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Curriculum

Fine Arts

Calvert Hall offers an outstanding opportunity to students talented in the Arts.  This opportunity finds its roots in the School's Philosophy: "To assist each student in becoming a man of culture, receptive to God's gifts of truth, beauty and good-ness".  The Fine Arts Program at Calvert Hall College currently focuses on four areas of artistic development:  Instrumental Music, Choral Music, Visual Arts, and Dramatic Arts.  A student may concentrate in one area or experience several.

  • Fund of Music - 710

    Students will develop their basic musicianship skills through performing a wide array of repertoire on their primary band instrument. Tone production, breathing, intonation, rhythm counting, and overall music literacy are backbone of the class’s design.

  • Foundations of Music Theory - 711

    The Foundations of Music Theory course is designed to provide the students with a comprehensive understanding of tonal music. The course will deal with harmonic progression through vocal and instrumental textures.

  • Jazz Theory & Improvisation I - 712A

    The Jazz Theory & Improvisation I course is designed for the jazz musician who wants to have a better understanding of the language of jazz. The student will learn the essentials of jazz music through analysis, ear training, and performance.

  • Music Composition - 715

    The Music Composition/Arranging course investigates arranging and composing techniques. Students will compose, arrange, and conduct several compositions as part of the course. The course will expose strategies and techniques for effective writing.

  • History of Jazz - 716

    History of Jazz course provides an in depth look at the major jazz styles that emerged from the early 1900’s to the present, through the study of significant jazz musicians and composers and an extensive look at historic recordings.

  • Acting Workshop - 798

     
    798 - Acting Workshop Grades 11, 12 0.5 Credits.
      
    This course, open to students at any skill level, develops the discipline and the physicality of the actor. The actor works individually, in small groups, and in ensembles, utilizing his imagination, to pursue objectives, create and overcome objects and obstacles, develop characters, and present scenes and one-act plays. Students develop intense focus, concentration, and physical movement through creative theatrical activities, scene work, and performance opportunities. Students complete a semester final performance and /or project approved by the teacher.
      
    ***Note: Student must be enrolled in courses totaling 6 credits, in addition to this course. Prerequisite: Approval of Instructor. 

  • History of Rock and Roll - 717

    The History of Rock & Roll course is designed to discuss the history of popular music styles with a focus on rock music. The main purpose is to organize the repertory into specific categories and genres.

  • Introduction to Music - 718

    The Introduction to music course is designed to provide students with little or no musical experience the opportunity to obtain a basic knowledge of the elements of music including melody, rhythm (meter), harmony, & form through choral/solo singing.

  • Guitar - 720

    The beginning guitar course is geared towards those students with little or no guitar experience. Students will be introduced to basic music theory, as well as basic guitar playing skills. Students must provide their own guitar.

  • Intermediate Guitar - 721

    The Intermediate Guitar course is designed to directly follow the Introduction to Guitar course. It will cover more advanced material such as the music theory behind the formation of chords, and the various scales common to blues, country, and flamenco.

  • Music History - 726

    The Music History course is designed as an introduction to the art of listening to music. This course begins with a focus on the fundamental elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, form, etc.).

  • Hallmen Chorus - 730

    Large choir (75-85) open to all grades, but consists of mostly juniors and seniors with prior singing experience; will compete in the Men’s Choir division at festivals; repertoire will consist of large accompanied and a capella works for men’s choir.

  • Solo Vocal Music - 732

    The Solo Vocal Music course is designed to provide students of all levels of proficiency the opportunity to build singing technique through the study of various solo vocal repertoire including, but not limited to, classical and musical theatre genres.

  • Jazz - 740

    The Jazz Ensemble focuses on music from the jazz idiom, from Big Band, swing, be-bop, Latin, rock, and contemporary styles of jazz. The Jazz Band is by audition only. Eligibility is based on participation in the Band program.

  • Chamber Chorus - 741

    Chamber group (28-32 singers) is the core group of singers for the CHC Choral Department who are invited from the HALLMEN by the director, to perform advanced (Level 5-6) classical a cappella music ranging from the Classical period to modern times.

  • Brass Ensemble - 742

    The Brass Ensemble consists of brass performers, who look to improve fundamental skills through a small ensemble setting. These ensembles will perform chamber style literature with intent to open the students to music generally not performed in concert.

  • Woodwind Ensemble - 744

    The Woodwind Ensemble consists of woodwind performers, who look to improve fundamental skills through a small ensemble setting. These ensembles will perform chamber style literature with intent to open the students to music.

  • String Ensemble - 746

    The String Orchestra consists of instrumentalists who look to improve fundamental skills through a three-tiered performance group structure (chamber ensemble, string orchestra, and full symphonic orchestra).

