Institute Curriculum

This course investigates where art and faith intersect. Students delve into the ethics and storytelling of Jesus, and develop a rubric for what is good, true and beautiful. This course also expose students to disciplines of art in which they do not work, and includes elements of an arts appreciation class. The focal point of this course is the development and creation of a “Personal Philosophy of Artistic Expression.”

(Semester)

Students in this course learn the basics of space work, scene development, and character creation. They “get on their feet” with short-form and long-form improv. Students work to find their unique comedic voice.

This course is open to all students interested in the enriching lessons of the theatre, including skills that enhance self -confidence, creative thinking and all of theatre’s real-world insights and applications. Students are introduced to the terms, theories, and skills that act as a foundation for performances and theatrical productions. The course cultivates empathy, strengthens communication, and enriches collaboration skills: significant skills commonly sought after in both university and business settings. Major emphasis is on authentic communication developed through improvisation and effective story telling.

Prerequisite: all students must be approved by teacher based on experience.

A small group of hunter-gatherers huddle around a fire as the chief jumps on a large rock, draped in animal skins for emphasis, they reenact the hunt. Let’s see… there’s lighting, a stage, an audience, an actor and costumes; that’s theatre! But how did we get from Ugg’s New Coat to Shrek the Musical? This course explores and learns from the diverse performance styles of the late and recent past. Topics include stage-combat, Shakespeare, clowning, and advance theatre movement. Major emphasis is on expanding physical awareness, magnifying inner-life, and enhancing performance technique. 

Prerequisite: all students must be approved by teacher based on experience.

In Advanced Performance Technique students deepen their approach for script analysis and scene study. Students establish strategies for building characters, for driving a scene and for honoring the playwright’s intent. The major emphasis of this course is on attaining truthful and compelling behavior in performances. 

Prerequisite: Acting for the Camera I.

Produced in association with the film program, students in this course will be involved as actors and collaborators in student-created filmed content. Examples of past projects are student produced films and a 6-episode web series. In addition, students continue to deepen their scene study work in the classroom and be inspired by master classes with industry professionals when not on set.

This digital video course provides students with a basic understanding of the technology and techniques used in film and explores ways in which it is created to achieve its desired effect on an audience. Learning the foundational principles of the production process, students go from script to screen on a variety of short films. Upon completion, students will demonstrate production skills and techniques, both in front of and behind the camera. Areas covered include script writing and storytelling, composition and movement, audio, lighting, and more.

How has history impacted film? How has film impacted history? Events in history have paved the way on numerous occasions for the film industry to become what we know and love today. History has provided some of the most riveting stories in cinematic history. Likewise, film has become a crucial medium to teach people about history. This course studies the impact of film on society decade by decade since its creation, and various historical events around the world through films. The course culminates in a research project on a historical topic of the student’s choice that relates to the timeless power of stories in light of the following quote: “Stories create community, enable us to see through the eyes of other people, and open us to the claims of others.” - Peter Forbes.

The arts business (music industry, television, film and art) worlds have undergone extreme changes over the past few years, many of which have opened the doors for developing and growth of independent artists, bands and actors. This class will explore new trends in business for the arts as well as help develop entrepreneurial ideas that will help students create unique ways to grow their business of art. The class will explore: contracts, management, endorsements, tour management, installation management, agents, splits, copyright, licensing, independent artists and gallery installations. This course is designed for any artist who wants to turn their art into a business and will explore many aspects of starting, building and growing their art business.  

Keeping up with the latest ways to market and brand one's art is a full time job. This class will focus on developing a student's personal brand including elements that make them unique as well as how to market themselves in our culture and the digital marketplace. We will explore: brand development, social media presence, A&R, marketing, PR, marketing, promotions (radio, print, TV, digital), digital marketing and media buying, stream strategy, creative services and design, and brand partnerships. With more and more artists in the market, this class is designed to give students a head start into the world of marketing.

This course investigates where art and faith intersect. Students delve into the ethics and storytelling of Jesus, and develop a rubric for what is good, true and beautiful. This course also expose students to disciplines of art in which they do not work, and includes elements of an arts appreciation class. The focal point of this course is the development and creation of a “Personal Philosophy of Artistic Expression.”

In this course the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) format of Apple’s Logic Pro X is taught. Students gain a basic knowledge on Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and audio recording, as well as editing recorded tracks and regions. An overview of basic functions of Logic Pro X is presented so that at the end of the course, students can record their own musical projects and convert to mp3 format.

Prerequisite: Dance IV and/or prior dance training; placement audition required.

This course is designed for students who are advanced dancers. Students’ minds and bodies are challenged and expanded by focusing on performance. Students develop and expand their pre-existing dance vocabulary and skills; concentration is placed on style, storytelling through their movement, and performance. Students continue to develop their creative abilities through more advanced improvisation, choreography, and performance which include advanced levels of ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. 

