Cultural Arts Department
The Cultural Arts Department includes all choir classes, theater classes, band classes, and art classes. While taking any cultural arts course, a student is learning a variety of creative ways to express themselves. Students will learn the basic fundamentals of whatever art form they are taking, and are also given the opportunity to go above and beyond in their learning stretch. Classes will also give students opportunities to showcase what they have learned in and out of school.
BAND COURSES:
Band
Credit: 1
Grades: 9-12
Weight: S
Continue instrumental music instruction with an emphasis on musical performance.
Marching Band
Credit: 1
Grades: 9-12
Weight: S
Continue instrumental music instruction with an emphasis on musical performance. Perform at all home and some selected away football games, local parades, school, and civic functions.
Symphonic/Marching Band
Credit: 1
Grades: 9-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Band experience, audition or previous instrumental training
Continue instrumental music instruction with an emphasis on musical performance. Perform at all home and some selected away football games, local parades, school, and civic functions.
Concert Band
Credit: 1
Grades: 9-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Band experience, audition or previous instrumental training.
Expand your musical understanding. Expand your musical understanding and technical development. Develop an understanding of music theory, history, and literature.
Jazz Band
Credit: 1
Grades: 9- 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Audition
Expand your knowledge in the areas of jazz, rhythm and blues, and soul music. Serve as member of the Pep band for school activities.
9th Grade Band
Credit: 1
Grades: 9
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Three years of middle school band
Continue instrumental instruction from Middle School band with an emphasis on developing skills for the marching band and the grade.
Wind Ensemble A
Credit: 1
Grades: 10- 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Audition
Continue to explore a broad range of literature that represents all aspects of wind literature, including 20th century, solo, and small ensemble, transcriptions and original works. Students will have in-depth study in instrumental music that will include performance, sight reading, improvising melodies, notating, and analyzing music. Attendance at District Solo and Ensemble Festival and Concert Festival are required as well as two concerts and area performances.
Music Theory/AP Music Theory
Credit: 1
Grades 10-12
Weight: H, AP
Prerequisite: Audition
Advanced Placement Music Theory is a course designed to focus on the fundamentals and foundations of music, integrating basic materials and skills. The study of diatonic harmony, musical style, music history and music listening skills will be emphasized with performance and practical applications as a primary goal. The primary goal of this course is to enhance and encourage students understanding of musical applications and terms with a specific emphasis on the theory of music.
ART COURSES:
Beginning Visual Arts
Credit: 1
Grades: 9-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: None
Course is structured for students wanting to learn the basic concepts of the visual arts and those without previous progression in the visual arts. Student may retake once for additional credit.
Intermediate Visual Arts
Credit: 1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Beginning Visual Arts
Course is structured for students with strong Beginning Visual Arts knowledge. Student may retake once for additional credit. Must have teacher approval.
Proficient Visual Arts
Credit: 1
Grades: 11-12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Intermediate Visual Arts or 270-300 hours of visual arts instruction
Course is structured for students wanting to earn honors credit and indepth knowledge of the visual arts. Student may retake one for additional credit. Must have teacher approval.
Advanced Visual Arts
Credit: 1
Grade: 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Proficient Visual Arts of 270-300 hours of visual arts instruction
Course is structured for students wanting to earn honors credit and indepth knowledge of the visual arts. Student may retake once for additional credit. Must have teacher approval.
Studio Art Honors
Credit: 1
Grade: 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Art I-IV, teacher recommendation
Course is independent studio for students who have completed all visual arts courses and intend to pursue a career in the visual arts. Must have teacher approval.
Beginning Photography
Credit: 1
Grade: 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Beginning Visual Arts
Course is structured for students wanting to learn the basic concepts of photography. Must have teacher approval. Student may retake once for additional credit.
Intermediate Photography
Credit: 1
Grade: 10-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Beginning Visual Arts and Beginning Photography
Course is structured for students wanting to increase their knowledge of photography. Must have teacher approval. Student may retake once for additional credit.
Beginning 3D Visual Arts
Credit: 1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Beginning Visual Arts
Course is structured for students wanting to learn in-depth skills in the 3D visual arts. Must have teacher approval. May retake once for additional credit
Intermediate 3D Visual Arts
Credit:1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Beginning 3D Visual Arts
Course is structured for students wanting to increase their skills in the 3D media. Must have teacher approval. May retake once for additional credit.
Beginning Visual Arts Modified
Credit: 1
Grades: 9-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: None
Course is structured for students needing a modified course of study. The knowledge is learned and basic concepts of the visual arts in a modified environment. Must have teacher approval. May retake once for additional credit.
Intermediate Visual Arts Modified
Credit: 1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: 10-12
Prerequisite: Beginning Visual Arts Modified
Course is structured for students needing a modified learning environment and wanting to increase their knowledge of the visual arts. Must have teacher approval. May retake once for additional credit.
THEATRE:
Theatre Arts Beginning
Credit: 1
Grades: 9-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: None
Explore an introduction to the theatre with general background knowledge in pantomime, voice production, acting, directing, and theatre history. Gain actual acting experience.
Theatre Arts Intermediate
Credit: 1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Theatre Arts I, audition
Further your study of acting, directing and stage writing techniques.