  • Percussion Ensemble - 748

    The Percussion Ensemble consists of percussionists, who look to improve fundamental skills through a small ensemble setting.

  • Basic Art - 751

    This is a fine arts Studio Class for students with concentration on drawing and visual perceptive skills. Students will experiment with a wide range of materials in approaching art as an artist.

  • Advanced Drawing and Painting I - 761

    In this fine arts Studio Class students develop greater command of technical skills through various media. Overall, it is a “Portfolio Preparation” course meant to build and refine 2-D work for college and AP Studio Art Portfolios.

  • Advanced Drawing and Painting II - 762

    In this course a student develops an understanding of the anatomy of the human figure.  Spatial relationships of objects, and the design of a picture plane containing man and his environment from black and white to color are included.   At this point the course becomes open-ended and encourages student self-reliance and independence. The student is required to purchase his own painting materials; however, some materials will be furnished by the school.
    Prerequisite: Basic Art (751) and Approval of the Art Instructor.
     

  • Sculpture and Design I - 771

    Emphasis will be on using various materials to express three-dimensional ideas. This course will involve mixing of clay, figurative modeling, plaster and wood carving. Students are encouraged to develop their ideas.

  • AP Art - 791

    This course is intended for highly motivated students committed to serious study in art who have completed Basic Art and Advanced Painting or Sculpture and Design. Students must submit a general portfolio or drawing portfolio to the AP.

  • Fund of Art - 775

    Intro to Art is designed to give students a basic understanding and appreciation of visual art. Students are offered the opportunity to explore various visual art forms and techniques in an introductory level art course.

  • Theatre as an Art Form - 795

    795 - Theatre as an Art Form: Grades 10, 11, 12 0.5 Credits.
     
    This course is designed to be primarily performance-based but will also teach students theatre history and methods of actor preparation. The student will learn about theatre from its earliest inception to Broadway in the 21st Century, exploring the drama of cultures throughout the world. The student will also examine the actor's craft and performance through improvisation and various monologues and scenes. Specific attention will be paid to theatre in Baltimore and opportunities at Calvert Hall to further "Real Life" involve­ment. 
     
    ** Fulfills the sophomore fine arts requirement.
     
    ***Note: Student must be enrolled in courses totaling 6 credits, in addition to this course. Prerequisite: Approval of Instructor. 

  • Basics of Piano - 719

    This beginning piano course is geared towards those students with little or no piano experience. Students will be introduced to basic music theory, as well as basic piano playing technique and easy/novice level classical and popular repertoire.                                                           
    ***Note: Student must be enrolled in courses totaling 6 credits, in addition to this course.

    Fulfills Fine Art Requirement.

  • Jazz Theory & Improvisation II - 712B

    Jazz Theory and Improvisation II is the next step for those interested in the art of improvisation. Students will focus on performance and a deeper understanding of harmony, including non-chord tones, chord extensions and non-standard harmonic progressions. 

  • Jazz Theory II - 755

    • Jazz Theory and Improvisation II is the next step for students interested in the art of jazz music improvisation. Students will focus on performance and a deeper understanding of harmony, including non-chord tones, chord extensions and non-standard harmonic progressions. Students will also work on the principals of voice leading, and how to apply them to the art of improvisation.

    Prerequisites: successful completion of Jazz Theory I and teacher recommendation. 

     

  • Sculpture and Design II - 772

    Emphasis will be on using various materials to express three-dimensional ideas. This course will involve mixing of clay, figurative modeling, plaster and wood carving. Students are encouraged to develop their ideas.

  • The Art of Film

    This course is intended to familiarize students with the merits -- both artistic and technical -- of a broad cross-section of motion pictures. Students will critically analyze films with particular attention to the mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, and narrative style. At the course’s conclusion, students will be able to construct and defend critical hierarchies between seemingly disparate films using technical vocabulary and specific cinematic reference.

  • The Art of Film - 725S

    This course is intended to familiarize students with the merits -- both artistic and technical -- of a broad cross-section of motion pictures. Students will critically analyze films with particular attention to the mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, and narrative style. At the course’s conclusion, students will be able to construct and defend critical hierarchies between seemingly disparate films using technical vocabulary and specific cinematic reference.

Faculty

  • Photo of Brian Ecton
    Brian Ecton
    Fine Arts -Department Chair, Director of Instrumental Music
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  • Photo of James Doyle
    James Doyle
    Visual Arts
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  • Photo of Rob Smith
    Rob Smith
    Associate Director of Instrumental Music
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  • Photo of George Wilkerson
    George Wilkerson
    Director of Vocal Music
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8102 La Salle Rd 
Baltimore, MD 21286-8022 
(410) 825-4266