Prerequisite: Prior dance training; placement audition required.

This course is designed for advanced and pre-professional dancers. It has a focus on well developed technique, picking up advanced choreography, and stylized movement. Students are challenged by having many performance opportunities in multiple performance spaces. Students continue to develop their creative abilities through more advanced improvisation, choreography, and performance which include advanced levels of ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tap.

Sports Medicine

This course is an introduction for students to the anatomy and physiology of the human body and how it relates to athletes and sports medicine. The course covers introductory topics regarding specific systems of human anatomy and progresses to correlation of treatment from general first aid to advanced treatment protocols for common athletic injuries. The hands-on lab work spans from dissection to physiology-based labs to medical evaluation and treatment protocols. At the end of the course, students should have a basic knowledge of the human body and treatments particular to athletes’ sport Injuries. Students who are seeking to pursue a career in sports or fitness will find this course challenging and rewarding.

Anatomy and Physiology

This course is an advanced biology course, designed for the student interested in the structure and function of the human body, and for students who are interested in biological or medical careers. Structure is addressed in the anatomy portion of the class and function in the physiology portion; both subjects will be presented concurrently. The classroom component consists of lectures, videos, and typical classroom activity. The laboratory component will occur both in the lab and outdoors. Experiments will consist of dissections, wetlabs, and computer-simulated labs. More emphasis is directed towards anatomy as opposed to physiology.

Students in this course learn the basics of space work, scene development, and character creation. They “get on their feet” with short-form and long-form improv. Students work to find their unique comedic voice.

The arts business (music industry, television, film and art) worlds have undergone extreme changes over the past few years, many of which have opened the doors for the development and growth of independent artists, bands and actors. This class will explore new trends in business for the arts as well as help develop entrepreneurial ideas that will help students create unique ways to grow their business of art. The class will explore contracts, management, endorsements, tour management, installation management, agents, splits, copyright, licensing, independent artists and gallery installations. This course is designed for any artist who wants to turn their art into a business and will explore many aspects of starting, building and growing their art business.  

Keeping up with the latest ways to market and brand one's art is a full-time job. This class will focus on developing a student's personal brand including elements that make them unique as well as how to market themselves in our culture and the digital marketplace. We will explore brand development, social media presence, A&R, marketing, PR, marketing, promotions (radio, print, TV, digital), digital marketing and media buying, stream strategy, creative services and design, and brand partnerships. With more and more artists in the market, this class is designed to give students a head start in the world of marketing.

Students will present a capstone in their senior year, showcasing and culminating their body or work in their chosen pathway.

This course investigates where art and faith intersect. Students delve into the ethics and storytelling of Jesus, and develop a rubric for what is good, true and beautiful. This course also expose students to disciplines of art in which they do not work, and includes elements of an arts appreciation class. The focal point of this course is the development and creation of a “Personal Philosophy of Artistic Expression.”

(Semester)

This course is designed to develop musical skills that will lead to a thorough understanding of music composition and music theory. The emphasis is on the rules of theory and composition, ear training, sight singing, score analysis, and contemporary chord theory. Offered in a semester format, students learn music theory on a deeper level in a very quick paced setting.

Prerequisite: Beginning Guitar.

Students will build on the basic concepts learned in Beginning Guitar. More advanced chords are taught including bar chords, as well as alternative chord voicings in various fret positions. More advanced melodic playing and note reading are expanded upon. Advanced theory and performance practice is emphasized. Students also research habits of discipline and career paths associated with the guitar and the way guitar can be used alongside other artistic fields and media. 

Prerequisite: Intermediate Guitar.

In this course, students further build on the concepts learned in Intermediate Guitar. Advanced chords are taught including bar chords, as well as alternative chord voicings in various fret positions. Students explore intricate rhythms and mixed meters. Advanced melodic playing and note reading are further expanded upon. Advanced theory and performance practice are emphasized. Students research habits of discipline and career paths associated with the guitar and the way guitar can be used alongside other artistic fields and media. Career paths and potential college audition aspects are discussed. 

In this course the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) format of Apple’s Logic Pro X is taught. Students gain a basic knowledge on Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and audio recording, as well as editing recorded tracks and regions. An overview of basic functions of Logic Pro X is presented so that at the end of the course, students can record their own musical projects and convert to mp3 format.

The arts business (music industry, television, film and art) worlds have undergone extreme changes over the past few years, many of which have opened the doors for developing and growth of independent artists, bands and actors. This class will explore new trends in business for the arts as well as help develop entrepreneurial ideas that will help students create unique ways to grow their business of art. The class will explore: contracts, management, endorsements, tour management, installation management, agents, splits, copyright, licensing, independent artists and gallery installations. This course is designed for any artist who wants to turn their art into a business and will explore many aspects of starting, building and growing their art business.  

