The Arts Department at Gann Academy encompasses a full range of academic courses, clubs, and performing organizations. All of this activity is dedicated to the following goals:

1. Providing the opportunity for students already committed to an art form to develop their skills and artistic vision under the tutelage of working, professional artists.
2. Providing the opportunity and inspiration for those not already involved in the arts to discover their own creativity, and experience the power of the world's masterpieces.
3. For all students to leave our school having gained a level of cultural literacy that will allow them to address the human experience with the open heart and mind required to be an informed and compassionate citizen of our strange and complicated world.

Students are required to take at least eight trimesters in the arts over four years, but are free to choose which courses they take.

Must have previous acting experience at Gann Academy or instructor permission. This class will focus on the individual and his or her role. We will explore the actor's imagination, text skills, and embodying the dramatic moment. We will also work on external character development. Students will be expected to work independently and come to class prepared to show their work. By the end of the trimester, students will be able to analyze a scene on their own and perform it. 

Acting is the art of creating something from nothing before the eyes of the audience. It demands a strong imagination, incisive intelligence, focus and discipline, as well as the ability to interact openly and intimately with others. This class will focus on foundational acting skills using group acting exercises, scenes and monologues. No previous experience necessary. Welcome to the theatre!  

This course will focus on individual and scene work. The class will explore commitment to the imagination, clarity of thought and intentions, and understanding text. Students will work on monologues and scenes, with a few exercises thrown in. This class requires self-discipline and personal motivation. Open to students who have previously taken an acting class at Gann Academy. 

Why do people go to museums? Why do people travel thousands of miles just to see a painting? In this course we will unlock the beauty and expression of great paintings. We will learn how to analyze works of art according to composition, color, light and form. Through class discussions, art projects, and readings we will begin to develop a strong art vocabulary in order to talk about art in a sophisticated manner. Although this is primarily a purely academic course, some drawing and/or painting will be required.  

This course will be an introduction to significant ideas and developments in music and art. Students will develop skills in listening to music and looking at art in order to increase literacy in the arts and explore the expression of human development through these media. This will be a fast paced and exhilarating experience meant to challenge any preconceptions that students may have about these art forms.  

This class will expose students to Pilates, Yoga, and other exercise systems based on body/mind connections. The class will also explore Experiential Anatomy and Performance Imagery as they pertain to sports, dance, theater, and life. 

This studio-based class is open to anyone with an interest in movement and dance. Class will begin with a warm-up to get students comfortable in their bodies, and will involve full-bodied physicality. The course aims to expose students to modern dance principles, creative process (improvisation and choreography), and modern dance history. Students will perform their works as an integral part of this class.  

An in-depth exploration of contemporary ceramic sculpture for all levels. Every trimester, we will choose at least one master sculptor and study his or her techniques and stylistic choices and learn from their mastery. This trimester we will be studying the figurative work of Christine Federighi and learning from her expertise. Students will then search into their own lives and express themselves in meaningful ways while learning the basic elements of art and design. 

An in depth hands-on exploration of ceramic vessels through the lens of Greek Pottery for all levels. Every trimester will be a different experiential journey into historical ceramics. As we learn about masterful potters, we learn the techniques and styles that worked so well and have lasted through time. Then, we make them our own in a contemporary teenage Jewish way. Students will learn techniques for personal expression in clay and glazes.  

Must have taken a prior ceramic/scuplture class at Gann. We will use more advanced techniques, such as lidded vessels, larger sculptures, and tile murals. We will also move into more specialized and personalized projects. We will be guided by the insights of the contemporary artists, and explore cutting edge technology in clay.  

Explore the art of clay through a series of cool hand-made projects. We will explore lots of techniques including coiling, slab work, wheel throwing, and surface design. We will gain inspiration from historic and contemporary ceramic artists, and you will have an opportunity to personally express yourself within a series of projects that are ideal for daily use, for gifts, or to display.  

The Gann Academy Chamber Music Ensembles rehearse and perform music in the ensembles ranging from duets to quintets. Students are open to the elements of a varied repertoire including styles from the Renaissance to present day. Students expand their technical skills, musicianship and rehearsal techniques. Class time includes faculty coaching, independent ensemble rehearsal and individual practice. Rehearsals are two days per week and the ensemble performs at our major school performances as well as other events throughout the year.  

Good writing not only informs its readers, it renews their awareness of the terrors and wonders of the startling world. What makes one piece of writing stronger and deeper then lesser pieces? Our goals as writers do not merely include creating a world that holds our readers spellbound, but also to give these readers a fresh perspective on their relation to the world outside the poem, story, and essay. Over the course of the year, we will examine classic and contemporary poetry, short fiction, and various areas of creative non-fiction as the basis of three individual trimester-long discussions on craft and composition. The course will feature one class per week focused on reading and elements of the craft, with the second class reserved for workshop (peer critique/review).  

