| Department Supervisor Taryn Benacquista |
| Fine Arts Instructors Amy Fairweather - MaryRose Silvestri - Caitlin Lang |
| Music Instructors Christine Molnar - John Zatorski |
| The Art Curriculum provides students with the opportunity to select from one of four types of programs: Visual Arts, Pottery & Crafts, Graphic Design and Photography. |
| The Visual Arts program is designed for students who are primarily interested in classes that focus mainly in the area of painting and drawing. These courses attempt to develop the student's skills in visual observation, creativity and techniques associated with materials in related media. |
| The Pottery & Crafts program provides opportunities for students to explore a variety of traditional craft media that lend themselves to the construction of both functional and decorative objects. A more detailed description of each course can be found on this page. |
| The Graphics program utilizes the same opportunities for students, but expands the traditional horizons to incorporate the media of computers on a Macintosh platform. |
| The Photography program gives students an in-depth experience of all aspects of picture taking and film processing. |
| VISUAL ARTS I |
| Grades: 9-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: none |
| Visual Arts I hopes to discover the creative potential of the artist in the high school student by exposing him/her to a wide variety of tools, techniques and media. In addition, students will receive training in the application of the principles and elements of design; exposure to the different types of artistic expression evident in various cultures and periods of art; as well as insights and experiences in various related careers. Homework and research assignments will be considered an integral part of the visual arts program. The primary emphasis of this course will be placed on the painting and drawing media. |
| POTTERY & CRAFTS I |
| Grades: 10-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: none |
| Pottery and Crafts I offers students of varying abilities exposure and instruction in various traditional and progressive pottery & craft skills and techniques that will be used to construct both Unitarian and decorative objects. The intended outcome of this course is to develop a greater appreciation for art; to provide experiences and knowledge that can be incorporated into everyday life as a form of recreation; a means to achieve financial gain; as a release for artistic expression; and to receive training in the fundamentals and applications of the elements and principles of design. This course will provide students with an opportunity to work with a variety of traditional craft materials including clay, stained glass, and others as they become available. |
| BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY |
| Grades 9-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: None |
| Black and White Photography allows students the opportunity to develop a working knowledge of the camera and its contributions to the aesthetic and practical world. Students will receive exposure and instruction on the history of photography, film development, photograph development, composition, careers, darkroom usage, equipment, and the elements and principles of art. Students are expected to work independently in the studio space and create personal, original artworks with influences from historical precursors and outside media. Drawing will be an integral part of the learning processes. A primary emphasis will be placed on in-class projects and quizzes. |
| VISUAL ARTS II |
| Grades: 10-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Visual Arts I |
| Visual Arts II hopes to develop the creative potential discovered in the Visual Arts I student by introducing new materials and teaching them to use old materials in new ways to develop a personal style. Students will continue to receive training in the use of the principles and elements of design, exposure to artistic expression in various periods of art and insights into art related careers. Students will be encouraged to give serious thought to their future as an artist and they will be encouraged to prepare accordingly. Painting and drawing will continue to be the major emphasis of this program. Students will begin to prepare an art portfolio. |
| POTTERY & CRAFTS II |
| Grades: 11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Pottery and Crafts I |
| Pottery and Crafts II is intended to offer students exposure and instruction in various traditional and progressive pottery & crafts skills, and techniques, which will be used to construct both utilitarian and decorative objects. The intended outcome of this course is to have the students build on the skills and techniques learned previously to produce projects that show advanced ability and a more complete understanding of the materials being used. Greater emphasis will be placed on the student's ability to develop original and creative solutions to a variety of problems. In this course, students will have the opportunity to produce both decorative and functional objects on an advanced level and in a variety of traditional craft media, which may include such materials as clay, metalwork, stained glass, wood burning and carving, basketry, textiles, and papermaking. A great emphasis will be placed on creating art works for the development of a three dimensional portfolio. |
| GRAPHICS I |
| Grades: 10-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Visual Arts I |
| Graphics I exposes students to the elements and principles of design from hands-on traditional production methods to computer-assisted design. Students will receive training on the use of a variety of design software to create original art and graphic design for both electronic and traditional print publication. Students will incorporate the use of hand drawn design and see it through the processes of electronic development. The primary emphasis of this course will be placed on the development of designs and their preparation for production. |
| GRAPHICS II |
| Grades: 11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Graphics I |
| Graphics II is an opportunity for students to expand on the skills and techniques learned in Graphics I. This is a preparation course for the student who has acquired an interest in computer graphics careers such as, computer animation, web design, art education, graphic design and art direction. Students will be required to create original artworks that will be used in building a portfolio, both digital and traditional, for continuing education in computer graphics and studio arts. |
| POTTERY & CRAFTS STUDIO H |
| Grades: 12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Pottery & Crafts II |
