VAPA
Different Pathways offered are:
Band and Guard, Choir, Dance, Theater, and Visual Art
***Dance and Drama have a Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced pathway. The pathway may start at any grade level and students may be approved to advance prior to taking the first of the series. Teacher approval required to skip pathway levels.
Click on the course in which you are interested
- Art History
- Band and Guard
- Choir
- Dance
- Music
- Theater Arts
- Visual Art
- IB Arts Pathways
- String Orchestra
Art History
AP Art History (Online)
This course is combined with the Advanced Placement Studio Art Class and is designed for the student who is interested in continuing serious study of visual arts. Units are directed to portfolio preparation for the AP exam and college entrance. Individual styles and content will be encouraged through life drawing, painting, and printmaking.
AP Art History
The Advanced Placement offering in the history of art provides an introductory college course in the understanding and enjoyment of architecture, sculpture, and painting, as well as other art forms within historical and cultural contexts. Students will learn to look at art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to articulate what they see or experience. The course requires a high degree of commitment to academic work.
IB Art History SL
This class combines the Advanced Placement(AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses for Art History. The aim of the course is to introduce students to art making and expression and provide the necessary skills to analyze and evaluate works of art in their respective historical contexts. Art History is a subject that inherently requires students to synthesize information as the content always aims to place works of art in their respective historical periods and cultures, and proper understanding requires the study of a variety of contextual aspects, such as culture, religion, and artistic movement.
Band and Guard
Intermediate Band (9-10 Grade 7th Period)
Intermediate Band is open to qualified wind and percussion and color guard performers who are ready to grow as musicians and performers. Students will perform at athletic events, parades, competitions, and concerts, with opportunities for travel throughout the year.
This course focuses on preparing and performing high-quality music ranging from classical favorites to modern and popular selections. Students will strengthen their musical fundamentals, improve technical skills on their instruments, and build confidence through teamwork and performance. Members are expected to demonstrate responsibility, self-discipline, and commitment—skills that help the ensembles succeed both on and off the field.
During Semester A, the Intermediate Band combines with the Advanced Band, Percussion and Color Guard classes to form the school’s Marching Band. During Semester B, students perform in various ensembles of interest from Concert Band, Winter Color Guard and/or Winter Drumline.
To participate in performances, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. Students enrolled during their sophomore year or beyond may earn P.E. credit.
Advanced Band (11-12 Grade 7th Period)
Advanced Band is designed for highly motivated and experienced wind and percussion players who are ready for an elevated performance experience. Students perform at athletic events, parades, competitions, and concerts, with potential travel opportunities.
This ensemble focuses on the preparation and performance of challenging, high-quality music literature spanning classical, contemporary, and popular styles. Students will continue refining their musical fundamentals, technical proficiency, and ensemble skills while developing leadership and collaboration abilities.
During Semester A, the Intermediate Band combines with the Advanced Band, Percussion and Color Guard classes to form the school’s Marching Band. During Semester B, students perform in various ensembles of interest from Concert Band, Winter Color Guard and/or Winter Drumline
Advanced Band members are expected to model strong self-discipline, responsibility, and dedication to the success of the ensemble. The hope and expectation, is the students fully develop their performance skills to move on to the next level of performance beyond high school (college/university and military ensembles, as well as drum corps and scholastic and independent winter ensembles).
To be eligible for performances, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. Students enrolled during their sophomore year or beyond may earn P.E. credit.
Jazz Ensemble (9-12 grade Zero & 1st Period)
Jazz Ensemble is open to advanced wind and percussion players who are interested in exploring the exciting world of jazz music. This group performs at concerts, and special events throughout the year. Students may select zero or 1st period Jazz Ensemble accordingly with their class schedule.
Students will study and perform high-quality jazz ensemble literature while developing improvisation skills, rhythmic accuracy, and expressive musicianship. The course emphasizes both individual growth and strong ensemble collaboration in a fast-paced, creative environment.
Members are expected to demonstrate maturity, responsibility, and self-discipline to support the success of the group. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required to participate in performances.
