Visual and Performing Arts

Ceramics

This course will provide an introduction to basic ceramic hand-building techniques, including pinching, coil, and slab construction, as well as glazing and firing processes. We will research and apply techniques and approaches used in historical and contemporary ceramics. In addition to sculpting and constructing hand built vessels, students will research and learn about the geological origins of clay material, particular cultural approaches to ceramics throughout history, and contemporary ceramic artists and the innovative methods they use. Students will create a body of their own work, and the class will take part in critiques to support one another’s development as ceramic artists.

Painting Now & Then

Painting, Now & Then is a dynamic studio course open to all skill levels, focused on hands-on exploration of painting techniques and personal artistic growth. Students will work with watercolor, acrylic, oil paint, and abstract expression, while developing foundational skills in color theory and composition. The course includes creating a master copy to learn directly from a historical masterpiece. Collaboration and critique are key components, supporting each student’s creative development. The course culminates in a final piece to be featured in the Maybeck art show.

Illustration/Storytelling

Illustration is a studio course designed for the intermediate to advanced creative artist, making it ideal for students looking to refine their artistic voice. With a focus on storytelling, the design process, and skill-building based on individual goals, students will explore and elevate their illustration practice in a supportive, process-driven environment. Emphasis is placed on composition, visual hierarchy, and developing personal style through hands-on experimentation and guided feedback. The course culminates in students showcasing their refined work to an authentic audience at the Maybeck Art Show. One semester of another art class with Bex is a prerequisite.

Band

In this course, students will rehearse and perform a variety of musical styles and genres as an ensemble, strengthening their sense of musicianship and teamwork. In addition to developing their performance abilities, students will also learn to read music if they have no prior experience or will work to strengthen their reading capabilities. They will also be introduced to the foundations of music theory, composition, and improvisation which will aid them in their understanding of both their instrument and music in general. The course is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists with at least one year of performance experience.

Audio Production

This course introduces students to the professional tools and techniques used in today’s music and film industries. Students will develop their understanding of musical composition and electronic audio production through the study of the digital audio workstation software Ableton Live, MIDI, using looping and sampling, recording techniques, and analysis of popular works. They will also create podcasts utilizing recorded interviews, underscoring music, and sound design. Lastly, they will explore the world of cinematic sound through the study of the art of foley. Other topics covered include mixing and mastering, audio plug-ins, an introduction to synthesis, file management, and professional opportunities for sound professionals. Each project made in this course will be presented to the class for peer feedback.

Acting: Improv & Scene Study

This course will be centered on ensemble-building through the fundamentals of improv, collaborative scene-building, and scene study. We will begin the semester with games and exercises, centering joy and play in what it means to create an ensemble, while developing our improvisational toolkit. From there, we will work with scene-building prompts that will challenge us to engage the core principles of improv while beginning to explore opportunities for more nuanced character development and story-telling. We will conclude the semester with a study of two-character scenes in a rehearsal structure that continues to center the spontaneity and creative risk-taking of improv work in our approach to published scripts. At the end of the term, students will have the opportunity to share one or more of the pieces they worked on over the course of the semester in a showcase.

Acting: Devised Theatre

This course will be centered on ensemble-building through the fundamentals of improv as they support the creation of devised work. We will begin the semester with games and exercises that center joy and play in ensemble-building, while building a shared vocabulary – both verbal and movement-based – for our work together over the course of the semester. We will engage in practices and explore the endeavors of notable devised and participatory theatre makers, as we work towards creating our own piece of devised theatre. Our devising process will begin by generating a list of the most urgent questions for the times we are living in now, selecting the question(s) we most urgently want to address, and then deciding the steps we need to take collectively to bring our queries, thoughts, and feelings together into a single piece of theatre. At the end of the term, students will have the opportunity to perform their devised piece for an audience.