Fine Arts / Arts in Education

What is the Schenectady School of Fine Arts?
The Sayles School of Fine Arts is a House or Small Learning Community at Schenectady High School. It functions as a school within a school at Schenectady High School. It integrates Regents high school coursework with an interdisciplinary focus in both the visual and performing arts. Its purpose is to provide a rigorous academic program with consistent opportunities for students to explore the fine arts for future academic, career, and personal enrichment. Students will have opportunities to participate from the beginning to the advanced level in a variety of fine arts courses. All courses are designed to strengthen students’ arts and academic skills. Course offerings are subject to change.

The mission of the Sayles School of Fine Arts is to be a multi-cultural collaboration of students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community that values student’s artistic excellence and academic achievement. It is committed to artistic exploration and growth in alignment with the NYS Learning Standards.

Program Highlights

Students enrolled in the Sayles School of Fine Arts will have an enriched fine arts experience in addition to meeting the requirements of a New York State Regents Program. It is felt that students completing the recommended sequence/strand from the course chart will be fully prepared to pursue their chosen fine arts field at the college level.
All Schenectady High School students may enter the Sayles School of Fine Arts to meet their one credit state requirement in art/music.
Students may major in Visual Art; Music; Drama; Dance; Fine Arts; Fine Arts - Media.
Alternative scheduling maybe available in the Sayles School of Fine Arts to allow students to meet the rigorous state graduation requirements as well as take additional arts courses.

Options include:
“Zero Period” before or after the regular high school day. This allows Sayles School of Fine Arts students the option of taking an additional ninth course.
Credit bearing Fine Arts Courses may be offered over the summer. Although it is recommended that students enter the Sayles School of Fine Arts in ninth grade, students may join the program at any time during their four years in high school. It is possible; to join later than ninth grade and still complete the required classes.

COURSE OFFERINGS
(Courses will require sufficient student interest to run and may not be offered each semester or year.)

Core courses meet the one credit requirement for art/music.
Most Introductory Level courses can be taken at the same time as a core course.

Intermediate Level courses may have some prerequisites and generally require the completion of a Core Course.
Advanced Level courses are more rigorous and have prerequisite courses.
All requests for Independent Studies require the permission of the instructor and SSFA House Principal. They are not intended to solve a scheduling problem but to meet the needs of highly advanced students that have exceeded all program offerings.
Dance as an Alternative to Physical Education - Students in 11th and 12th grade dance classes may fulfill their Physical Education requirement through participation in dance class.
*Indicates .5 credit course
**Indicates .5 or 1 credit option.

DANCE (Dance course descriptions)

Core Course	Introduction to Dance

Introductory Level	Akoma* - Alternating Days All Year Ballet I

Intermediate Level	Jazz Dance* - Alternating Days All Year Tap Hip Hop* - Alternating Days All Year

Advanced Level	Dance Connection

THEATRE (Theatre course descriptions)

Core Course	Introduction to Theatre

Introductory Level	Video Production*

Intermediate Level	Playwriting * Acting II Film Making I Electronic News Gathering Young Perspectives

Advanced Level	Acting III Acting IV Directing* IB Theatre Arts

FINE ARTS (Fine Arts course descriptions)

Advanced Level

Visual Art Portfolio and Career Preparation
Fine Arts Seminar (English 12 and Fine Arts Credits)

MUSIC

Core Course	Music in Our Lives Band** Show Choir Women’s Chorus* - Alternating Days Orchestra** Piano I Music Theory

Intermediate Level	Voice Seminar I* - Alternating Days All Year Piano II Jazz Ensemble* - Alternating Days All Year Serenaders Chamber Music* - Zero Hour Offering Drumming (may be credit bearing)

Advanced Level	Wind Ensemble** Chamber Choir* - Alternating Days All Year Voice Seminar II* - Alternating Days All Year Piano III Piano IV Voice Seminar III* - Alternating Days All Year

VISUAL ARTS (Visual Arts course descriptions)

Core Course	Studio in Art Myths and Legends

Introductory Level	Intro to Drawing* Color and Design* Intro to Ceramics* Intro to Computer Art* Intro to Sculpture* Crafts Design*

Intermediate Level	Drawing I Computer Art and Electronic Imaging I Drawing and Painting Ceramics I Sculpture I

Advanced Level	Visual Art Portfolio and Career Preparation Advanced Placement Drawing **Independent Studio Art Computer Art II IB Visual Art

SEQUENCES AND CONCENTRATIONS

Students enrolled in the School of Fine Arts may complete sequences or concentration. State Sequence/Endorsement requires a five-credit sequence.