Learn basic scenery design, set construction, and principles of lighting
in this performance-oriented course.
Honors Theatre Arts A
Credit: 1
Grades: 11-12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Theatre Arts I and II, teacher recommendation
Continue your study of theatre arts in this independent study course
that will include the study of script writing and editing, improvisation,
acting, design and production, and directing. Participate in research,
comparison and contrast analysis and critiques.
Honors Theatre Arts B
Credit: 1
Grades: 11-12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Honors Theatre Arts A, teacher recommendation
Participate in this independent study course by completing projects in one or more areas of theatre expertise. Student and teacher will work together in designing the specific projects in one or more areas of theatre expertise. Student and teacher will work together in designing the specific projects to meet the individual interests and skills of the student.
Technical Theatre Beginning
Credit: 1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Theatre Arts Beginning
Develop your interest in stagecraft and not performing. Learn how to design and construct scenes and props, hand and focus lights, and design sound.
Technical Theatre Intermediate
Credit: 1
Grades: 11-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Technical Theatre Beginning
Continue your study of the “behind the scenes” of theatre production.
Advanced Acting & Play Production Beginning
Production I
Credit: 1
Grades: 11-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Theatre I, Theatre II, audition
Study method and natural acting through production of plays for the public. Learn specific, technical aspects for the theatre. Students will produce a portfolio of independent work.
Advanced Acting & Play Production Intermediate
Grades: 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Theatre Arts II, audition
Continue skills developed in Acting and Play Production I in pursuit of a career in the entertainment business.
Advanced Acting & Play Production Proficient
Credit: 1
Grades: 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Theatre I, II, audition
Study method and natural acting through production of plays for the public. Learn specific technical aspects for the theatre. Students will produce a portfolio of independent work.
Advanced Acting & Play Production Advanced
Credit: 1
Grades: 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Theatre I, II, Advanced Acting I, audition
Continue studies of method and natural acting through production of plays for the public. Learn specific technical aspects for the theatre. Students will produce a portfolio of independent work.
CHORUS:
All choral classes are taught by Mrs. Long. Mrs. Long has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2005. She has her Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Music Education/Vocal & Piano performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is the lead High School Cultural Arts Teacher for Rockingham County Schools. She has been the Cultural Arts Department Chair for DMHS for 10 years and is a certified Mentor Teacher. She has served as President of NC Chapter of American Choral Director's Association, been a member of Executive Board of HS Choral Section and MS Choral Selection for NCMEA, and been an Officer and Clinician for NC Summer Institute in Choral Arts.
Courses Offered:
Voices of Harmony
Credit: 1
Grades: 9- 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: None
Female students learn the basic skills of vocal, techniques, musical interpretation, note reading, and basic musicianship through a variety of styles. Receive training in choreography while singing. Attendance at State Ensemble Festival is required as well as local concerts.
Women's Chorale
Credit: 1
Grades: 10- 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Chorus, Audition
Offers female students the opportunity to learn the basic skills of vocal, techniques, musical interpretation, note reading, and basic musicianship through a variety of styles.
Chorus
Credit: 1
Grades: 9
Weight: S
Prerequisite: None
Learn the basic skills of vocal, techniques, musical interpretation, note reading, and basic musicianship through a variety of styles.
Concert Choir
Credit: 1
Grades: 10- 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Previous choral courses, audition
More advanced SATB singers develop and refine existing skills of vocal, techniques, musical interpretation, note reading, and basic musicianship through a variety of styles.
Men’s Ensemble
Credit: 1
Grades: 9- 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Audition
Offers male students the opportunity to learn the basic skills of vocal, techniques, musical interpretation, note reading, and basic musicianship through a variety of styles.
Phoenix Voices
Credit: 1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Previous choral courses as determined by the individual school, audition
Learn techniques of show choir and jazz choir with emphasis placed on vocal independence. Receive training in choreography with singing and microphone usage in singing.
Women’s Ensemble
Credit: 1
Grades: 10-12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Audition
More advanced female singers develop and refine existing skills of vocal, techniques, musical interpretation, note reading, and basic musicianship through a variety of styles.
Vocal Ensemble
Credit: 1
Grades: 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation
Develop and refine higher levels of vocal ability and improve vocal musical interpretations. Through analysis and the study of history, appropriate musical vocabulary, and symbols, students will develop appreciation of and an understanding of music in relation to styles of music, music periods, composers, and various cultures.
Vocal Ensemble Advanced
Credit: 1
Grades: 9- 12
Weight: H
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation
Continue the advanced study of vocal music with the interpretation and performance of solo and ensemble music. Continue the analysis and the study of history, appropriate musical vocabulary, and symbols and develop an understanding of music in relation to styles of music, music periods, composers, and various cultures.
Piano Lab
Credit: 1
Grades: 9- 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: None
Learn the musical keyboard basic techniques and rudimentary skills in music reading.
Advanced Piano Lab
Credit: 1
Grades: 9- 12
Weight: S
Prerequisite: Piano Lab or audition
Study more advanced music literature. Learn key signatures and scales and their application through improvisation and modulation.