Academics: Performing Arts
Music and theater lovers can hone their skills with the outstanding courses offered at St. Francis DeSales. Classes in both marching and concert band, as well as public speaking, singing and drama, are available.
Concert Band
Students study, read, rehearse, and perform pieces from all periods in music.
Marching Band
Marching Band performs at "half time" during football season and for various parades during the year. Emphasis is on playing different types of marching band music and on the use of various skills.
Advanced Instrumental Techniques
Students read and perform selections from all periods of music. The student must perform in a concert or contest situation, a solo or ensemble, at least twice during the semester.
Concert Choir
Concert Choir gives the student an opportunity to study, rehearse and perform songs from different periods. Emphasis is on voice, control, and developing those skills necessary for performing, understanding, and appreciating music.
Music Appreciation: Bach to Rock
The purpose of this course is to help students develop an understanding of the history and evolution of music, its many styles around the world, and the progression of popular music in America.
Music Theory and Composition
Students will learn the inner workings of music through the fundamental concepts of the art form; including beat, melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, form, style, and notation.
Art of Oral Expression
Introduces students to the basic skills of public speaking and the four major kinds of speeches. The student learns how to effectively outline and prepare a speech, eliminate problems in speaking, and deliver an effective speech.
Drama
Drama exposes the student to the theatre skills of acting, directing, and writing. The student is introduced to stage speaking and movement (i.e., projection, articulation, blocking). The student learns stage terminology plus rehearse and perform various presentations (i.e., improvisations, pantomimes, monologues, cutting from full length scripts, Readers Theatre, Vignettes, one-act plays). The student also studies various scripts from different periods of history, connecting drama to reality.
Advanced Drama
This course moves the student forward into improvisational acting scenes as well as situations with scripts and structured theatre experiences. In addition, the student studies selected plays for format, characterization and technical production. A major practical assignment in acting, directing, or technical work is required of each student.
Drama III
Drama III takes practices of advanced drama to a heightened level of responsibility and utilization of theater knowledge in hands-on experience and will assume director roles in areas of performance, production, costuming, a set design and building.
