Nichols requires all students to participate in the fine and performing arts. We feel no education is complete without a profound understanding of the arts, and that understanding is best gleaned from hands on involvement in the creative process. In addition to offering students formal instruction in the arts, extracurricular activities are available in theater, music, and dance.
In Grade 9, Freshman Survey of the Arts, a comprehensive, interdisciplinary course is required. Students are exposed to dance, music, theatre and the visual arts. Survey of the Arts emphasizes a shared vocabulary amongst all of the art disciplines. Double class periods may be used for guest artist visits and presentations. The course involves a rotation through the music, theatre, dance and visual arts mediums. Students may also take chorus, orchestra or dance for credit.
Many students in grade 10 choose to take an art elective, Chorus, or Orchestra in order to fulfill the sophomore elective requirement
In Grade 11 or 12, students take an additional Arts elective in either or both years.
Dance Electives
Students in the Nichols after school Dance program take movement classes that meet personal goals and provide a broad base of dance study. They receive physical education and/or artistic credit. The minimum upper school requirement is 3 studio hours per week to attain PE credit. If a student takes an additional 4 hours of classes per week they earn an Arts Credit as well as a P.E credit. Examples of courses offered are Modern Dance, Ballet, Choreography, Improvisation, and Repertory/ Performance. Yoga, stress reduction and conditioning mini courses are offered at special times in the year to coordinate with new trimesters of study and to provide opportunities to use mind body techniques to prepare for exam testing. The Nichols Dance Ensemble is the performance group at school; they present their own work at the "Choreographers' Showcase", and also perform at the "Spring Dance Concert". Other opportunities for performance are the Holiday Assembly and special school festivals, forums, and functions. Students learn from professional guest artists working with Pick of the Crop, a modern dance organization directed by dance teacher, Elaine Gardner. Advanced or more serious dance students are given the opportunity to work individually with Ms. Gardner on developing a dance portfolio which includes preparation for college auditions.
Chorus
The repertoire comes from many traditions and genres (e.g., Western European Baroque, Musical Theatre, Zulu and Kenyan Folk Music, music of the great masters sung in the original languages). Singers attend regular rehearsals and small voice labs. Proper performance practice and age appropriate vocal techniques are stressed. All groups perform at two annual school concerts, Cabaret, for many school-related functions, and often in the community. The Great Lakes Arts Festival is a highlight of the choral season every other year. Students should plan on a year-long commitment to this ensemble.
Orchestra
A year-long commitment, Orchestra is open to players of string, wind, brass, and percussion instruments. Music from Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern era is performed. Developing aesthetic sensitivity, the proper technique, timing, tone, and interpretation are stressed. Each student is evaluated in a weekly lesson lab. Performances include a minimum of two instrumental concerts and, possibly, the Great Lakes Arts Festival. The Jazz Band, an extracurricular activity, meets twice a week after school to prepare for performances throughout the year.
Sophomore Arts Electives: Foundations of the Arts
Acting Styles (Fall)
Building on Survey of the Arts Theatre, students will apply learned principles to specific theatre styles. With an emphasis on understanding the world of the play, students will be asked to analyze how historical and social factors shape character.
Performance Technique (Spring)
Students will learn to apply vocal and physical acting technique, as well as character and scene analysis, to performance projects, original monologues and scenes.
Design and Composition (Fall)
Using a variety of drawing, painting, printmaking, photographic and digital art making tools, students will learn how to initiate, develop, and produce original art works. The emphasis in this course will be to identify the foundations of art and use its vocabulary to creatively solve problems. The vocabulary of design - elements and principles such as line, shape, form, texture, and balance, unity, emphasis and rhythm will be explored through classroom projects. Projects in this class will range from drawing to computer art; an emphasis will be placed on digital art tools. Students will be introduced to digital video and photography along with digital imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and PageMaker. Major projects in this class will include a 'zine or artist book and a web site.
