Upper School Creative Arts

This is a year-long course.

Studio Art students are taught foundation level skills while exploring a wide range of art mediums and techniques. The primary focus is on learning and utilizing the Principles and Elements of Design. Students will have direct instruction in drawing, painting, printmaking, and digital art. The first semester will concentrate on 2-D art concepts while the second semester will introduce 3- D art concepts. Students will research various art movements and participate in class presentations.

This is a year-long course.

Advanced Art students develop mastery of their art skills and utilization of the Principles and Elements of Design. It is encouraged that students maintain an art journal throughout the year as well as develop a portfolio of original artwork. The instructor and guest artists will give hands-on demonstrations in drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media collage, and digital art. Students create their own challenging projects utilizing techniques they have learned. Included in the course is an overview of contemporary art history as well as major art movements.

Prerequisite: Permission of the teacher and preview of student artwork.

Students who wish to register for an AP Art class will initially be scheduled into TOPICS OF FINE ARTS. Students will then work with the Ms Ollikainen at the beginning of the semester to determine which AP class the student will be moved into. Please speak to Ms Ollikainen for more information.

AP 2-D Design is a rigorous course where students complete a portfolio of original artworks in a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, mixed-media, photography, and digital art. Experimentation, revision, and the effective use of the Principles and Elements of Design are emphasized as is documentation of the process of creating art. The  AP 2-D portfolio is comprised of two sections: selected works consist of three of the student’s best artworks submitted in their original form; the Sustained Investigation portion is a body of 15 artworks investigating a strong underlying visual idea. Students are expected to work extra hours outside of class and take complete responsibility in time management and project completion.  Student artwork is submitted digitally and is judged and scored by a panel of art experts.

Prerequisite: Completion of either Advanced Art or Topics in Fine Art and permission of the teacher.

Students who wish to register for an AP Art class will initially be scheduled into TOPICS OF FINE ARTS. Students will then work with the Ms Ollikainen at the beginning of the semester to determine which AP class the student will be moved into. Please speak to Ms Ollikainen for more information.

AP 3-D Design is a rigorous honors level course where students complete three-dimensional artworks in a variety of mediums including clay, paper, wire, fabric and found objects. Digital 3-D art is also accepted. Artworks are judged through photographs of the dimensional works from different angles. The Quality section of the portfolio consists of five-dimensional artworks that demonstrate mastery of 3-D design in concept, composition, and execution. The Concentration section has an estimated 10 artworks investigating a strong underlying visual idea in 3-D design. The Breadth section includes 2 images each of 8 different artworks that demonstrate a variety of concepts and approaches in 3-D design. As in AP 2-D, students are expected to set aside ample time outside of class hours to complete their artworks.

Prerequisite: Completion of AP Art 2-D.

Students who wish to register for an AP Art class will initially be scheduled into TOPICS OF FINE ARTS. Students will then work with the Ms Ollikainen at the beginning of the semester to determine which AP class the student will be moved into. Please speak to Ms Ollikainen for more information.

AP Studio Art Drawing is similar to AP 2-D Design, but the judging and scoring of artwork has a slightly different “lens” than the Design portfolio. In Drawing, mark-making, and representation of form in both drawn and painted artwork are emphasized whereas in 2-D Design, design and composition are paramount. Unlike AP 2-D, purely photographic artwork would not be part of a Drawing portfolio unless there were drawn elements in it. Digital drawing is accepted as is mixed media. Experimentation, revision, and the effective use of the principles and elements of design are emphasized as is documentation of the process of creating art.

Prerequisite: Completion of either Advanced Art or Topics in Fine Art and permission of the teacher.

This is a year-long course.

