Fine Arts

Second semester

This course is a study of the motion picture industry from its beginnings to the present time. Studies begin with series photography as developed by Eadweard Muybridge, and continue through technical developments such as Eastman’s flexible film, Edison’s development of early sound films, and the technical and social contributions of D.W. Griffith and other film pioneers. The course emphasizes the impact and influence of gender, race, and social reform on the film industry.

Second semester

This class offers students the experience of the rehearsal and performance process. From basic acting technique through performance and critique, students experience the full range of the actor’s process. The class will include one nonperforming student who serves as the stage manager for the production, assisting the director throughout the semester. This student should have prior experience with Stagecraft. Rehearsal and performance requirements: four or five weeks before performance, after-school or evening rehearsals are required. Students who enroll in this class may not participate in after-school sports.

First semester

This class offers students the experience of the rehearsal and performance process. From basic acting technique through performance and critique, students experience the full range of the actor’s process. The class will include one nonperforming student who serves as the stage manager for the production, assisting the director throughout the semester. This student should have prior experience with Stagecraft. Rehearsal and performance requirements: four or five weeks before performance, after-school or evening rehearsals are required. Students who enroll in this class may not participate in after-school sports.

Second semester

Working in conjunction with the Play Production class, Stagecraft students study the technical aspects of theater, including the design and production of scenery, lighting, sound, properties, costumes and publicity. During the semester, students research, design and construct all elements of the set. Students serve as the stage crew during tech rehearsals and performances, providing production support, technical direction and stage management. Rehearsal and performance requirements: students are required to attend all technical and dress rehearsals scheduled during the afternoons and evenings of the week prior to opening, as well as all performances. Students who enroll in this class may not participate in after-school sports.

First semester

Working in conjunction with the Play Production class, Stagecraft students study the technical aspects of theater, including the design and production of scenery, lighting, sound, properties, costumes and publicity. During the semester, students research, design and construct all elements of the set. Students serve as the stage crew during tech rehearsals and performances, providing production support, technical direction and stage management. Rehearsals and performance requirements: Stagecraft students are required to attend all technical and dress rehearsals scheduled during the afternoons and evenings of the week prior to the show’s opening, as well as all performances. Students who enroll in this class may not participate in after-school sports.

Seventh – twelfth grades
Full year

This class is intended for intermediate-level instrumentalists seeking to advance their technique and musicianship. We will build fundamentals, working on ensemble playing, practice techniques, basic theory, and listening skills in order to prepare and present a performance. The course prepares students for participation in the jazz and/or orchestral performance groups.

Seventh - twelfth grades
Full year

This class is designed for intermediate-level instrumentalists who are familiar with note reading and rhythms. The focus of this class is on building skills playing in a group setting, basic improvisation, jazz articulations, and preparation for the advanced jazz ensemble. We will participate in two jazz festivals each year and perform twice a year at a Seattle area jazz club. This class is open to students who play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drums and guitar. Entry into the class is by audition and/or teacher signature. Performance requirements: two to three evening concerts and open houses, as well as weekend performance trips.

Seventh - twelfth grades
Full year

UPrep’s advanced jazz instrumental performing group participates in three or four regional jazz festivals and performs twice a year at a Seattle area jazz club. Because of our performance exposure, the commitment level and expectations for student preparedness is high. This class is open to students who play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drums and guitar. Entry into the class is by audition and/or teacher signature. Performance requirements: two to three evening concerts and open houses, as well as weekend performance trips.

Second semester

This class is for students who are interested in gaining experience in a group vocal setting. Over the course of the semester, we focus on vocal technique, sight-reading, group singing skills, and performance. We explore a wide variety of styles and genres, reflect on the role that music has played in our own lives, and deepen our understanding of what singing is all about. This class is for students of all experience levels and backgrounds. Performance requirements: Music Day and Spring Concert.

