Fine Arts

The Arts Department at UPrep was the catalyst for some of my most profound personal growth. The teachers created a space that allowed me to step back, explore my options, and reflect on my experiences, and also inspired me to challenge the status quo.” UPrep alumna

The UPrep Fine Arts department fosters an environment that encourages students to think, learn, and create while challenging them to work toward excellence and self-understanding. We promote: the development, expression, and evaluation of ideas and processes; the ability to produce, read, and interpret dramatic, musical and visual symbols; and the assimilation of information needed to recognize and understand the artistic achievements of various societies.

Fine Arts at UPrep

Learn more about our Fine Arts program:

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Semester Classes

Dance

First semester

This class gives students a language in movement and increases their knowledge of the basic elements of dance. Styles may include modern dance, basic ballet, break dancing, hip-hop, and improvisation. Class assignments involve concepts for creative expression, movement ideas, choreography, and development of a personal aesthetic. Watching videos and attending professional performances helps students develop observational skills and exposes students to the broad spectrum of dance as a cultural medium. Dance can be taken for either Fine Arts or PE credit. Students must notify the registrar of what type of credit they choose before class begins; credit selection cannot be changed after the add/ drop period ends.

Drama

Film Studies

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.

Play Production - Dramatic Play

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.

Play Production - Musical

First semester

Stagecraft - Dramatic Play

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.

Stagecraft - Musical

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.

Music

Orchestra & Band II

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.

Chamber Orchestra

Seventh – twelfth grades
Full year

Chamber Orchestra is open to all orchestral instruments. We play a wide range of repertoire, from the large orchestral works of Mozart and Stravinsky to the small chamber works of Reicha, Schubert and Shostakovitch, to popular film scores and contemporary pop and rock tunes. It is not uncommon for us to compose or arrange pieces for performance as we sharpen music theory skills. Whenever possible we engage in student-led rehearsal and performance to encourage dialogue, increase our reliance on one another and promote our general musicianship.

Each year, students attend the Regional Solo and Ensemble competition and perform at either the Western Washington University Orchestra Festival in Bellingham, Central Washington Orchestra Festival in Ellensburg or the Northwest Orchestra Festival in Gresham, Oregon. Because of the performance exposure, students are expected to commit to individual preparation and to the full-year enrollment requirement for the course. If you are new to the school or have not taken Orchestra and Band 2, please contact Mr. Lewis for a consultation before enrolling.

Rehearsal and performance requirements: Two to three evening concerts and open houses, as well as weekend performance trips.

Intermediate Jazz Ensemble

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.

Advanced Jazz Ensemble

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.

Vocal Music

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.

Visual Arts

Graphic Design

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.

Photography I

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.

Photography II

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.

Visual Art I: Craft

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!

Visual Art I: Drawing & Painting

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.

Visual Art I: Mixed Media

First semester

The term "mixed media" is commonly used to define works of art that combine media such as photography, printmaking, painting, drawing, collage, and sculpture. Students will have an opportunity to express themselves by assembling unique materials into collage and other two- and three-dimensional projects. This class will emphasize creative processes and experimentation as means of creating visual work.

Visual Art I: Sculpture

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.

Visual Art II: Advanced Studio

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

Visual Art III/IV: Advanced Studio

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.

Yearbook

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.

Intensive Classes

Learn more about our intensives program.

Dance

Choreography
7th - 12th grades
First intensive

Students dive into the art of choreography and the experience of building and performing dances. Students explore a variety of choreographic exercises, improvisational scores and creative work in the studio to build their understanding of composition and the creative process. During visits with professional dancers and choreographers, field trips to see professional performance and through in-class assignments and presentations of their own work, students deepen their understanding of dance and choreography. A variety of documentaries highlight current choreographers and their work. In-class lessons approach dance making from a variety of methods. During the course, students create their own choreography, set their movement on peers, dance in the work of their classmates and experience having choreography set on them by others, including professional artists. To culminate the class, students perform a selection of dances in a showcase, sharing their creative work in a final performance for the UPrep community.