Advanced Design and Composition (Spring)
Building on the Fall Design and Composition class, this class will continue to explore the elements and principles of design. Students will produce a portfolio of work ranging from drawings and paintings to photographs and digital art. An emphasis will be placed on multimedia art making techniques such as collage and animation and mixing art making materials such as digital photography, drawing and paint.
Exploring Drawing (Fall)
"Drawing is the basic language of Art." This drawing course will introduce the student to a variety of materials and techniques and help them understand what drawing is and its importance. The students will complete a variety of projects that will not only improve their techniques but also their visual communication skills. By experimenting with mediums such as pencil, charcoal, and pen and ink, the students will enhance their ability to look and see selectively while developing their artistic skills and talents.
Exploring Painting (Spring)
Suggested pre-requisite: Exploring Drawing. This course will introduce the student to one of the most natural forms of human communication, painting. Students will learn how paintings are constructed, how to evaluate what artists do, how to talk about art, and how to use tools and media to create their own kinds of visual expression. The students will work primarily in watercolors and acrylics in completing works that will enhance their understanding and appreciation of this art discipline.
Guitar and Keyboard Exploration (one semester, fall and spring)
Do you own a guitar or keyboard and would like to learn how to play it? This course will help you to learn how to read, play, and compose music. You will listen and study different styles of music as well as create your own original compositions. The class will also include appropriate field trips.
Modern Dance Technique (Fall)
Students will learn basic modern dance techniques and movement studies created by Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Merce Cunningham. Reading and viewing biographical documentaries will also be part of the class. Students will view dance masterpieces choreographed by the above founders of modern dance. Students should keep a journal of dance technique notes, in class observations of the choreographic masterpieces, and biographical notes about the choreographic artists. These observations will be shared with the teacher and with peers in class discussion.
World Dance (Spring)
This course will focus on traditional expressions of non-Western movement. Students will be introduced to dances that are kinetic traditions--movement that passes on a cultural and historical identity. These are the diverse expressions of our global environment. Movement will be experienced both physically and by viewing video examples. Topics will include African, Indian, and Asian forms. Students will also experience an introduction to yoga.
Survey of American Musical Theater (Fall)
Students will explore the history and art of American musical theater from its earliest instantiations: vaudeville, burlesque, comic opera, minstrel shows, operetta, musical comedy, rock opera, and more contemporary forms. The class will view films or videos of important productions, examine photo archives, research past reviews, listen to cast recordings, read scripts and scores, attend several live stage productions, read from a wide array of sources, write several short papers, and work on personally selected final projects.
Interest in musical theater is helpful, but no prior experience viewing or
performing musical theater is required.
The American Songbook: Survey of American Jazz Standards (Spring) Students will explore the songs of Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Richard Rogers, Sammy Cahn, Duke Ellington, and dozens of other composers whose songs have become part of the popular American song canon. We will listen to and analyze scores and recordings by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Mel Torme, Shirley Horne, Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, The Hi-Los, the Four Freshman, Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, Jackie & Roy, Diana Krall, Susannah McCorkle, and many other jazz and cabaret artists whose interpretations of these standards have become part of our cultural literacy. An interest in vocal jazz will be helpful, but no prior experience listening to or performing this repertoire is required.
Junior/Senior Arts Electives
Acting I: Introduction to Acting Technique
With an ensemble approach, students will study and apply the principles of Stanislavski to scripted scenes and monologues. Also, students will participate in the Spring Film, and create a performance piece for a holiday assembly. Suggested prerequisites for this course are Foundations Acting Styles, or Performance Technique.
Acting II: Advanced Acting Technique
This class is available only to seniors who have completed Acting I or who have been granted special permission from the instructor. While the first semester will focus on the Sanford Meisner technique, the second semester will focus on conceptualization and performance. Students will create and act in a small ensemble play in the spring.
Dance History
This course will explore different historical and aesthetic approaches to dance as it appears on stage. Topics will be classical ballet, modern dance, and musical theater. Students will physically experience different ways of moving their bodies in these performance styles. The students will also view examples of choreography on video. Different choreographers and eras will be discussed in terms of artistic choices made by the individual artist. This typically illuminates how a choreographic work is an expression of both the time period of creation and the personal experience of the artist.
