Complementary Courses
Students at Grandview Heights have a choice of Music or Drama in grade 7, Music or Career and Technology Foundations in grade 8, and Music or Art in grade 9. The course descriptions are as follows:
Music 7, 8, and 9 (Band) is a course where students will learn the basics of music theory while learning how to play a concert band instrument. Playing an instrument has many benefits, namely that it is life-giving and makes us feel alive! Instrument options include Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Saxophone (Alto, Tenor or Baritone), French Horn, Trumpet, Baritone, Trombone, Tuba, and Percussion. Secondary benefits of learning an instrument include faster development of speech and reading skills, increased ability to focus for sustained periods of time, building a sense of empathy for others, and enhancement of overall coordination. Students in Band explore different genres of music while honing and developing the lifelong skill of learning an instrument. Our bands have several performances, ranging from Band festivals, clinics, and Band tours across the country.
Drama 7 is a course that gives students opportunities to: (1) acquire knowledge of self and others through participation in and reflection on dramatic experiences, (2) develop more competency in communication skills through participation in and exploration of various dramatic disciplines, and (3) to develop an appreciation for drama and theatre as a process and art form. This means they will learn to apply their knowledge of Drama through the disciplines of Orientation, Movement, Speech, Improvisation and Acting.
Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) 8 is a course that gives students opportunities to explore interests and develop skills related to real-life problem-solving and potential future careers. This means they will learn to apply their knowledge of computer technologies and software to solve problems and create meaningful connections and products This may include topics such as computer basics, google app basics, photo editing, video production, 3D printing, coding, animation and other topics driven by student interest.
Art 9 is a unified sequential course that focuses on three major components of visual learning: ( 1) drawings or delineations – all the ways we record visual information and discoveries; (2) compositions or structures – all the ways images are put together to create meaning and (3) encounters with art – where we meet and how we respond to visual imagery. Students will incorporate some of the following principles and techniques in their work. They will create compositions in both two and three dimensions, record objects alone and in compositions, employ space, proportion and relationships for image making, and investigate the effects of controlling form, color and space in response to selected visual problems.