Drama

Winter Stock: One Play, Three Weeks
8th - 12th grades
First intensive

The goal and focus of Winter Stock is to enhance theatre students’ ability to think creatively and engage multiple levels of learning through an all-inclusive theatrical experience. Like young summer stock actors and theatre techs, our students develop an understanding of the artistic process and build a working, unified company while creating a fully produced play in a short period of time. Students gain an understanding of their own learning process as they integrate elements of play making: sound, lighting, set design, set construction, acting, and performance.

Music

From Songwriting to Production

First intensive

This course is designed for both experienced and beginning singer/songwriters interested in engaging in composition and the studio recording process. (Those interested in creating beats, please consider the Electronic Music course offering in the Spring Intensive period.) We begin our journey in UPrep’s own Dragonfly Recording Studio where we learn to create basic progressions, work on lyrics and record simple piano/vocal tracks known as “scratch vocals.” In the second week, students participate in three roles: artist, recording engineer and producer. During this time, our vocal coach and producer helps students expand the performance of your own song during studio sessions at Dragonfly and local professional studios. The final phase of the work involves editing, mixing and mastering the song using Pro Tools software. Topics include running live sound, recording techniques, audio editing as well as basic music theory principles for songwriting and composition. No previous musical experience is required.

Electronic Music

Second intensive
This course may satisfy the LaunchPad requirement.

Learn about EM and write your own musical creation in an exciting blend of composition and studio tech! In the first week, students learn the basics of beat creation in UPrep’s Dragonfly Recording Studio with local EM artists. In week two, students visit two local studios where our producer and vocal coach will help you take your song to the next level. Week three post-production work (arranging, editing, mixing and mastering) will exhaust your creative and technical powers in a race to complete your music in time for the Intensives presentation day. Don’t miss this opportunity to write, produce and perform! No musical or production experience needed..

Marimba Band: Music and Culture

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.

Visual Arts

Art History and Studio Practice

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.

Art Lab

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.

Capturing Landscapes

Second intensive

Students hone their photography skills by focusing on photographing landscapes. Students use black and white film as well as DSLR cameras to photograph the landscape in Washington State. The course includes travel around the state and exploration of 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. Students also explore the environmental and urban changes that have occurred in western Washington by analyzing the photographs of Seattle from the past and the photographs they produce.

Ceramic Arts

Second intensive

Ceramics is a very tactile, hands-on course, in which students will be working with clay and glazes. Students use basic hand-building techniques to create sculptural and functional works of pottery. Students also learn alternative firing methods such as sawdust firing, charcoal grills, and sagger firing, as well as help build the kilns needed to complete these firings. Topics include the origins of ancient firing and building methods used by European, Asian, Native American and other indigenous cultures. Students will also examine how contemporary artists incorporate such methods in their art. Be ready to get a little dirty, experiment, and be creative.

Filmmaking in Seattle

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.

Painting

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.

Turning Pages: Book Arts

Eighth - twelfth grades
First intensive

Students are both producers and presenters of information in this hands-on course. With a focus on creating a portfolio of book structures, students learn the basic elements of bookbinding by creating models that build progressively. They learn about multicultural history, construction, materials, tools, skills, inspiration, and decoration as well as contemporary trends in book arts. This immersive class, covering the fundamentals of paper, adhesives, and technique, is a perfect introduction to book arts representing multiple cultures and time periods.

Video Journalism

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.

Multidisciplinary

Student-Produced Works
Tenth – twelfth grades
First or second intensive
This course may satisfy the LaunchPad requirement.

Advanced students work on a self-directed project within any of the fine arts disciplines. Early in the term, students discuss and share sources of inspiration and collaborate on a small project. At the same time, students write and submit a proposal for their independent project. Daily work on projects alternates with regular check-ins to show progress and receive feedback from classmates and the instructor. This class is performance centered; public performances or exhibits of the student-produced projects are required and are supported by an artist statement that describes both the inspiration for and the process of creating the piece. The seminar concludes with an in-depth evaluation by both the teacher and the student artist.

To satisfy the LaunchPad requirement, the senior develops a relationship with an off-campus mentor and shares their work with that person for feedback and guidance.