Topics in Fine Art is geared toward those students who have completed Advanced Art and wish to pursue their artistic interests further as they create their own challenging projects. Topics in Fine Art parallels the AP 2-Design course curriculum and introduces students to the AP art material. The course is not an AP level course in that final review of the student art portfolio will not be evaluated by the AP Board. Quality art created in this course may be used as part of the AP art portfolio should the student elect to take AP Studio Art in the following year. Students develop mastery of their art skills and utilization of the Principles and Elements of Design. It is encouraged that students maintain an art journal throughout the year as well as develop a portfolio of original artwork. The instructor and guest artists will give hands-on demonstrations in drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media collage, and digital art. Students create their own challenging projects utilizing techniques they have learned. Included in the course is an overview of contemporary art history as well as major art movements.

Prerequisite: Permission of the teacher and review of student artwork.

FRESHMEN ONLY - A BLOCK FRESHMAN ARTS EXPERIENCE (FAX) - FALL OR SPRING

This class is designed for those who love art. It focuses on a fun, student-driven exploration of art mediums while building skills in techniques. A wide range of traditional and digital art tools will be available to choose from. There will be many opportunities for students to create their own projects both individually and in collaboration.

FRESHMEN ONLY - A BLOCK FRESHMAN ARTS EXPERIENCE (FAX) - FALL or SPRING

Open to all freshmen interested in beginning vocal music in any capacity. Topics and repertoire covered will include a variety of vocal music styles. Essential elements of music performing and music literacy will be covered. Bring your friends, no prior experience is required to be in this vocal ensemble

This is a year-long course.

A year-long audition-only mixed chamber choir of acapella and accompanied vocal music repertoire that spans from jazz, popular, musical theater, classical, and more. Prior vocal experience is not required but is highly recommended. Musicians will perform repertoire in 2-4 part harmony and will perform at least twice a year. Those who enjoy singing in a more standard choral form should take this class. 

Open to 10th-12th graders and 9th grade with teacher permission.

Prerequisites: Previous experience in a vocal group is strongly recommended. 

This is a year-long course.

This class will develop your musicianship skills through a creative and comprehensive study of tonal music. Throughout the year we will listen to various musical styles from a wide range of countries, cultures, and eras to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the architecture of music. You will be able to recognize common chord progressions by ear, understand how melodies are created, embody complex rhythms, read and write music notation more fluently, and nurture your musical creativity. The curriculum of this course will prepare you for and beyond the AP Music Theory exam. 

Prerequisite: Experience with vocal and/or instrumental music highly recommended. 

This class can be taken as in either SPRING or FALL as a semester-long course or taken both semesters as a year-long course.

Video intro: shorturl.at/uzCGW

Ever wonder how Aphex Twin, Skrillex, and TOKiMONSTA make their music? This class will get you working with the tools and techniques of electronic music and no previous experience or knowledge is necessary. Learn to shape sounds with hardware and software that have historical and cultural significance since the 1960s to present day. Hone your listening skills by recreating familiar beats from your personal playlist. Create new songs from scratch and build a portfolio of your work. Limited to 10 students. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Watch a video overview of this course here.

This is a year-long course.

Jazz Band is open to all instrumentalists interested in elevating their musicianship through developing their performing and improvising skills through jazz and other jazz-related genres. In addition to learning standard tunes, students will also learn to create their own arrangements and original compositions for the band. The Jazz Band will perform at casual and formal events throughout the year. Past performances have included music by Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding, and Vulfpeck. Jazz Band may be repeated for additional credit. Watch a video overview of this course here.

Prerequisites: Fluency on a melodic or percussive instrument

This is a year-long course.

Chamber Orchestra welcomes instrumentalists who are interested in a creative and collaborative process of making music. The repertoire is based on student interest and the rehearsal process goes beyond developing ensemble skills by integrating the discussion and analysis of history/context, harmony, and form. This ensemble will change the way you approach music and challenge the convention of which genres orchestras can explore. The orchestra performs several concerts throughout the year and past performances have included music by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Astor Piazzolla, Joe Hisaishi, and Billie Eilish. Chamber Orchestra may be repeated for additional credit. Watch a video overview of this course here.

