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CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAM (CAP)
 
Explore the Arts at Taft Charter High!
 
Taft’s Creative Arts Program provides an opportunity for all students to excel artistically across the spectrum of the visual and performing arts in a challenging academic environment. CAP also includes hands on, real life experiences with the culinary and business arts.
 
 

Performing Arts Courses
Advertising Design
  • Advertising 1A &1B- Advertising Design 1A & 1B: This is a year-long course. In this course, students will apply the elements of art and principles of design to create a portfolio. Students will use a variety of media to explore concepts and techniques and to communicate ideas visually. Students will explore perspective drawing, glass etching, printmaking, and much more. Students will create two and three-dimensional projects designed to meet the grade-level student-learning standards in the visual arts.
 
Computer Science 
  • Computer Science 2nd course in the Computer Science Pathway qualifies as a Visual and Performing Arts Course 
  • Generative Art + Unity- Students will learn fundamental art/design topics – color, shape/form and light –as in other introductory studio art courses but through the lens and application of computer art and design. As an integrated 2nd year programming course whose context and focus is art, this course simultaneously allows students to (a) expand their programming knowledge and skill, and (b) apply these concepts to design visual art.
 
  • Beginning Dance- This class will introduce the basic styles, techniques, vocabulary, and history of Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary dance.  Students will develop body awareness, spatial awareness, and musicality with its relation to time, space, and energy.  Students will choreograph their dances.  Dancing alone or with others, your body will be used as an instrument to communicate emotions and to express unique individuality through movement.  
  • Color Guard & Winter Guard- Color Guard- is a team sport that involves dance and flag routines, performing alongside our award-winning marching band throughout the school year. It is a competitive sport that performs during football games, pep rallies, parades, and competitions.  Winter Guard season starts after the marching season ends. In Winter Guard, we perform and compete to one song against other school's winter guards. There is no band involved. This is where we push for better techniques and try more challenging movements and skills. Winter Guard is performed indoors on a special mat using flags, rifles, sabers, and props.
  • Taft Dance TeamThis Team has a legacy of excellence, our students are committed and dedicated to growing, improving, and succeeding in and out of the dance room. The Dance Team is a Spirit Team, the Team brings pride to the students, and staff of Taft. The dance Team is a year-long commitment, our goal is to teach life through dance, for students to develop body and spatial awareness and musicality with its relation to time space, and energy. The Dance team has a high standard and expectation of quality, grace, and professionalism. 

Drama
  • Beginning Drama-Recommended Prerequisite(s): None Students will learn basic skills of theatre arts: improvisation techniques, learning lines, creating characters, projecting ideas, and acting scenes from plays. Projects include games, acting scenes from various periods and cultures, writing dramatic scenes, character analyses, and observing and speaking effectively. 
  • Advanced Theater Ensemble- Recommended Prerequisite(s): Two high school theater courses or by audition This course provides advanced theatre students with the opportunity to plan, produce and present a semester or year-long performance schedule of plays and other performing arts events. Students collaborate with the teacher, choosing scripts, directors, casting, and designers and continuing through final performances before an audience. 
  • Theatre Design Concepts (Intro to Stage Crew) Recommended Prerequisite(s): Students must be willing to participate in after-school rehearsals and work calls This course introduces students to the concepts of theatre and stage design. It is a foundation course for students who wish to consider a career in technical theatre design and production. Students will design, construct, paint, and light stage sets and props for school productions. 
  • Marching Band (plus Color Guard, Winter Guard, and Drum Line) *Substitutes for PE credit
  • Concert Band-Advanced Band (Concert Band) Recommended Prerequisite(s): Instrumental experience & students must commit to attending all performances This course involves the study of band music and other forms including chamber music. Students develop the ability to perform on an instrument with considerable skill, accuracy, and aesthetic sensitivity and improve skills in score reading, ensemble playing and public performance. 
  • Orchestra-Advanced Orchestra Recommended Prerequisite(s): None In this class, students study more difficult orchestral music and other forms, including chamber music. The course develops the ability to perform on an instrument with considerable skill and accuracy. It provides opportunities for increasing skill in ensemble playing and performing in concerts, festivals, and competitions.
  • Jazz Band-This course develops student achievement through the study of jazz ensemble music and other forms including improvisation and combos. Students develop the ability to perform on an instrument with considerable skill, accuracy, and aesthetic sensitivity, and gain opportunities for increasing skill in solo and ensemble playing. 
  • Guitar 1- Recommended Prerequisite(s): None Students learn the fundamentals of playing guitar, how to read traditional music notation and chord symbols, and how to play music in different styles. Students also learn the basics of music theory and develop the physical skills necessary to play beginning-level music accurately.
  • Guitar 2 - Recommended Prerequisite(s): Guitar 1AB Students focus on intermediate classical guitar literature, developing the physical skills necessary to play guitar music accurately and with good tone quality, as well as increasing skills in reading musical notation. The class provides opportunities to study and play the music of many guitar styles. 
  • Vocal Ensemble (advanced)- Recommended Prerequisite(s): Choir or instructional approval by audition Advanced level choral group open to students only by audition. Students improve their vocal technique, choral skills, knowledge of music theory, and sight-reading ability. The group performs a variety of music, from classical to popular. Performances include concerts, festivals, and shows for community groups. 
  • Choir (beginning/intermediate)-
  • Music Technology- Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, The major emphasis of this course is to develop student achievement through the study of current music technology. The course provides a variety of opportunities, including a study of the basic nature of sound as it is applied to and organized by musical tone; manipulation of sound using various materials and electronic devices; the study of contemporary developments in methods of tone production, tone modification, and musical performance. Interest in contemporary music performed in the community is particularly encouraged.
  • AP Music Theory- Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, Music Theory is an introductory college-level music theory course. Students cultivate their understanding of music theory by analyzing performed and notated music as they explore concepts like pitch, rhythm, form, and musical design]. Previous music study is required/evaluation recommended.

