Visual and Performing Arts

Lancaster High School is proud to offer its students a variety of visual, performing and digital-arts classes.  In these courses, students will be exposed to new forms of literacy, acquiring novel ways to read and respond to the world all while developing self-confidence and self-understanding.  As well, our young people will learn to enjoy beauty and question what it means to be a human in society.  These are valuable 21st century skills enabling our students to solve creative and technical problems, tolerate risk, uncertainty, and ambiguity, and of course, find meaningful employment.

Instructors: 

Gema Balladeras- Rm#230 -gballadares@avhsd.org

Jonathan Ruggiano- Rm#236 - jruggiano@avhsd.org

Jordin Rice- Rm#221 - jrice@avhsd.org

Denise Wilkins- Rm#234- dwilkins@avhsd.org

Learn about the basic foundation of art, the elements of art and principles of design and explore different mediums. This course will allow you to continue on with more advanced art courses.

Instructor: Jordin Rice- Rm#221 - jrice@avhsd.org

Apply the basics of what was learned in your foundation art course to create artworks that are idea based while still incorporating the elements of art and principles of design. You will continue to enhance your artistic skills and style while exploring different mediums. (Recommended prerequisite Art 1) 

Instructor: Rose Max- Rm#235 -rmax@avhsd.org 

Everyone has the capacity to interpret and create images! Within Visual Imagery you will learn about the history of photography, become visually literate, and most importantly have the opportunity to express ideas and create by TAKING PICTURES. Adobe Photoshop will be our main image editing software and you will have the opportunity to interpret projects based on your interests/ likes to ensure you create pieces you can be proud of.

Instructor: Gema Balladeras- Rm#230 -gballadares@avhsd.org

This course is intended for those studying ceramics for the first time using hand building techniques. It is a comprehensive introduction to the craft of clay working through creation of different objects. (Recommended prerequisites Art 1 or Sculpture 1)

Instructor: Gema Balladeras- Rm#230 -gballadares@avhsd.org

Continued exploration of basic hand building and wheel throwing techniques. Emphasis on developing proficiency in clay use and surface applications. (Recommended prerequisite Ceramics 2)

Instructor: Gema Balladeras- Rm#230 -gballadares@avhsd.org

 Learn about different painting techniques as well as different paint mediums such as acrylic, and watercolors while developing your own style. Students will create observational, abstract and non-objective artworks through responses to a variety of prompts: still-life, landscape, and portraits. (Recommended prerequisites Art 1 or Sculpture 1)

Instructor: Gema Balladeras- Rm#230 -gballadares@avhsd.org

 An intermediate level course to expand students' technical and conceptual painting skills from observation, research and imagination with increasing complexity of concept/content. (Recommended prerequisite Painting 1)

Instructor: Denise Wilkins- Rm#234- dwilkins@avhsd.org

 Learn how to work and think in 3D by creating different sculptural projects using a variety of materials:   clay, plaster, paper, wire, and found objects.

Instructor: Jonathan Ruggiano- Rm#236 - jruggiano@avhsd.org

It is recommended that you have taken at least one art foundation course in order to register for Intro to Film. Learn about filming that includes video work and script writing.

Jonathan Ruggiano- Rm#236 - jruggiano@avhsd.org

Denise Wilkins- Rm#234- dwilkins@avhsd.org

Students at this level undertake semester long projects. The theme and scope of the project is chosen in consultation with their teacher. Students learn their own capacity to work, plan, organize and sustain a project over a length of time. 

• AP 2D - Students develop works in 2D.

• AP 3D -Students develop works in 3D.

Instructor: Sara Larson- Rm #301- slarson@avhsd.org

Instructor: Sara Larson- Rm #5- slarson@avhsd.org

Instructor: Sara Larson- Rm #5- slarson@avhsd.org

Instructor: Sara Larson- Rm #5- slarson@avhsd.org

Instructor: Norman Schmidtbergar- Rm#8 - nschmidtberger@avhsd.org

This class is designed to teach students the fundamentals of guitar playing. Topics include reading standard notation and tablature, playing single line melodies, most standard open chords as well as some more advanced chords, common strumming patterns, power chords, classical style fingerpicking, and more. Class focuses on teaching these concepts through playing of different songs in a variety of styles. Prior experience with guitar is not required and students are not required to own a guitar.

Instructor: Norman Schmidtbergar- Rm#8 - nschmidtberger@avhsd.org

These classes are designed for all percussion students from beginner to advanced players. The goal of the class is to explore all aspects of percussion playing, including drums and mallet instruments, reading music, and understanding other music fundamentals like rudiments and scales. Students will work in class on individual performance skills as well as performing together as a group. No previous experience is required for Percussion 1, Advanced Percussion students must have already taken and passed Percussion 1. Concert performances are a graded component of class.

 Instructor: Norman Schmidtbergar- Rm#8 - nschmidtberger@avhsd.org

This class is a music ensemble class meant for students who play a wind instrument or would like to learn one. In this class we work to improve the performance skills of each student as well as music fundamentals. Topics include performance of music of varying styles, regular concert and festival performances, ear training, rhythm reading, and other fundamental elements of music performance. Prior experience on a wind instrument is not required though it is recommended. 9th and 10th grade students should enroll in Concert Band, as well as students new to playing. 11th and 12th grade students with playing experience should enroll in Wind Ensemble.

Instructor: Norman Schmidtbergar- Rm#8 - nschmidtberger@avhsd.org

The Lancaster High School Marching Band is one of the premiere marching bands in Southern California. The band regularly receives an invitation to the highly competitive SCSBOA Field Championships and is known for their creative and engaging performances combining winds, percussion, and Color Guard performers. This group rehearses daily in 7th period, performs at football games, and competes regularly throughout Fall semester as well. 9th and 10th grade students receive PE credit for the class, 11th and 12th grade receive VAPA elective credit. Prior music experience is not required but is recommended. Students in Marching Band are required to also enroll in a year-long music course (Percussion, Concert Band, Show Corps) as well.

Instructor: Norman Schmidtbergar- Rm#8 - nschmidtberger@avhsd.org

 This class is intended for students who are part of the school Color Guard or interested in joining. Students learn to perform in competitive Color Guard, an activity that combines dance and twirling, using various pieces of equipment and props to create engaging performances. The Color Guard performs and competes as an integral part of the Marching Band during Fall and in their own set of competitions during the Spring semester. No prior experience is required for this course.

Instructor: Zanon Schmidt- Rm#7-  zschmidt@avhsd.org

In Drama I, the students will be learning about and partaking in many different aspects of theater art. This will include, but is not limited to, an introduction to voice and body movement in acting, improvisation, theater and acting history, stage awareness and knowledge, different acting styles, and skills for various mediums. They will also be doing scene work with other students in the class, as well as performing monologues.

Instructor: Zanon Schmidt- Rm#7-  zschmidt@avhsd.org

 In any of the “Advanced Drama” sections, students will continue to learn about and partake in many different aspects of theater art. All of the elements in Drama I will be reintroduced and expanded upon. Students will take part in several group projects and also be called upon to explore other elements of theater, including but not limited to, technical theater, directing, design, writing, and the relationship between film and stage with special regard to performance.