Prerequisites: Fluency on a melodic instrument and reading standard Western music notation

This is a year-long course.

This course is designed to explore the intersection of music and culture and will include listening, occasional reading, and short presentations. Several American musical styles will be covered, and some artists featured include Snoop Dogg, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Tupac, Aretha Franklin, H.E.R., The Beatles, Bob Marley, Duke Ellington and many more. Final projects will include an annotated playlist drawing connections to styles, artists, time period, and cultural relevance.

This course can be taken as a year-long course or as a semester-long course in FALL or SPRING. 

Designed for any level dancer, students will gain a solid foundation and appreciation for the love of dance! Throughout the year we will study multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, and even TikTok dances. The focus of the course will be on the development of a technical foundation, understanding rhythm and musicality, strength and flexibility, choreography retention, and most importantly how to have FUN while moving your body! Class structure will include a warm-up designed around proper body alignment, across the floor movement, and choreography sequences focusing on applying proper technique and artistry. Students will collaborate with others and create their own choreography. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in the Dance Concert. Watch a video overview of this course here.

FRESHMEN ONLY - A BLOCK FRESHMAN ARTS EXPERIENCE (FAX) - FALL OR SPRING

Designed for any level dancer, students will gain a solid foundation and appreciation for the love of dance! Throughout the year we will study multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, and even TikTok dances. The focus of the course will be on the development of a technical foundation, understanding rhythm and musicality, strength and flexibility, choreography retention, and most importantly how to have FUN while moving your body! Class structure will include a warm-up designed around proper body alignment, across-the-floor movement, and choreography sequences focusing on applying proper technique and artistry. Students will collaborate with others and create their own choreography. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in the Dance Concert. 

This course can be taken as a year-long course or a semester-long course in FALL ONLY.

Building upon the foundations of Dance I, students will further develop their technique and dive deeper into dance as an art form. Styles of dance that will be studied include jazz, contemporary, world styles, musical theatre, ballet, and hip hop. Classes will include warming up, stretching, movement sequences across the floor, and learning choreography. Students will build skills to develop their artistic expression through improvisation and creating and analyzing choreography. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in the Dance Concert. TA opportunities are available for experienced dancers with teacher’s approval. 

Prerequisites for this course include Dance I or permission from the teacher and high level of dance training. 

This is a year-long course.

This year-long course is designed for students of all levels who are passionate about growing as a dancer and an artist. Choreography and learning how to compose original pieces of work will be the focus of the course, including how to properly stage, light, costume, and design performances. Students will also focus on furthering their technical abilities through multiple styles including, but not limited to, contemporary, jazz, ballet, modern, and hip hop. This course will aim to challenge students through varied movement sequences, performance qualities, dynamic energy shifts, and exposure to improvisational techniques. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in the Dance Concert. 

Prerequisites: Dance 1 OR Dance 2 or with teacher approval. Previous dance training is highly recommended but not required. 

This is a semester-long course.

All levels are welcome! In this semester-long course, students will learn different elements of tap including technique, movement, musical rhythm, tempo, and phrasing. The course will focus on the historical context required to develop the skills needed to practice and perform this popular dance form. Class structure will include warming up, stretching, and learning choreography, with a focus on developing performance qualities. Students will be introduced to terminology, important historical events, people who contributed to tap, and its lasting impact on pop culture. Tap shoes will be provided to those who need them. Enrolled students will be expected to perform and participate in either the Holiday Assembly or the Dance Concert. 

This is a semester-long course is and is offered in the FALL only. 

This class is designed to tell stories through music with the goal of developing an awareness of emotional truth and connection. It is a performance-based course focused on the three essential elements of musical theatre- music, drama, and movement. Material covered will include vast repertoire from musical theatre while also discovering how the history of the genre relates to the present. Students are encouraged to bring their own repertoire while also being open to learning something new. We will perform scenes from musical theatre repertoire from the golden age to the present. Prior experience in vocal music, drama, and/or movement is encouraged. 

