Electives/Arts

There is a general misrepresentation of art as something that must be serious, beautiful, and/or miraculous in its execution. Contemporary artists all over the world have worked to demystify those preconceptions by giving viewers permission to have fun. Art & Comedy is a class that examines how artists have utilized comedy and play as a way to embrace and expand their audience. In this course, we will explore what middle school students find funny and determine how we can integrate humor into our artwork. Students will learn about, discuss, and create responses to “bad paintings,” performance art, memes, video art, stand-up, and sketch comedy. Throughout this process, we will question how comedy functions as a mode of communication and the role art plays in society.

Have you ever wanted to learn an instrument? Have you struggled to read music? Would you like to learn a second instrument? Then this is the class for you!

It’s time to explore personal expression through the versatile, and oh-so-messy, medium of clay using the pottery wheel and other hand-building techniques. Students will explore all of the wonderful elements of sculpture (form, structure, negative space, balance, symmetry) as they grapple with the technical and conceptual issues related to sculpture and the creation of a vessel. Students will learn how throwing becomes a tool to achieve their desired sculptural object when in combination with other ceramic techniques including coiling, hand building, sculpture, as well as surface enrichment and glazing methods. The material of clay will be explored as a material in context with chemistry, surfaces, physics, geology, design, archeology, contemporary art history, drawing, sculpture and painting. Students will participate in group critiques and reflection to develop their own critical tools, vocabulary and individual voice. Central to the work are class discussions, one-on-one instruction, collaborative explorations, self-directed projects, and “quick and dirty” challenges to keep the energy alive and flowing. 

In this introductory-level elective, students will explore the creative side of coding and discover how they can use programming to create drawings, animations, games, websites and even build virtual worlds. Utilizing a variety of software and hardware, students of all skill levels will learn how to combine their imagination and coding skills to create a range of exciting and fun projects, including generating art with code, programming robots to draw, building interactive games, and creating 3D environments that can be explored in virtual reality. Students will gain experience with Python, Java, Arduino, HTML/CSS/JavaScript, the Unreal 4 Engine, and utilize HTC Vive and Oculus Quest VR headsets.

Do you want to learn the tricks and skills to program presets and curate the perfect Instagram feed? In this class, students learn the basics of how to control a camera in manual mode in order to create motion and capture a story through photos and videos. We will dive into understanding how the lens and digital processors perceive light and how to manipulate them. We will also dive into post-processing. This will entail learning how to edit in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to bring images to life and portray a creative story and using Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5. Students will also learn how to use simple HTML/CSS to display their works on a structured and presentable portfolio website.

This high energy course will introduce and develop the skills needed to play basic rock, jazz and funk drumset patterns. The techniques and styles learned will be applied to drumline patterns and grooves. World drumming influences and patterns will also be explored and experienced. Much of the class will involve both applications at the same time with lots of playing. Prior percussion experience is recommended but not required. Students will learn the various patterns by listening as well as reading.

A journey from cell to medicine. Have you ever wondered how to make medicine? In this hands-on educational experience, students learn how to make an anti-cancer medicine with the same techniques the biotech industry uses to make biological medicines. Students will learn how to use scientific tools and techniques such as pipetting, cell counting, aseptic techniques, pH and glucose measurement, buffer formulation and gel electrophoresis. Students will also learn about cutting-edge industry equipment used to make medicines. This course takes the theoretical and makes it practical. The medicine being made is currently being tested in human clinical trials for pediatric cancer. Learn about a teenage cancer patient and how she was saved by a biological medicine and the doctors on her team that saved her life. Students taking this class will have an understanding of how to make biological medicine and will be uniquely qualified for internships in the biotech and research industry.

Do you love to play instruments? This class is designed for students who already play an instrument and read music. The theme of the trimester will be Halloween music. Spooky, creepy, goofy, we will play it all. This class is highly adaptable to the students enrolled.

Intro to Innovation Technology will teach students how to use a variety of tools in the Innovation Lab. Students will learn how to use basic tools such as screwdrivers, allen keys and hand saws to machine tools such as a drill press, belt sander and a band saw (just to name a few). Students will also learn about basic electronics and how to properly solder. Through hands-on projects, students will then move onto more complex skills such as learning how to 3D model and then convert their models from CAD to the 3D printer and the laser cutter. Students will not only learn how to use and maintain all of the equipment in the lab but more importantly, how to use all of these tools safely. Students taking this class will be thoroughly prepared to move on to other Middle and Upper School Design and Innovation courses.

This elective is for anyone interested in creating a musical theater performance. Students will get the opportunity to immerse themselves in putting on a Musical Theater Revue. Performers will dive headlong into the world of musical theater, experiencing the workings of choosing a show to revue, vocal technique for musical theater, dance choreography, costumes, dress rehearsals, culminating in an exciting musical revue performance. Using solo songs, duets, choruses and full ensembles, students will experience what it is like to perform in a musical show.

Let’s put on a show! This elective is for anyone interested in creating performances, whether you like to be front and center or behind the scenes. This class is for actors, directors, playwrights, technicians, designers, sound effect artists, or anyone who wants to know more. During Play Production I and II, students will learn how to create live theater and work together as an ensemble of theater-makers. In Play Production III, students will gather everything they’ve learned and put together their own show for the LJCDS Community.

Are you interested in writing your own songs, melodies and beats? This elective works on writing and composing with Garageband or BandLab, as well as Hooktheory to allow the inner poet and songwriter to shine. Students will go as far as they want to go on their musical journey as these projects can be highly individualized for each students' needs and ability level. This class will be adapted to the musical needs of the students enrolled.