Technical Theater
Ideal for juniors, students will meet for one double period per cycle in this yearlong course. With the guidance of the instructor, they will learn the basics of technical production through lecture, demonstration and hands-on experience. In addition to the work students do within the double period, all members of this class will be required to:
i.) Run morning meetings (lights, sound, video set-up)
Work Fall Play
Work Spring Play
Work Assemblies
All registered students must have permission of the instructor. Students who complete this course will be eligible for further independent study in Theatrical Design.
Photography
The photography course takes the application of image repro-duction and photographic techniques and applies them to the very simple and complex techniques available to us. The course starts with basic pinhole camera construction, and black and white traditional photography for the first semester branching out in the second semester to introduce digital imaging, electronic transmission and image analysis. Emphasis will be placed on development of a photographic portfolio that will include 25 quality works. Students are required to have a 35mm SLR camera for this class. Digital cameras are useful but not required.
Digital Video/Film Making
This course challenges students to use the tools of digital filmmaking in the production of thought provoking and meaningful work. The use of digital video cameras, lighting, microphones, audio editing software, video editing software, and postproduction techniques will be introduced and taught through projects. Students will be asked to produce several short original works in a range of genres that include documentary, experimental, narrative, performance/video art and jour-nalism. In addi-tion to digital video, super 8mm film production, wet processing, and hand coloring are explored.
AP Studio Art, 2D design
AP Studio Art, Drawing
AP Studio Art, 2D (Photography)
A capstone course, this class seeks to build on techniques and concepts that students have acquired in past art courses in the production of new work. The major project in this class is to produce a concentration of work; a series of work, 12 pieces based on a central interest. The concentration should develop a theme and challenge the maker and viewer with complex aesthetic and conceptual ideas. Students will be required to complete a portfolio of at least 25 works. The portfolio includes a concentration (12 pieces), a breadth (12 pieces) and 5 works selected for quality.
Painting (Introductory, Advanced)
An introduction to the concepts, skills, methods, and work processes needed to explore the potential of painting. Students work primarily with acrylic paints on canvas, but also experiment with a variety of materials on paper, including relief work and three-dimensional forms. Students are required to complete a minimum of four canvases in a variety of styles and techniques. Class discussions and critiques help evaluate work in progress and gauge a student's success. Advanced Painting expands on the principles and techniques taught in the introductory course.
Sculpture (Introductory, Advanced)
Beginning students are introduced to problems and concepts particular to three-dimensional art. An overview of the processes, tools, and materials used in sculpture, including the use of paper, wood, plaster, clay, and metal will be explored. Advanced students will investigate the relationship of ideas to materials and construction techniques in the 3-D format. This course provides an opportunity to develop and expand one's own individual imagery. Periodic critiques to discuss progress are conducted by the teacher, along with class participation.
Jazz Music - A Truly American Art Form
We will trace the development of Jazz Music from its beginnings in Blues and Ragtime to its influence on the music of today. A study of Jazz Music provides a greater understanding of the development of the American personality. The class will also attend live jazz and blues performances in the area.
Music Theory
Students must have 2 years minimum of instrumental or vocal practice. Designed to aid the students with music reading skills through the study of the structure of music. Emphasis on rhythms, simple and compound meters, scales, key relationships, intervals, chords, interpretive markings, and score analysis.
A Study and Practice in Creativity
This full year course will focus on experiential learning of the creative process. This is an ideal course for seniors who have not had a junior year of arts and have limited experience in the studio. Projects that encourage creative collaboration between peers will be a fundamental method of learning. This course is an interdisciplinary class that explores and analyses creative performance works of the past, present, and of the current avant-garde. Media resources will be an ideal way to offer students experiences of artists, their periods of history, and styles of work. We will include documentary films and or DVD's on diverse interdisciplinary forms. Featured will be groundbreaking early theatrical works(Bauhaus) and interviews with current movement/theater directors and interdisciplinary creators. These forms of creation supported financially primarily in Asia and Europe will provide thoughtful concepts and profiles of contemporary art.