Fine Arts

Upper School
One 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, salsa, swing dance, and more. 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. 

Upper School
One 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. 

Upper School
One 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. 

Upper School
One semester

Working in conjunction with the Play Production class, Stagecraft students study the technical aspects of theatre, 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.

Upper School
One semester

Working in conjunction with the Play Production class, Stagecraft students study the technical aspects of theatre, 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. 

Upper School
One semester

Acting I is an introductory course designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of acting techniques, theory, and performance skills. This course aims to foster creativity, self-expression, and confidence in students through the exploration of various acting exercises, improvisation, scene work, and character development. Students will engage in a variety of activities, projects, and theatre games aimed at developing their acting abilities and understanding of the theatrical arts. This will be a great way to prepare for our Play Production classes.

7th–10th grades
Yearlong

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. 

Upper School
Yearlong

Chamber Orchestra is open to all orchestral instruments. We play a wide range of repertoire, from the large orchestral works of Mozart and Stravinsky and the small chamber works of Reicha, Schubert, and Shostakovich 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, the 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. Auditions are required for new enrollees. Rehearsal and performance requirements: two to three evening concerts and open houses, as well as weekend performance trips. 

7th–12th grades
Yearlong

Intermediate Jazz Ensemble is UPrep’s entry-level jazz instrumental group. 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 at least 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. Other instruments considered on a case-by-case basis. Performance requirements: two to three evening concerts and open houses, as well as weekend performance trips. 

7th–12th grades
Yearlong

This is UPrep’s advanced jazz instrumental performing group. We participate in three or four regional jazz festivals and perform twice a year at a Seattle-area jazz club. Because of our performance exposure, the commitment level and expectations for student preparedness are high. This class is open to students who play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drums, and guitar. Other instruments are considered on a case-by-case basis, but no one has ever been turned away! Auditions are required for new enrollees. Performance requirements: two to three evening concerts and open houses, as well as weekend performance trips.

Upper School
One semester

This class is for students who are interested in gaining experience in a vocal group 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. 

Upper School
One semester

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 saggar 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.

Upper School
One 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.

Upper School
One 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.

Upper School
One 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.

Upper School
One 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 of the course. Students develop an understanding of and appreciation for hand craftsmanship. 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, weaving, knitting, crochet, sewing, and lamping. Students use tools to create works of art, not potholders!

Upper School
One 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 into basic art practice. Basic art history and criticism are also part of the course.

Upper School
One 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 collages and other two- and three-dimensional projects. This class will emphasize creative processes and experimentation as means of creating visual work. Prerequisite: Visual Art I.

Upper School
One 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, but are not limited to, clay, paper construction, assemblage, wood working, casting and reduction sculptures. Prerequisite: Visual Art I.

Upper School
One semester

Visual Art II provides 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.

Upper School
One 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 a 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.

Upper School
One semester (or yearlong)

This course is designed to teach students the skills necessary to create UPrep’s yearbook, Showcase. Students are responsible for documenting the school year, with an emphasis on visual presentation. The course covers photography, layout/graphic design, and journalistic writing. Students gain experience with Adobe Creative Cloud. This class requires work outside of school hours. 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 staff each year.

Upper School
Yearlong

This course is designed to teach students the skills necessary to create UPrep’s upper school newspaper, The Puma Press, and maintain an online news presence, UPrepMedia.com. Students are responsible for photos, stories, design, and marketing. They write news stories, feature stories, and opinion pieces. The course covers journalistic writing, photography, layout/graphic design, online publishing resources, advertising sales, current events, and media literacy. Students gain experience with Adobe Creative Cloud software and WordPress. This class requires work outside of school hours. As students advance each year, they develop more journalism and leadership skills and fill more responsible positions on the newspaper staff. 

7th–12th grades

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, on 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 dancemaking 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. Students perform a selection of dances in a showcase, sharing their creative work in a final performance for the UPrep community. 

8th–12th grades

The goal and focus of Winter Stock is to enhance theatre students’ ability to think creatively and engage in 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 playmaking: sound, lighting, set design, set construction, acting, and performance.

Upper School

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.

Upper School

If you want to make music using your computer, this class is for you! We will learn about how songs are composed, structured, recorded, and produced. We will then use Ableton Live to create everything from beats to full-on symphonies—whatever you desire! Along the way we’ll listen to tons of great music, visit a professional recording studio, and welcome a variety of guest artists, such as musicians, DJs, engineers, producers, etc. This class is designed for both musicians and non-musicians and is a great choice whether you play an instrument or not. You gain the skills and knowledge to produce your own work now and for years to come.

Upper School

Students take a deep dive into the world of film and darkroom photography as an extension of their photographic tool kit. 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.

Upper School

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 exemplary artists for creative inspiration. This course may be combined with Visual Art I, II, or III to create a full year.

Upper School

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.

Upper School

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 UPrep 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.

Upper School

This introductory course in theatre aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental elements and techniques involved in theatrical performance and production. Through a combination of theoretical study and practical application, students will engage in hands-on activities designed to develop their skills and confidence in acting, stagecraft, script analysis, and theatrical history. By the end of the course, students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the basic principles of theatre, developed their creative and critical thinking skills, and cultivated a deeper appreciation for the art of dramatic expression. Participation in this class provides a solid foundation for students to enter our performance-based theater classes.