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Choir
IN ALL COURSES OF CHOIR, STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO: Assume the necessary self-discipline and responsibilities that contribute to such an organization.
Mixed Choir
This course is a mixed voice ensemble for beginning singers, with no auditions necessary. Your voice part will be assessed during the first week of school. Choral music will be used to teach vocal techniques, ear training, and music reading. Students will be taught to sing as an ensemble in preparation for several concerts. This course may be repeated for credit.
Beginning Treble
Beginning Treble Choir is very much the same as Mixed Choir, (please review details above) except it is still only for girls. No audition is needed for this course. This course may be repeated for credit.
Concert Choir
This course is an intermediate mixed voice ensemble. Auditions are required for enrollment. Advanced choral literature will be used from the Renaissance to present-day music in multiple-part singing in English and other languages. School functions, community events/concerts, festivals, and competitions are determined on a year-to-year basis. Singers are expected to perform in a small group or as a soloist, and are expected to participate in multiple performances each semester.
Advanced Treble
Advanced Treble Choir is the highest level of choir at GOHS. It is an audition ONLY course, open ONLY to girl students. This course is full of musically challenging choir and techniques, while also implementing the study into music theory. Members are expected to show great dedication to each other and the entire group to ensure the highest quality of musicianship possible.
Dance
Beginning Dance
Beginning Dance is an introductory course designed to explore a wide range of dance styles and expressions. Students will study Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Contemporary, and World Dance, while building a foundation in technique, musicality, and movement vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on body awareness, coordination, and the basic elements of choreography.
Ninth-grade students may enroll in this course as a fine arts elective in addition to PE. Each section must be taken in consecutive order. Students will perform in one Dance Show throughout the school year.
Intermediate Dance
Intermediate Dance is a year-long course for students with at least one year of prior dance experience. Students will continue training in Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Contemporary, and World Dance, with increased technical and performance expectations. Instruction focuses on refining alignment, balance, strength, agility, and musicality, while expanding students’ understanding of choreography.
Students will also develop the ability to discuss, analyze, and critique dance using appropriate vocabulary, preparing them for higher-level performance and creative work. Students will perform in one Dance Show throughout the school year.
Advanced Dance
Teacher recommendation required. Advanced Dance is a year-long course for students with two or more years of dance training. Students will further develop advanced technique and artistry across Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Contemporary, and World Dance.
The course emphasizes choreography, performance quality, and creative decision-making, along with the completion of a research project. Students will perform in one Dance Show throughout the school year.
IB Dance SL 1
IB Dance SL 1 takes a holistic approach to dance, and embraces a variety of dance traditions and dance cultures—past, present and looking towards the future. Performance, creative and analytical skills are mutually developed and valued whether the students are writing papers or creating/performing dances. The curriculum provides students with a liberal arts orientation to dance. This orientation facilitates the development of students who may become choreographers, dance scholars, performers or those, more broadly, who seek life enrichment through dance.
IB Dance SL 2
Previous dance experience is strongly recommended. Students will learn the basic elements of choreography in preparation for composition and analysis of their own choreographic works. Students will refine their understanding of alignment, balance, strength, and agility, applying these principles to a variety of dance genres while expanding their ability to discuss, analyze and critique using dance vocabulary. Participation in dance production and performance for live audiences are required, including scheduled rehearsals.
IB Dance HL 1
Previous dance experience is strongly recommended. Students will learn the basic elements of choreography in preparation for composition and analysis of their own choreographic works. Students will refine their understanding of alignment, balance, strength, and agility, applying these principles to a variety of dance genres while expanding their ability to discuss, analyze and critique using dance vocabulary. Participation in dance production and performance for live audiences are required, including scheduled rehearsals.
IB Dance HL 2
Completion of IB HL Dance year 1 required. His course will focus on completing the IB HL Dance components of Composition and Analysis, World Dance studies, and Performance Participation in dance production and performance for live audiences are required, including scheduled rehearsals.
Music
AP Music Theory
The ultimate goal of the AP Music Theory course is to develop a student’s ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The course will address aural, analytical and compositional skills using both listening and written exercises. Building on this foundation, the course should progress to include more creative tasks, such as the harmonization of a melody by selecting appropriate chords, composing a musical bass line to provide two-voice counterpoint, or the realization of figured-bass notation.
