Durham School of the Arts Rising 8th Grade Registration Parent Night

2.  To assist DSA parents with helping their
student make appropriate elective choices by
providing current elective course registration
information and answering any questions
pertaining to the registration process for
rising 8th graders

3.  Registration time-line
 Sample Registration forms
 Dance
 Chorus
 Theater
 Orchestra
 Guitar
 Piano
 Band
 Visual Arts (2d/3d)
 CreativeWriting
 Foreign Language (Spanish/French)
 Digital Arts
 Questions

4.  NoTeams
 Mr. Glenn will be your Assistant Principal and
Ms. Middleton will be your Counselor.
 7 class periods
 Most of you will take 2 electives and PE
 8th Graders eat lunch in the Main Cafeteria (no
other grades)

5.  Feb 11th- Seventh Grade Parent Night from 6:00 to 7:00 Media
Center
 Feb 18th and 19th- Registration in Social Studies Classes
 Feb 20th -JointTeam Signing Day, 8:45 to 9:25 in MS Cafeteria
 Feb 20nd- Registration forms sent home for parents’ review and
signatures
 Feb 21st and 22nd- Registration forms must be returned to Social
StudiesTeachers.
 Feb 22nd- Music Assessment at 8:45 to 9:25 in MS Cafeteria.
 Feb 25th- Creative Writing Portfolios due to Ms. Barbaza,T115

8.  Middle School Ensemble is a technique based class for 8th graders that
will continue to build on the technique training that have learned in the
dance department. Emphasis will be placed on increasing understanding
of the foundations of dance each day in class through technical exercises
and choreographic exploration.
 Advanced Middle School is the highest level offered in middle school and
is also technique based. Students placed in this class typically have prior
dance training and are familiar with the basic foundations of dance and
have displayed such knowledge daily in class as well as through their
assessment.

9.  Intro toWomen’s Chorus
 A beginning-level class for female students who are new to choral singing
and/or did not take 7th Grade Women’s Ensemble within the DSA Chorus
Program.
 Intro to Men’s Chorus
 A beginning-level class for male students who are new to choral singing
and/or did not take 7th Grade Men’s Ensemble within the DSA Chorus
Program.
 Eighth GradeWomen’s Ensemble
 An advanced-level class for female students who have taken 7th Grade
Women’s EnsembleOR Intro toWomen’s Chorus as a 7th grade student at
DSA.
 Eighth Grade Men’s Ensemble
 An advanced-level class for young male singers who have taken 7th Grade
Men’s EnsembleOR Intro to Men’s Chorus as a 7th grade student at DSA.

10.  ADVANCED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDIO
 Length: FullYear
 Level: Intermediate
 Prerequisites:Creative Dramatics and
teacher permission
 This course is designed for the student who
enjoys acting.
 Students will learn to develop voice, create
dynamic characters, evaluate/critique dramatic
pieces, and perform in scenes and one-act plays
for the public.
 THEATRE FUNDAMENTALS
 Length: FullYear
 Level: Intermediate
 Prerequisites: Prior theatre experience
preferred
 Theatre Pathway starter course
 An exploratory class in performance and
technical theatre for students who are beginning a
theatre concentration or interested in all aspects
of theatre arts.
 Students will read plays and perform scenes and
monologues as well as explore technical projects--
like set design and costuming--required to bring a
play from the page to the stage.

11.  String Fundamentals- For students who have never played a string
instrument and want to begin onViolin,Viola,Cello or String Bass.
 String Development- For students who already plan instrument (band or
string) and wish to learn an additional string instrument; advanced
beginners
 StringTechnique -This class is designed to move students from
Beginning String Orchestra to learning expanded technical skills and
extended range on instrument. Students will learn more complex
rhythms and expanded concert repertoire
 String Ensemble -The String Ensemble is designed for advanced
Intermediate level orchestra students. Students must be placed by the
director
 Philharmonic Orchestra- This ensemble is designed for advanced
intermediate plays, and placement is determined by directors.