Second semester

Graphic Design teaches students visual communication skills through illustration, photography, layout and typography, focusing on projects such as posters, logo design, book and magazine covers, and signage. Students take each project from abstract idea to concrete expression, guided by principles of composition, hierarchy, contrast and consistency, color, texture and shape. The course will include instruction on how to work with software commonly used in professional graphic design (the Adobe Creative Suite), but digital tools are simply one means to the end of creative expression, and are not the sole focus of the class; students will also complete projects using traditional hand techniques.

First or second semester

This course is an introduction to photography in which students explore the basics of digital photography and gain knowledge of traditional black and white photography. Students learn basic camera functions for film and digital cameras, exposure, lighting, composition, darkroom usage and film development. Through weekly assignments, themes, and portfolios, students develop observational skills, improve critical and creative thinking, and learn a variety of photographic applications. This course covers different material than Middle School Photo. Enrollment limited to 14 students.

Second semester

Photography II is for students who want to further develop their darkroom (black and white) photography skills and also learn color photography. Students work with film cameras and digital imaging software such as Photoshop, while also exploring advanced printing and technical skills. Each student completes a self-directed semester project that examines subject matter of personal interest. Critical and technical information is introduced to correspond with the students’ needs as they advance through the course. Prerequisite: Photography I. Enrollment is limited to 14 students.

Second semester

In this course, students learn a variety of craft histories and techniques to create works of art. Students examine the history of craft practices and evaluate traditional and contemporary craft techniques with the expectation of applying this knowledge to their own creative practice. Linkages between historical craft origins and how these crafts are viewed/used in contemporary art serve as a central focus for the course. Students develop an understanding and appreciation for hand craftsmanship by exploring techniques employed in a variety of world cultures. Within each project, students consider the historical context of techniques, aesthetic attributes, and contemporary applications as they create. Crafts explored may include textile arts, paper crafts, jewelry, small metal works, wood working, weaving, knitting, crochet, sewing, and lamping. Students use tools to create works of art, not make potholders!

First or second semester

Visual Art I is a foundational course that integrates painting, drawing, and basic sculpture as a means of developing skills, introducing techniques, and teaching art elements and design principles. This course provides students with the opportunity to see how these disciplines can genuinely be integrated in basic art practice. Some basic art history and criticism are also part of the course.

First semester

First or second semester

This course examines sculpture, kinetic art, assemblage, carving and other forms of three-dimensional art. Through projects that stress problem solving and experimentation, students explore form, space, line, shape, composition, mass, scale, and proportion. Projects may include sculptures that move, traditional carved objects, paper constructions and self-portraits.

Second semester

Visual Art II and III provide students with the visual language of artistic representation and abstraction. In this course, emphasis is placed on observational drawing and painting, methods and entry points for abstraction, and approaches to mixing media effectively. Students explore improvisation, collage, appropriation, and other methods of image creation. The second quarter of the class is primarily devoted to individual work around a central theme during which students write artist statements, manifestos on the central theme, and comments on works in progress via blogs and Schoology.

Prerequisite: Visual Art I

Second semester

Visual Art III/IV pushes students much closer to ideation, research and experimentation as processes integrated with artistic expression and creation. In this class, students are challenged to take greater risks—and work through inevitable failures—as a process for creativity. Problem solving is fundamental to the course, as artistic challenges are both presented by the instructor and self-generated. Contemporary art is used extensively as a vehicle and model for moving beyond traditional representation. The course culminates in a body of finished work, created around a central theme.

Prerequisite: Visual Art II or Photography II. Students may also enter the course after having taken at least two of the Visual Art I courses.

First and/or second semester

This class introduces layout, design and photography. Students acquire advanced skills in appropriate computer applications to create and publish the school’s yearbook. Students are required to photograph events outside of class time. Students are encouraged to take the course for the full year. Students may take the course more than once and advance to more responsible positions on the yearbook staff each year.