| Pottery and Crafts Studio honors is for the highly motivated student, who has acquired a sense of purpose and style and is interested in the serious study of ceramics and crafts to develop a 3-dimentional portfolio through independent study. The training resulting from independent study will help the student to bridge high school and career or high school and further study. Students will be expected to apply the skills and concepts previously learned to the production of new and original artwork. In addition to this, they will receive instruction and guidance in the development of educational and vocational goals; the development of a three-dimensional portfolio; the preparation of a senior show; and the study and incorporation of various historically significant artistic movements. |
| STUDIO ART I & II Honors |
| Grades: 11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Visual Arts II for Studio Art I; Studio Art I for Studio Art II |
| Studio Art I is for the highly motivated student, who has mastered the fundamentals of handling materials, acquired a sense of purpose and style and is interested in the serious study of art in an intense studio environment. The purpose of this course is to help these students build avenues of satisfying self-expression by following a program in which self-discipline; goal setting, critical thinking and concentration are demanded. Students will be expected to work in areas that are generally familiar to them. They will be expected to apply the skills and concepts previously learned to the production of new and original work. In addition to this, they will receive instruction and guidance in the development of an art portfolio; the preparation of a senior show; and the study and incorporation of various historically significant artistic movements. Studio Art II honors is also for the highly motivated student, who has acquired a sense of purpose and style and is interested in the serious study of art to develop a fine art portfolio through independent study. The training resulting from independent study will help the student to bridge high school and career or high school and further study. Students will be expected to apply the skills and concepts previously learned to the production of new and original artwork. In addition to this, they will receive instruction and guidance in the development of educational and vocational goals; the development of a Fine Arts portfolio; the preparation of a senior show; and the study and incorporation of various historically significant artistic movements. |
| Instructor Biographies: |
| Amy Fairweather |
| Teaching at Wallkill since 1999 BA in Art Education - William Paterson University Previously taught at the Visual Arts High School in Jersey City for 7 years. Wallkill Valley alumnae from the class of 1988 Art Club Advisor National Art Honor Society Advisor Teaching 2012-2013: Pottery I, Pottery II, Pottery Studio, Studio Arts I&II |
| MaryRose Silvestri |
| Teaching at Wallkill since 2007 Yearbook Advisor BFA with Concentration in painting and education- William Paterson University Studied jewelry design in Florence, Italy summer 06' Taught at Mt. Lakes H.S. Teaching 2012-2013: Pottery I, Visual Art I, Black & White Photography |
| Caitlin Lang |
| Music |
| The overall music program of the Wallkill Valley Regional High School District provides students with the opportunity to gain an appreciation of their musical heritage and to develop a sense of aesthetic awareness through goals that were developed by the New Jersey Music Educators Association. These goals encourage students to: * Acquire the skills necessary to solve a musical problem or task effectively. |
| * Acquire an awareness of our musical heritage and an understanding of the role of the arts in history. |
| * Respond to music intellectually in order to develop critical aesthetic, judgment. |
| * Acquire the skills necessary for continuing musical education or employment. |
| * Acquire the ability and the desire to express himself/herself creatively in music and to appreciate the aesthetic expression of other people. |
| BEGINNING BAND |
| Grades: 9-10-11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: None |
| Beginning band is for the student who has never played in a school band before or has played at one time and quit, but would like to play again. Students will learn to read music, learn fingerings, embouchure, breath control, dynamics, articulations, good intonation and interpretation of musical terminology thru semi-private lessons, and performing in an assembly setting. Students may rent an instrument through a lease-purchase plan if they do not own an instrument. Students will have an opportunity to perform in concerts and small ensembles through out the school year. |
| BAND |
| Grades: 9-10-11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Played in a school band before |
| Band is designed to develop skills of instrumental music performance, knowledge and appreciation. The Concert Band repertoire is varied. Standard literature, as well as more popular music will be studied and performed. Emphasized will be good tone production, breath control, support, intonation, dynamics, articulation, rhythmic facility, technical facility, phrasing, balance, knowledge of terminology, general musicianship and sight reading. Included are period long semi-private instrumental lessons scheduled on a rotating basis. Students in this course are expected to perform in several concerts throughout the year and are eligible to play in various small ensembles. |
| BEGINNING CONCERT CHOIR |
| Grades 9-10-11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: none |
| Beginning Concert Choir class would be geared toward beginners who are still learning to sight-read and blend in a choral rehearsal They will spend a lot of time developing musicianship skills, basic music theory, music history, and vocal production. This is a non-auditioned class, which studies various types of literature and performs at all of our major concerts throughout the year. |
| ADVANCED SELECT CHOIR |
| Grades 9-10-11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation Only/Audition |
| Advanced Select Choir's enrollment is by audition and/or recommendation by the teacher. These extremely talented young men and women will go through a critical audition process to make it into this ensemble. Students will be required to put in many hours of rehearsal both in and out of class. Students are expected to have mastered all basics of vocal production. Concentration will be placed on preparing music majors for auditions, conducting, playing piano, listening skills, sight-reading, repertoires, vocabulary, creative exercises and assessment strategies all at an advanced level. |
| MUSIC THEORY |
| Grades: 10-11-12 5.0 Credits Full Year Prerequisite: Band or Choir |
| This course is designed for the student interested in gaining an understanding of the concepts necessary to read and write music. Emphasis will be placed on note names and note values; rhythms; chord structures and progressions; musical intervals and ear training and basic keyboarding skills. Students will listen to and analyze the music of others, as well as create and perform their own compositions. |
| Instructor Biographies: |
| Christine Molnar |
| John Zatorski |