that will be published in the yearbook and when appropriate, the Darlingtonian.com. Using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrators, students will develop advanced graphic design skills in the creation of the yearbook. Students will assume editorial roles and work in teams to meet publication deadlines.

• Writing, editing, interviewing, showing mastery of AP Style
• Photojournalism
• Advanced layout and graphic design
• Marketing and advertising
• Leadership