Keeping up with the latest ways to market and brand one's art is a full time job. This class will focus on developing a student's personal brand including elements that make them unique as well as how to market themselves in our culture and the digital marketplace. We will explore: brand development, social media presence, A&R, marketing, PR, marketing, promotions (radio, print, TV, digital), digital marketing and media buying, stream strategy, creative services and design, and brand partnerships. With more and more artists in the market, this class is designed to give students a head start into the world of marketing.

Students will present a capstone in their senior year, showcasing and culminating their body or work in their chosen pathway.

This course investigates where art and faith intersect. Students delve into the ethics and storytelling of Jesus, and develop a rubric for what is good, true and beautiful. This course also expose students to disciplines of art in which they do not work, and includes elements of an arts appreciation class. The focal point of this course is the development and creation of a “Personal Philosophy of Artistic Expression.”

(Semester)

This course is designed to develop musical skills that will lead to a thorough understanding of music composition and music theory. The emphasis is on the rules of theory and composition, ear training, sight singing, score analysis, and contemporary chord theory. Offered in a semester format, students learn music theory on a deeper level in a very quick paced setting.

In this course, students learn the basics of songwriting including what makes a good melody, form, beginning harmonic structures, rhythmic aspects, and lyric writing. Collaboration with other songwriters is an important element of this class. Production of songs is investigated, and early techniques is taught using the Digital Audio Workstation Logic Pro X to demonstrate songs written.

In this course the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) format of Apple’s Logic Pro X is taught. Students gain a basic knowledge on Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and audio recording, as well as editing recorded tracks and regions. An overview of basic functions of Logic Pro X is presented so that at the end of the course, students can record their own musical projects and convert to mp3 format.

Students in this course will develop functional keyboard skills that will provide self-expression and personal growth through participation in music. The course will expose students to basic piano techniques, theory, scales, chords, and repertoire as well as encompass the skills of early sight-reading and beginning improvisation. The discipline of consistent practice in conjunction with graded early-adult piano methods will aid the student in successfully comprehending the fundamentals of music reading as well as executing elementary piano repertoire. Additionally, students will be exposed to a variety of styles and composers, as well as music from the various periods of music, increasing their knowledge and appreciation of various genres.

Keeping up with the latest ways to market and brand one's art is a full time job. This class will focus on developing a student's personal brand including elements that make them unique as well as how to market themselves in our culture and the digital marketplace. We will explore: brand development, social media presence, A&R, marketing, PR, marketing, promotions (radio, print, TV, digital), digital marketing and media buying, stream strategy, creative services and design, and brand partnerships. With more and more artists in the market, this class is designed to give students a head start into the world of marketing.

Students will present a capstone in their senior year, showcasing and culminating their body or work in their chosen pathway.

This course investigates where art and faith intersect. Students delve into the ethics and storytelling of Jesus, and develop a rubric for what is good, true and beautiful. This course also expose students to disciplines of art in which they do not work, and includes elements of an arts appreciation class. The focal point of this course is the development and creation of a “Personal Philosophy of Artistic Expression.”

(Semester)

This course is designed to develop musical skills that will lead to a thorough understanding of music composition and music theory. The emphasis is on the rules of theory and composition, ear training, sight singing, score analysis, and contemporary chord theory. Offered in a semester format, students learn music theory on a deeper level in a very quick paced setting.

In this course the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) format of Apple’s Logic Pro X is taught. Students gain a basic knowledge on Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and audio recording, as well as editing recorded tracks and regions. An overview of basic functions of Logic Pro X is presented so that at the end of the course, students can record their own musical projects and convert to mp3 format.

The arts business (music industry, television, film and art) worlds have undergone extreme changes over the past few years, many of which have opened the doors for developing and growth of independent artists, bands and actors. This class will explore new trends in business for the arts as well as help develop entrepreneurial ideas that will help students create unique ways to grow their business of art. The class will explore: contracts, management, endorsements, tour management, installation management, agents, splits, copyright, licensing, independent artists and gallery installations. This course is designed for any artist who wants to turn their art into a business and will explore many aspects of starting, building and growing their art business.  

Keeping up with the latest ways to market and brand one's art is a full time job. This class will focus on developing a student's personal brand including elements that make them unique as well as how to market themselves in our culture and the digital marketplace. We will explore: brand development, social media presence, A&R, marketing, PR, marketing, promotions (radio, print, TV, digital), digital marketing and media buying, stream strategy, creative services and design, and brand partnerships. With more and more artists in the market, this class is designed to give students a head start into the world of marketing.

Students will present a capstone in their senior year, showcasing and culminating their body or work in their chosen pathway.