First intensive

Marimba Band provides students with a deep-dive marimba ensemble experience. During the course, students learn to play the instrument and explore how to be a contributing member of a music ensemble. Along with daily practice sessions, students learn about building, tuning and maintaining the instruments, as well as their development, cultural history and deep connections to the Pacific Northwest. Students also use the experience of learning marimba to examine their own culture and musical heritage. When feasible, this course includes a local, overnight excursion in collaboration with the Global Link program.

Second intensive

For those about to rock…or pop, or hip-hop…this class is for you! In Modern Band, students learn and/or reinforce the concepts that make for a successful music group. We work on concepts such as communication, collaboration, commitment, compromise and develop each musicians’ individual potential for growth as we work toward group goals. All modern ensemble genres are on the table: rock, pop, R&B, soul, punk, hip-hop, electronic, etc. All instruments are welcome, with an emphasis on standard rock instrumentation: guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, vocals, with accompaniment from horns, percussion, strings, and more.

First intensive
May be taken for fine arts or history credit

Students dive deeply into different topics and methods that have defined art movements over the ages.  Through field trips, studio visits, and in-class presentations, students explore a variety of media and methods that they then employ in hands-on projects.  Classical and contemporary art in the Western tradition--as well as the multitude of cultures that helped shape Western art--provide students with a window on not just historical context, but also on how and why the art was made, allowing them to hone their skills in visual literacy (their ability to “read” images).  By the end of the course, students complete several sketches, drawings, paintings, and other projects that reflect and allude to the movements studied in class.  Activities may include master copies, still life, collage, abstract painting, and others.

First intensive

Students take a deep dive into the world of film and darkroom photography as an extension of their photographic toolkit. Students learn how to load a film camera, shoot their photos with proper exposure, develop film, and print a high quality photo in the darkroom. The class takes field trips to shoot photos in diverse locations around the Seattle area. For their final project, students choose a theme or topic and print a five to 10-image portfolio complete with an artist statement to present to the class.

First intensive

Students learn the basics of film production from idea generation to final edits.  The course integrates the creative and practical forms of visual communication through experimental, dramatic, and documentary filmmaking. Technical skills with an emphasis on scripting, storyboarding, and digital editing enable students to conceptualize ideas and explore image, motion, sound, and time. Student voice and creative expression are strongly encouraged.  

Second intensive

Students hone their photography skills by focusing on photographing landscapes. Students are introduced to the basics of DSLR photography, photographic composition, and photo editing. This course will focus on traveling around the state and pacific Northwest to explore an array of urban and natural settings to learn how to photograph the landscapes that we see on a day-to-day basis in a creative and exciting manner. 

First intensive

Painting is an artistic discipline that asks the artist for time, focus, and a love of exploring possibilities. This course is designed for beginners as well as those who have experience in the practice. Through a variety of challenges, students explore brushwork, color mixing, tonal variations, texture, and paint additives. Activities may include still life, portraiture, abstraction, landscape, and student-directed work. The class also visits local museums and artist studios, watches short films, and explores the work of exemplar artists for creative inspiration.
This course may be combined with Visual Art I, II, or III to create a full-year sequence.

Second intensive
This course may satisfy the LaunchPad requirement.

This course is designed to teach students the skills necessary for telling journalistic stories using video and audio. Students will scour the Seattle area for stories about events, people, and issues of interest to the University Prep community. In addition to shooting and reporting their stories, students will anchor and produce a newscast to showcase their work. Completed videos will also be posted online.

Second intensive

Students develop creative thinking and art-making skills through immersion into the creative process. To encourage risk-taking and exploration of topics in a deeper dive, students visit artist studios, performance venues, and creative spaces to understand how various professionals embody and explore the creative process and view the production of art as a journey. Students explore creative process through exercises in writing, poetry, dance, improvisation, photography, and visual art. Students practice sharing their work with others and develop skills in responding critically to the work of their peers. During the intensive, students keep an online journal to share their understanding, reflect on lessons, and document their projects and thinking. The course is meant for students to show progress in the development of work rather than focus on a completed final product. The course culminates in a showcase in which students will share their perspectives on the creative process and a selection of their works in progress.