This course is a semester-long course and is offered in the FALL. This class can be taken along with Drama Off-Stage in order to count as a year-long arts class. 

This one semester course will help you discover your individual voice through this introductory course on the fundamental elements and process of all things ON stage including improvisation, scene study, monologues and small presentations. Through theatre games and daily exercises, we will build confidence and develop an understanding of what your unique perspective and voice can bring to any material, onstage or in a podcast or on film or on podcast.

This course is a semester-long course and is offered in the SPRING. This class can be taken along with Drama On-Stage in order to count as a year-long arts class. 

This one semester course is perfect to take in tandem, with Drama ON-Stage or can be taken as a stand-alone. The focus of this class is to create a deeper appreciation and understanding of everything that happens OFF-Stage - learn about all the different roles required within the artistic, production, and business categories of theatre in order to put on a successful production! Topics and units covered include being a director, a set or costume designer, a general manager and general production support. This class will help you understand the wide of range of opportunities available in the field with the ultimate objective being able to demonstrate and apply the necessary skills and techniques to produce a play by understanding and having a greater appreciation of the different roles required within any given production. By helping to support the Menlo shows (during classtime) in design, management, technical services, dramaturgy, and backstage support, practical application will be in real time with real results. 

This course can be taken as in either SPRING or FALL as a semester-long course or taken both semesters as a year-long course.

The first hands-on experience exploring and combining design, science, engineering, craftsmanship, art, and presentation inside the new Spieker Center for the Arts, this course is an opportunity to think big. It will cover digital theatrical LED lighting, live sound, production organization and management, set design, tools, construction, scenic painting, costume and prop design. Each student will be encouraged to find his/her own areas of interest. Learn how to safely use the diverse technology and tools of our new theater to take student projects from concept to completion. Students can also learn from working live events, concerts, dance, or theater. We will focus on collaboration, basic skill sets, and creativity. Watch a video overview of this course here.

This is a year-long course. 

In this class, students explore and develop their creativity through making movies. The class is individually oriented, so students of all experience levels can focus on improving their specific skill sets and creating a variety of movie projects. Through many hands-on projects, students learn and practice skills such as using lighting effectively, using various microphones and cameras, using green screens, and editing in Final Cut. Students make a variety of movies, from comedies to experimental pieces to thirty-second ads to documentaries. Students learn and practice the IDEO approach to idea development in many of their projects. Watch a video overview of this course here.

This is a year-long course. 

This advanced class is for students who have mastered the fundamental skills of moviemaking (i.e., sound, light, camera work and editing in Final Cut) and want to put their skills into action creating quality movies. Students will develop original ideas for all their movie projects; each student is encouraged to pursue the kind of movie that interests him or her the most. Students will work with the instructor to develop individual goals for building their skills and completing projects. Students will have access to the full range of equipment and software that Menlo has as they bring to life the movies they imagine.

Prerequisites: Completion of Moviemaking 1 or permission of the instructor. 

This is a year-long course. 

This introductory class uses both film and digital SLR cameras to teach students the basics of photography. Students explore classic photographic project themes, like light, darkness, still life, landscape, portraiture, and others with each weekly project. Students are encouraged to experiment, and given the freedom to interpret and discover their own personal interests and styles. Open to all grades. 

Watch a video overview of this course here.

This course can be taken as a year-long course or a semester-long course in FALL ONLY.

This class is for students who want to learn more advanced photographic techniques and editing processes in both analogue and digital photography. Students use manual controls in both film and digital cameras to experiment with focus, depth of field and exposure. While using analogue process the emphasis is placed on image and print quality using the dark room. While learning the digital process students learn advanced photo editing software to edit and manipulate images. With each project, students explore classic photographic themes; light, darkness, color, still life, landscape, portraiture, composition, abstraction, texture, reflections, patterns, and many others. Students are encouraged to experiment, and are given the freedom to pursue their own personal interests and styles. Students are provided with in-class use of film and DSLR camera, lenses and software tools. 

