Visual & Performing Arts

Creativity That Inspires Expression

At JCHS, the Visual & Performing Arts program encourages students to explore ideas, discover their creative voice, and express themselves through visual, dramatic, musical, and digital media.

Project-based learning is at the heart of every course, allowing students to build technical skills while pursuing meaningful creative work. Along the way, students learn to think critically about artistic choices, explore historical and contemporary approaches to art, and develop an appreciation for the role creativity plays in every aspect of life.

Art extends beyond the classroom through performances, exhibitions, gallery showcases, and collaborative projects that enrich the entire JCHS community.

Creative Disciplines

Visual Arts

Explore drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, and mixed media while developing technical skills and personal artistic expression.

Drama

Develop confidence, creativity, and collaboration through acting, improvisation, storytelling, and performance.

Music

Perform as a vocalist or instrumentalist while strengthening musicianship, creativity, and technical skills in a collaborative ensemble.

Filmmaking

Bring stories to life through writing, directing, filming, editing, and digital production using professional tools and techniques.

Visual & Performing Arts Requirement

Students must complete one year of a core Visual & Performing Arts course.

Explore Visual & Performing Arts Courses

CORE COURSES

  • Subject Area: Performing Arts
    Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12

    Students learn the fundamentals of acting and storytelling through improvisation, scene work, games, and acting exercises. Drawing from techniques developed by Viola Spolin, Keith Johnstone, Meisner, and Stanislavski, students build confidence, creativity, vocal control, physical expression, and character development while learning to observe and critique performance.

  • Subject Area: Performing Arts
    Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12

    This is an exciting performance-based class that combines both singers and instrumentalists (and those that want to do both) in the same class. The ensemble provides an opportunity both to elevate the technical facility of the individual musician and to represent JCHS in a positive way inside and outside the community. Music selections will be drawn from a combination of sources and be in part determined by student interests. In the past, repertoire has included piano works arranged for the group by composers such as Bach and Chopin, music from movies, 80’s rock, songs related to Jewish holidays, and jazz of several different varieties. 

    In addition to preparing for regular performances, students will learn some aspects of music theory (both written, aural, and executed on an instrument) which, for interested students, can improve their skills in improvisation. There will also be some training in music-specific technology skills like audio engineering, sequencing, producing, and music notation.

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12

    Filmmaking introduces students to the creative process of filmmaking - from conceptualization of story to production and post-production processes. Students will develop storytelling skills using the creative medium of film - from idea, to script, to storyboards. We will view and study the techniques employed by some of the most influential filmmakers of the last 100 years. Working both collaboratively and independently, students will learn the grammar and conventions of the medium by creating short narrative films.  Projects include an auto-biographical film, an advertisement for a product of the student’s choice and a “acting and filming for television.” In this project students recreate,  film and edit iconic scenes from a multi-camera sitcom.  By viewing iconic movies in class, students also explore the current and historical norms of the filmmaking industry. Advanced non-linear editing skills are introduced using tools such as Adobe Premiere, and Adobe After Effects. 

    Please Note: A laptop (Mac or PC only, no Chromebook) with sufficient processing power and free disc space is required. Computers without sufficient free space or processing capabilities will (at minimum) cause frustrations in completing projects. It is strongly recommended that prospective students verify with the instructor their computer is sufficiently capable in advance. Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects licenses are provided.

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12

    This course will provide students with an introduction to Photography’s fundamental principles and techniques using both digital and analog (film) methods.  Assignments and class content will explore the correlation between technical choices and conceptual impact. Each student will receive a DSLR camera of their own for the duration of the class which we will learn to operate in full manual mode.  In addition to skill building, topics such as composition design and visual diversity are introduced. Our regular photo walks off campus offer us adventure in the neighborhoods surrounding JCHS such as Japantown where we explore the impact of both design and quality of light in our images.  In the second semester, we go into the darkroom and uncover the mysterious world of film photography, including photograms.  Hands-on class work, group discussions and photographic projects are all designed for students to question and debate what it is to be a visually literate person in our society.  Students are being asked to think critically both about what makes for a strong photograph, as well as, the role of photography in our world.  

    Please Note: Each student and their family checking out a JCHS camera accepts responsibility to replace the camera/kit for loss or damage.

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12

    Materials and Methods is a dynamic foundation visual art class that guides students on a creative journey through drawing, painting, and printmaking. Students unleash their artistic potential as they delve into different media, exploring the world around them and expressing their unique perspectives. Through assigned projects, students discover their personal interests and experiences, reflecting on them to shape their artistic ideas. The course emphasizes skill development in paper cutting, graphite drawing, monotype and relief printmaking, and acrylic painting. Students engage in hands-on art-making, group critiques, and even analyze the colors of their favorite movie or TV scenes. They uncover the "bones" of a photo, develop personal iconography, and experiment with diverse printmaking techniques. With a blend of critical thinking and positive risk-taking, this class empowers students to create meaningful artworks and even experience scenic painting on the set of a musical production. Get ready for a year of artistic exploration, self-discovery, and creative expression.