IB Music SL
Involving aspects of the composition, performance and critical analysis of music, the course exposes students to forms, styles and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students create, participate in, and reflect upon music from their own background and those of others. They develop practical and communicative skills which provide them with the opportunity to engage in music for further study, as well as for lifetime enjoyment. SL music students are required to study musical perception. SL students in music are then required to choose one of three options:
- creating (SLC)
- solo performing (SLS)
- group performing (SLG)
In the teaching of the music course it should be possible to have groups of students that include both SL and HL students. Through a variety of teaching approaches, all students—whether SL or HL—will be encouraged to develop their creative and critical abilities and to enhance their appreciation and enjoyment of music.
IB Music HL 1
Involving aspects of the composition, performance and critical analysis of music, the course exposes students to forms, styles and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students create, participate in, and reflect upon music from their own background and those of others. They develop practical and communicative skills which provide them with the opportunity to engage in music for further study, as well as for lifetime enjoyment. HL students are required to present both creating and solo performing. In the teaching of the music course it should be possible to have groups of students that include both SL and HL students. Through a variety of teaching approaches, all students—whether SL or HL—will be encouraged to develop their creative and critical abilities and to enhance their appreciation and enjoyment of music.
IB Music HL 2
The Diploma Programme music course provides an appropriate foundation for further study in music at university level or in music career pathways. It also provides an enriching and valuable course of study for students who may pursue other careers. This course also provides all students with the opportunity to engage in the world of music as lifelong participants.
Theater Arts
Drama
This course may be taken one or two times a year. This course is designed to give the student an introduction to the many aspects of theater arts. Topics such as history, acting, improvisation, musicals, Radio Theater, mime, and others will be discussed and practiced. Students participate in class and individual projects combining theater skills to develop an understanding and appreciation of theater.
Advanced Drama
The purpose of this course will be to provide further background and training for students pursuing advanced dramatic skill. The goal of the course will be to provide the student with a more detailed background of the acting process. This course will include activities related to dramatic structure, character interpretation, tension building and period acting. Students will also receive instruction and practice with directing techniques and may direct a scene for presentation as a part of the course work.
Stage Technology
This course is designed to prepare students to design, construct, and evaluate projects in stage construction, lighting, costume, sound, and makeup. These skills will be directly applicable to actual productions. Aspects of oral presentations, theater history, and stage management are integrated into the course.
Theatre Arts IB SL
Theatre Arts IB SL offers students both individual and collaborative experiences in a variety of theatre activities, practices, and traditions. Students will engage in all aspects of creating theatre, including set and costume design, lighting, casting, script writing, scene blocking, and performance. IB theatre emphasizes student participation as creators of theatre, not merely participants in theatre. Students will gain knowledge of theatrical traditions from other cultures and theatrical genres, and apply research to develop their performance pieces. Student activities will engage them in analytical and imaginative interpretation of performance, ask them to reflect on personal growth, and demonstrate initiative and perseverance in individual and group projects. Through researching, creating, preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre, students gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community, and the world. By the end of the course, students will develop the confidence to explore, to experiment, and to work individually and collaboratively on innovative projects that involve challenging established notions and conventions of theatre.
Theatre Arts IB HL 1
Theatre is a practical subject that encourages discovery through experimentation, risk-taking and the presentation of ideas. The IB Theatre Arts HL 1 course is multifaceted and gives students the opportunity to actively engage in theatre as creators, designers, directors and performers. It emphasizes working both individually and collaboratively as part of an ensemble. The teacher’s role is to create opportunities that allow students to explore, learn, discover and collaborate to become autonomous, informed and skilled theatre makers. Students learn to apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work. Through researching, creating, preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre, they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community and the world. Students experience the course from contrasting artistic and cultural perspectives. They learn about theatre from around the world, the importance of making theatre with integrity, and the impact that theatre can have on the world. It enables them to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture, promoting international-mindedness and an appreciation of the diversity of theatre.