Students completing courses as listed below will earn a Fine Arts Endorsement on their diploma
Students may use the five-credit sequence in place of the Foreign Language Regents
The five-credit sequences as listed below meet the State Education requirement for a Regents diploma in place of the Foreign Language sequence and Regents exam.

Theatre, Dance, or Fine Arts

Studio in Art
Music Theory or Music in Our Lives
3 credits in visual art, music, dance, and/or theatre

Music

Music Theory
Music in Our Lives
3 credits in music

Visual Art

Studio in Art or Myths in Legends
Drawing I
Sculpture, or Ceramics, or Intro to Ceramics and Intro to Sculpture
2 credits in visual art

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

VISUAL ARTS
9th Grade 1 or more credits	10th Grade 1 or more credits	11th Grade 2 or more credits	12th Grade 3 or more credits

Studio in Art Or Myths and Legends	Drawing 1	Sculpture OR Sculpture II OR Ceramics OR Intro to Ceramics AND Intro to Sculpture	AP Drawing OR any other Advanced Level Visual Art Course AND Visual Art Portfolio and Career Prep AND Fine Arts Seminar
And is available as scheduling permits
Intro to Drawing --------------- Intro to Computer Art I --------------- Intro to Ceramics --------------- Color and Design --------------- Intro to Sculpture	Computer Art I --------------- Ceramics I --------------- Sculpture I --------------- Also available: any course for previous grade	Drawing and Painting --------------- AP Drawing --------------- Computer Art II --------------- IB Visual Art --------------- Visual Art Portfolio and Career Prep --------------- Also available: any course for previous grade	Any visual art intro course
MUSIC
9th Grade 1 or more credits	10th Grade 1 or more credits	11th Grade 2 or more credits	12th Grade 3 or more credits

Rudiments OR Music in our Lives	Rudiments OR Music in our Lives	Advanced Level Piano OR A Performing Group	Advanced Level Piano OR A Performing Group AND Fine Arts Seminar
And is available as scheduling permits
Band --------------- Orchestra --------------- Show Choir --------------- Serenaders --------------- Women's Choir --------------- Voice Seminar I --------------- Piano I --------------- Jazz Ensemble --------------- Drumming	Piano II --------------- Wind Ensemble --------------- Women's Chorus --------------- Voice Seminar II --------------- Chamber Choir --------------- Also available: any course for previous grade	Chamber Choir --------------- Piano III --------------- Voice Seminar III --------------- Performing Art Portfolio and Career Prep --------------- Also available: any course listed for previous grade	Any music course offerings --------------- Piano IV
DANCE
9th Grade 1 or more credits	10th Grade 1 or more credits	11th Grade 2 or more credits	12th Grade 3 or more credits

Intro to Dance	Ballet I	Dance Connection	Dance Connection AND Fine Arts Seminar
And is available as scheduling permits
Akoma --------------- Jazz Dance --------------- Ballet I	Tap --------------- Hip Hop --------------- Also available: Any course listed for previous grade	Any course listed for previous grade	Any course listed for previous grade
THEATRE
9th Grade 1 or more credits	10th Grade 1 or more credits	11th Grade 2 or more credits	12th Grade 3 or more credits

Intro to Theatre	Acting I OR Acting II	Acting II OR Actors Studio III	Actors Studio IV AND Fine Arts Seminar
And is available as scheduling permits
Acting I --------------- Video Production	Playwriting --------------- Directing --------------- Filmmaking I --------------- IB Theatre Arts --------------- Also available: Any course listed for previous grade	Any course listed for previous grade	Any course listed for previous grade
FINE ARTS
9th Grade 1 or more credits	10th Grade 1 or more credits	11th Grade 2 or more credits	12th Grade 3 or more credits

Rudiments --------------- Music in Our Lives	Studio in Art	Any 2 or more courses in Visual Art, Music, Theatre, Dance or Media Arts	Any 2 or more credits in Advanced Level Courses in Visual Art, Music Theatre or Dance AND Fine Arts Seminar
And is available as scheduling permits
Any course listed above for grade 9	Any course listed above for grades 9-10	Any course listed above for previous grades	Any Visual Art, Music, Theatre and Dance Course Offerings
FINE ARTS - MEDIA
9th Grade 1 or more credits	10th Grade 1 or more credits	11th Grade 2 or more credits	12th Grade 3 or more credits

Studio in Art	Computer Art I	Computer Art II	Computer Art II AND Fine Arts Seminar --------------- Visual Art Portfolio and Career Prep.
And is available as scheduling permits
Intro to Computer Art --------------- Video Production	Filmmaking I	Film Criticism --------------- Any course listed for previous grades	Any Visual Art, Music, Theatre and Dance Course Offerings

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