Visual Arts:
  • Design Craft- Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, This course will explore handcraft, folk art traditions, and non-Western art traditions. Students will learn traditional ways of producing a work of art including weaving, stenciling, sewing, paper mache, metal tooling, fabric dying and papercrafts. Writing artist statements, participating in an art show, and presenting your artwork are additionally included in the course.
  • Drawing-Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, Drawing AB focuses on the development of drawing skills, artistic perception and creative expression. Students Increase their awareness of line, shape, value, and composition. This project-based class explores shading, line, color, negative space, and perspective using a variety of media, including graphite pencils, ink, colored pencils, oil pastels, and markers. 
  • Sculpture1-Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, The course will explore techniques, tools, and materials for hand-building in three dimensions: artwork that is not flat. Students will create several works using additive and/or subtractive techniques in materials selected from paper, clay, cardboard, paper-mache, fabric, wire, and found materials. Writing artist statements, participating in an art show and presenting your artwork is additionally included in the course. 
  • Sculpture 2 Recommended Prerequisite(s): None,
    In this course students will develop 3-D skills in materials and processes, such as sculpture, metalwork, ceramics, fabric, and others. You'll create artwork that reflects your ideas and skills. Students will be required to create 10 works of art throughout the school year. Writing artist statements, participation in an art show and group critique are additionally included in the course. 
  • AP Art History- Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, AP Art History is an introductory college-level art history course. Students cultivate their understanding of art history by analyzing works of art and placing them in historical context as they explore concepts like culture and cultural interactions, theories and interpretations of art, the impact of materials, processes, and techniques on art and art making, and understanding purpose and audience in art historical analysis.
  • Yearbook-
 
 Graphic Design
  • Graphic Design-Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, This project-based introductory course is designed for students to explore the theory and methods required in the dynamic field of design. It provides them with technical instructions and work-based opportunities in digital graphic arts and design. The course includes practical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills, artistic perception, as well as critical thinking and self-reflection. Students use robust industry software to create real-world projects such as Vector drawing, Digital illustrations, Logo building, typography, and Stitch portraits. -Pierce College credit with a grade of a “B” or higher and a digital portfolio. Certifications and internships are available to students through Bixel Exchange.
  • Advanced Graphic Design (Design Studio)-Recommended Prerequisite(s): Graphic Design AB This course serves as a capstone of Graphic Design A/B. It prepares students for a career in Arts, Media, and Entertainment. Students apply design fundamentals including theory, design, technology and production, critical thinking, and professionalism they acquired in Graphic Design AB. Students hold positions, work independently and in teams with real clients, develop designs and layouts for marketing ads, newsletters, present storyboard treatments, and produce products and prints to meet Taft Charter High School’s advertising design needs. The design team mixes technology to enthrall their audience and communicate messages that inform, inspire, and convince using Adobe Suite. Projects include: posters, banners, department logos, t-shirt designs, graduation programs, brochures, hashtag logos, and prom and homecoming tickets.

Animation (Career Technical Education) 
  • Animation 1AB Recommended Prerequisite(s): A smartphone is recommended for Beginning/Intermediate level courses refining filmmaking and storytelling skills. Students create, produce, & edit original short films and videos utilizing various techniques and methods. Industry-standard equipment/software used to develop employment skills for the arts, media, & entertainment industry. Class is run like a production company—students experience the entire filmmaking process and the various roles involved in the making of a film.-
  • Animation 2AB Recommended Prerequisite(s): Video Production 2/Animation 1AB or by instructor approval Develop advanced production skills in all aspects of the industry. Class functions like a production company with students developing proficiency in industry-standard jobs.

Business Arts:
  • Fashion Design1 and 2- Recommended Prerequisite(s): None, Students learn the basics of designing apparel while gaining knowledge in fashion history as well as basic drawing techniques used in the industry. They connect classroom learning with real-world experience in the fashion industry as they participate in the L’Atelier Fashion Show and work in the L’Atelier Boutique.
  • Advanced Fashion Design 3 and 4 (Fashion show production)-Recommended Prerequisite(s): Fashion 1/2/3 Advanced fashion students learn team-building skills, creative expression, professional behavior and business protocol in a “hands-on” atmosphere. Students produce the L’Atelier Fashion Show and manage the L’Atelier Boutique as they fill positions mimicking the “real” business world.
 
Faculty: Dianna Arena, Eileen Capinha-Viadero, Myra Flores, Daniel Gruber, Lina Hajj, Dennis McKinley, Natalia Ramos, Bill Sehres, Lauren Serowik
 

Among our many accomplishments
  • Taft Charter High School is a GRAMMY Signature School.
  • Fashion Design has been featured on ABC News and the LAUSD Journal
  • Certiport Adobe Certifications in Visual Communication, Graphic Design, Illustration, and Community College Credit.
  • Vocal Ensemble: 16 straight years of Superior ratings.
  • Participants in the CSUN arts exhibit.
  • Winner of the Brad Sherman Congressional Art Competition