Pre-requisite: Photo 1

This course can be taken as a year-long course or as a semester-long course in FALL or SPRING. 

This class is for experienced photography students who want to develop and improve their personal artistic practice by doing monthly projects of their own design. Students choose their own media, equipment, subjects and methods. Emphasis is placed on improving existing skills or developing new ones, exploring new and creative methods, and using alternative processes and imaging systems. With each monthly project, students are encouraged to produce creative, ambitious, innovative and high quality personal photo projects. Students are provided with technical support and in-class use of equipment.

Pre-requisite: Photo 2

This is a year-long course.

This introductory class uses both 2D and 3D software to teach students the basics of animation. Students will learn the principles of animation while acquiring skills in professional computer animation software. Students will practice telling narrative stories through storyboarding, character development, sequencing, and modeling. Students will have the freedom to experiment and discover their personal style. Open to all grades.

Watch a video overview of this course here.

This course can be taken as a year-long course or as a semester-long course in FALL or SPRING. 

This class is for students who want to learn more advanced animation techniques. Students will experiment with modeling, visual fx, and rigging in both 2D and 3D software. Students will develop original characters to tell short narrative stories in the medium they prefer. Students will learn to create full sound designs for their animation. Students will be encouraged to tell stories that feel personal and important to them.

Prerequisites: Animation 1

FRESHMEN ONLY - A BLOCK FRESHMAN ARTS EXPERIENCE (FAX) - FALL OR SPRING

Mountains and minds can be moved with words. It’s not what you say, but how you say it. We all have stories to tell, ideas to share, and connections to make. The way we communicate is, in large part, who we are. Did you know that communication is only 7% verbal?!? 93% is non-verbal of which 55% is body language and 38% is tone of voice! This class studies the core principles of communication—both as the receiver and the sender. We will strengthen our own natural skills while exploring various techniques used by history’s great orators like Dr. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Maya Angelou, and more. Watch a video overview of this course here.

FRESHMEN ONLY - A BLOCK FRESHMAN ARTS EXPERIENCE (FAX) - FALL OR SPRING

Studies show that musical preference is most strongly impressed during your teenage years. So what better time than now to learn more about how music works? Let’s explore your musical taste and dive into those sounds! Learn about how beats, chords, and melodies work together to create music that resonates with you. All genre preferences are welcome and you will listen to lots of music you never knew about. No previous musical training necessary; you will learn to analyze what you hear. This class can also benefit advanced musicians who want to gain a deeper understanding of the music they are formally studying. The primary goal of this class is to expand your love and appreciation for music. Watch a video overview of this course here.

This is a year-long class. 

Students in this course are part of the yearbook staff. They collaborate with students in the Yearbook Club and any students doing independent studies to create a gorgeous 400-page book each year. New staff members learn about visual design, photography, image editing, and using software for graphic design. Because the book depends on students to create it, the staff must be productive, but the atmosphere in class is casual. It’s a fun change of pace from the usual daily schedule.

Students who go on from Publications I to Publications II can earn a University of California visual arts credit, as well as their Menlo Arts credit. 

This is a year-long class. 

In this course, students take part in designing the form and content of the annual book. They learn more about the central principles of design: shape, line, color, repetition and balance. They also dive more deeply into what makes good photography and why in yearbook photography we emphasize faces, action, context and emotion. And they practice shooting and choosing photos to create strong page layouts. 

This class receives both a Menlo Arts credit and a UC Visual Arts credit.

Prerequisite: Publication Design I

This is a year-long class. 

In this third-year class students build on everything they learned in the first two years and add to that the challenge of managing peers, leading the staff through a year-long trek to create our book. These publications veterans make decisions for the designs for pages and the book overall. It is their responsibility to incorporate all that they have learned about design in their first two years in an aesthetically pleasing and very practical creation.

Open to juniors and seniors.