12.  All students should have a basic understanding of music notation
(passing the 7th grade music theory test).
 IntroTo Guitar – for students new to guitar. Introduces basic
concepts of guitar (chords, scales, simple melody and harmony).
 Guitar Fundamentals – for students with some experience on
guitar. Presents all of the basic concepts as well as intermediate-
level techniques. (Beginner/Intermediate)
 Guitar Styles – Strengthens existing technical skill while introducing
more advanced concepts. For students that have completed
Fundamentals. (Intermediate)
 Guitar Ensemble - The completer course of the guitar program.
By teacher recommendation via student assessment. (Proficient)

13.  The Piano program consist of 6 Piano Lab Levels
 7th grade students must demonstrate the ability to read music
 All Piano candidates are auditioned in both written and playing formats
prior to selection in to the program
 Piano Lab 1-6
 The classes focuses attention on piano literature, technique and music
theory
 Students learn through individualized instruction using musical works
from masters such as various pieces by Beethoven, Mozart,
Schumann, Scarlatti, and Chopin
 Students are expected to perform at a public school recital at least
once each semester
 Honors levels three and four may accompany other instrumentalists
or singers, ensembles, play in chamber music ensembles, play in the
pit orchestra for musicals or play in jazz bands
 1 hour to forty-five minutes daily of outside practice is expected

14.  Beginning Band
 For students interested in trying a band instrument for the first time. Or, those
students that want to take a second band instrument.
 Cadet Band
 For students that have successfully completed Beginning Band.
 Middle School Wind Ensemble
 For students that have successfully completed Cadet Band, auditioned for
placement, and have band director recommendation to be placed at this level.
 Beginning Percussion
 For students that have successfully completed a beginning music class, passed
a short music reading quiz, and are recommended by the percussion teacher.
 Jazz Stage Band
 For students that have successfully completed Intermediate Band and have
band director recommendation.

15. Media & Design
 This 2nd level foundations course is open to 8th
graders who have demonstrated excellent skill
and motivational development during their 7th
grade visual arts courses
 Develop 2D and 3D design skills using a variety
of media such as pencil, pen, paint, clay, wire,
wood, and digital photography
 While primarily a hands-on course, there is an
art history component that explores how
artists have made works in other time periods.
Art Fundamentals
 A variety of 2D and 3D media such as pencil,
pen, paint, clay, wire, wood
 Developing basic skills for succeeding in a
visual arts concentration.These skills include:
step-by-step project development, daily work
habits, and understanding of visual arts terms
 Designed for students starting out theirVisual
Arts Concentration or “testing the art waters”
 The course is a prerequisite for taking Media &
Design
 VisualArts Concentration starter course

16.  Creative Writing Survey for Eighth
Graders
 Explore different types of writing such as
journalistic articles, personal essays,
poetry, and fiction.
 Practice the processes of drafting, editing,
and revising.
 Work on pieces of interest to the writer
 Refine the processes of drafting, editing,
and revising.
 Submit work to be published in a variety of
formats
 Those who wish to pursue the Writing
Pathway in high school will prepare their
portfolios.
 Students who wish to take Creative
Writing should submit a portfolio of their
own writing, which includes:
 A brief explanation of why they want to
take Creative Writing
 A poem of 10-25 lines
 A longer work (fiction or non-fiction) of up
to three pages
 The Language Arts teacher’s signature of
recommendation
 The portfolio should be submitted to Mrs.
Barbaza,T115.

17.  This is a high school level class where high school credits can be
earned.
 Students learn basic vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
 The World Languages Department recommends students entering
these course have strong reading and writing skills
 Students must have at least:
an 90 overall average in 7th grade ELA
85 overall average in 7th grade Math
5 on Reading/ELA EOG
 Students must receive a recommendation from their ELA and
Math teacher
 Students must have demonstrated consistent work ethic in ELA
and Math

18.  Exploring Career Decisions – 1st
Semester
 Students explore careers relevant to
the digital arts
 Main Focus – Digital Media
 They also explore digital skills
relevant for any class
 Tools explored include:
 Graphic design with Photoshop
& Illustrator
 Audio/Video Editing with
Premiere,Audition & After
Effects
 Basic digital citizenship &
common productivity
applications
 Technology Design & Innovation –
2nd Semester
 Students continue to explore digital
art applications
 Main Focus – Game Design
 Tools explored include:
 Continue work with Adobe CC
Suite
 3D modeling with Autodesk 3ds
Max
 Programming usingC# in the
Unity game engine
 These courses are designed to help prepare
students for the digital world we live in
today and beyond. All work is computer
based and online. Students do not need to
have the software used at home. These
courses must be taken together as a pair.