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12

    Sculpture is a studio art course about using various materials and methods to construct three-dimensional forms. Students gain hands-on technical skills and conceptual foundations of visual language. Using processes of assemblage, casting, additive and subtractive work, students explore relationships between objects, physical space, and scale. Materials that students focus on include, and are not limited to, wire, plaster, clay, paper, found objects, and digital media. Over the course of the year, students build an understanding of how ideas, identities, cultures, and histories are communicated through art. Students learn to analyze form and content through their independent projects and class discussions, and by studying artists who work with sculptural objects, architecture, site-specific installations, and performance. Assignments promote imaginative inquiry and technical skill development. This course includes major projects, process projects, some reading, writing, class discussions, and sketchbook assignments.

ELECTIVE COURSES

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Open to: 11, 12
    Prerequisite: Concepts & Processes or Honors Photography

    Students will elect to concentrate in one of the following:

    · 2-D Art and Design

    · 3-D Art and Design

    · Drawing

    The AP Studio program consists of three different courses and AP Portfolio Exams - AP 2D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing - corresponding to college and university foundations courses. Students may choose to submit any or all of the AP Portfolio Exams.

    Students create a portfolio of work to demonstrate inquiry through art and design and development of materials, processes, and ideas over the course of a year. Portfolios include works of art and design, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. In May, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions. 


    Please Note: AP courses will require additional afternoon and/or weekend meeting times throughout the year. Students who do not have their own cameras will be able to check out a JCHS camera  for the duration of the class. Each student and their family checking out a JCHS camera accepts responsibility to replace the camera/kit for loss or damage.

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Prerequisite: Materials and Methods or Sculpture

    Concepts and Processes blends tradition with exploration, offering a direct pathway to delve into visual expression through the informed application of design principles. From timeless subjects such as still life, portraiture, and landscape to innovative art assignments using algorithms and chance, the course serves as a dynamic arena for creative experimentation. Develop technical skills in shading, line variation, proportion, color, and craftsmanship through practical exercises and collaborative critiques. Explore a diverse range of visual art media, from drawing to printmaking, collage to painting, discovering the unique potentials of each. Engage in group feedback sessions, delve into mural history, and execute your own mural for the school community. Broaden your artistic horizons by developing personal iconography, drawing inspiration from daily routines, and exploring the concept of space. Transform found materials, adapt collage into painting, and embrace positive risk-taking through critical thinking. Utilize phone cameras not only to explore composition and capture inspiring moments but also to document and archive your work throughout the year, creating a digital portfolio that tracks your artistic progression in the course.

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Prerequisite: Filmmaking

    This course builds on the foundations acquired in Filmmaking.  Students learn how to organize more long-term, complex team projects. These projects may include both Narrative and Avant-Garde films of significant length and breadth. Through these projects, students learn the techniques of developing stories using tools such as storyboards and shot lists. We study the various genres of contemporary films such as Noir, Documentary, Realism, and Neorealism, and delve into their respective place in cinematic history. Students study Hollywood features, foreign cinema, and independent films to gain an understanding of how various filmmaking techniques affect the viewer’s interpretation of a story. Topics such as copyright, fair use, and infringements are explored.  Projects in this class include the creation of original music videos, movie trailers and an original film noir short film.  Students will film both in and out of class and the emphasis will be on visual innovation and expression as evidenced in their films. 


    Please Note: A laptop (Mac or PC only, no Chromebook) with sufficient processing power and free disc space is required. Computers without sufficient free space or processing capabilities will (at minimum) cause frustrations in completing projects. It is strongly recommended that prospective students verify with the instructor their computer is sufficiently capable in advance. Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects licenses are provided.

  • Subject Area: Visual Arts
    Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Photography

    This course is designed for students to explore and refine their own personal methodologies and approaches to photographic image making. Our class focuses on visual literacy and learning to see as artists. This is a conscious act that requires thinking, analyzing, and decision-making both technically and conceptually. This is the driving goal of our course in both the work we create and how we learn to talk about photography. This process is built on a foundation of technical skill in both the traditional and digital darkroom environments. The understanding of key photographic principles and methods is achieved through assignments, lecture, demonstration, critique and presentation of artists’ work that culminates in a final portfolio piece.   

     

    Students are given greater latitude and responsibility in this course to pursue their individual

    photographic interests with the goal of creating a personal portfolio of images. The assignments given at this level place an emphasis on individual style and vision while strengthening the students’ technical skills. Willingness to take risks in one’s imagery and the ability to work independently are key components at this advanced level of study.


    Please Note: Students who do not have their own cameras will be able to check out a JCHS

    camera  for the duration of the class. Each student and their family checking out a JCHS camera accepts responsibility to replace the camera/kit for loss or damage.