Theatre Arts IB HL 2
Theatre is a practical subject that encourages discovery through experimentation, risk-taking and the presentation of ideas. The IB Theatre Arts HL 2 course is multifaceted and gives students the opportunity to actively engage in theatre as creators, designers, directors and performers. It emphasizes working both individually and collaboratively as part of an ensemble. The teacher’s role is to create opportunities that allow students to explore, learn, discover and collaborate to become autonomous, informed and skilled theatre makers. Students learn to apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work. Through researching, creating, preparing, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre, they gain a richer understanding of themselves, their community and the world. Students experience the course from contrasting artistic and cultural perspectives. They learn about theatre from around the world, the importance of making theatre with integrity, and the impact that theatre can have on the world. It enables them to discover and engage with different forms of theatre across time, place and culture, promoting international-mindedness and an appreciation of the diversity of theatre.
Visual Art
Art 1
The Art 1 course is for all students that are beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of art. Students will develop basic skills using a variety of materials such as, graphite, color pencils, watercolors, ink, and paint. This course is encouraged to be taken as a prerequisite before taking higher level visual art courses. The focus of this class will be to develop perceptual art skills by understanding the concepts on the Elements and Principles of Art.
Art 2
This course is combined with the Advanced Placement Studio Art Class and is designed for the student who is interested in continuing serious study of visual arts. Units are directed to portfolio preparation for the AP Exam and college entrance. Individual styles and content will be encouraged through life drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Art 3
This course is combined with the Advanced Placement Studio Art Class and is designed for the student who is interested in continuing serious study of visual arts. Units are directed to portfolio preparation for the AP exam and college entrance. Individual styles and content will be encouraged through life drawing, painting, and printmaking.
3D Art Design (Online)
The goal of this course is the completion of a portfolio of artwork that could be submitted to the College Entrance Examination Board/AP Exam for exemption from college courses. This portfolio would also provide the work needed for acceptance to professional art colleges. Originality, craftsmanship and self-discipline will be stressed through painting, life drawing, printmaking, and mixed media projects.
Visual Art IB SL
Students work over a one year period to complete a majority of the hours on studio work. Major themes are explored including: technical exercises, introduction into new media, and an awareness of how artists in other Cultures implement these forms of expression. Students will experience an exposure to art making through teacher led projects, and some individually chosen projects of personal interest. Students will test in their senior year in April.
Visual Art IB HL 1
HL students will work over a two year period to complete a majority of their hours on studio work. During this intense investigation, students will experiment with all venues of art. Major themes are explored including technical exercises, introduction into new media, and an awareness of how artists in other cultures implement this. Students will experience a high level of exposure to art making through teacher led projects. Year two, students will be expected to be creating works of art that are related, and exhibit the exploration of various styles, movements and cultures. The commencement of personal and independent study will begin. This requires the student to become responsible for their learning within the classroom atmosphere of advice, encouragement, and technical support. By the end of year two, students will prepare and create a senior exhibit, which will take place in April of their senior year.
Visual Art IB HL 2
HL students will work over a two-year period to complete a majority of their hours on studio work. During this intense investigation, students will experiment with all art mediums. Major themes are explored, including technical exercises, introduction to new media, and an awareness of how artists in other cultures implement this. Students will experience a high level of exposure to art making through teacher-led projects. Year two, students will be expected to be creating works of art that are related, and exhibit the exploration of various styles, movements and cultures. The commencement of personal and independent studies will begin. This requires the student to become responsible for their learning within the classroom atmosphere of advice, encouragement, and technical support. By the end of year two, students will prepare and create a senior exhibit, which will take place in April of their senior year.
IB Arts Pathways
String Orchestra
String Orchestra is a course for students who have had some previous training and experience in playing a string instrument. The emphasis in this course is on the development of individual technique and musicianship in order to prepare the student to progress to one of the more advanced classes. The String Orchestra may perform at special school events as assemblies, concerts, and festivals. Students borrowing school instruments are expected to insure them. Some performances outside of class time are required. Instruments are: Viola, Violin, Cello, Bass