Dance Team is a hip-hop/jazz performing group made up of dancers who are chosen by an audition process. Dance Team performs at Gann Academy sports events, performance events and outside competions. Dance Team meets twice weekly during an arts block to study technique, choreograph and rehearse numbers, with possible additional practices as needed. Dance Team is a serious year-long commitment to excellence. There is a major leadership component to the group, with students taking charge of organizing and some choreography.  

This course will focus on theater as a collaborative art. The class will explore elements of the imagination, focus, character, personal interaction, and working as a group. This is not an improv class, but students will use many improv exercises throughout the year. Emphasis will be placed on personal application and cooperation. No previous acting experience required. 

From D.W. Griffith to Cecil B. DeMille, through the complex web of Hitchcock to the blockbusting technique of Spielberg, movies have captured the imagination of the world. Throughout the year, the class explores the roots of cinema and forays from the earliest days of silent films through the time of talkies and nickelodeons to the era of blockbusters and modern Hollywood. By the end of the year, the students will have gained a firm understanding of the cinematic language and an appreciation for the cinematic art. 

This is Gann's larger mixed vocal ensemble, open to all students, regardless of singing experience. Repertoire is varied from both accompanied and a cappella music from the 15th century madrigals to 21st century contemporary songs. Students focus on the improvement of proper vocal technique, sight-reading skills, tone and detail to phrasing. Rehearsals are two days per week, and the ensemble performs at our major school performances as well as participating in several smaller performances each year. This course is a prerequisite for SheniGanns.  

This course will focus on fundamental guitar skills--great for a beginner or anyone who wants to play better. Students will learn many styles and techniques, music notation, tablature, play chords, accompany other musicians, as well as, improvise. We will look at the history of the guitar, its importance in the music world, and how the instrument is used in other cultures. Students will play acoustic guitars.  

Students learn traditional techniques of observational drawing and painting using a variety of media including charcoal, ink, and paint. This is a foundation course which is required for more advanced painting classes. 

Students in this course learn both modern and traditioinal Israeli dances. The students also learn choreography in order to perform dances and to choreograph their own pieces. Students perform in both school and local venues.  

The Jazz Ensemble is a combo-sized improvising band. We perform standard repertoire by artists such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and many others. All instruments are welcome.  

This class is open to anyone with an interest in movement and dance. Class will begin with a warm-up to get students comfortable in their bodies, and will expose students to both modern dance technique and creative process. Trimester option. 

Each trimester will begin with a unit on the fundamental structures of music (rhythm, melody, harmony and form) and the development of listening skills. Each term addresses the development of these musics and the social and historical contexts in which they occur.
1st Trimester - Popular Music: Think "popular" just means Rock music? Think again. We'll listen to music from the 13th century French troubadours through the songs on this week's charts and everything in between.
2nd Trimester - Jazz: Jazz is the only art form born and bred in the USA. Jazz is a virtuostic and challenging music, full of passion and filled with larger than life personalities. Its improvisational core means it is fresh and newly invented everyday. Jazz history is the history of America in the 20th century.
3rd Trimester - Classical: The history of the European art music tradition from Gregorian chant to the 20th century. Why does 200 year old music still have such enormous power to move us today? We'll examine masterworks such as Beethoven's symphonies and Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring'.  

This is a course for the more experienced musician. (All style backgrounds are welcome.) By working through a series of composition projects and ear-training we will learn how the elements of Western Music; melody, harmony, rhythm and form together create a complete musical experience. Students will have created a portfolio of short pieces at the end of the course.  

Must have taken Introduction to Painting and Drawing. Advanced Painting and Drawing will cover different topics each trimester with projects influenced by music, narratives, world events and ideas. The class is designed to enhance the student's visual awareness and promote the individual's voice.  

Using a variety of materials including paint, charcoal and collage, students will learn how to draw what they see and what they imagine. This is a course for both the artistically gifted and those students who "think" they are artistically challenged. It is a primer and prerequisite for all other painting and drawing classes.  

Students are responsible for providing their own 35 mm manual camera (not just point and shoot). Students also must have taken Introduction to Photography. For those who have darkroom experience, this advanced photography class will use traditional darkroom techniques, in addition to experimental and alternative methods of creating and displaying a photographic image. The class will revolve primarily around the creation and critique of black and white photography, but will also address digital color photography.  

Students must provide their own 35mm manual camera (not a point and shoot) This introductory photography course covers the fundamental elements of picture taking and darkroom developing. You will learn technical and expressive ways of analyzing, capturing, developing, and printing black and white images. This class is a good opportunity for beginners, or those that may just want a refresher.  

ShenaniGanns is a select group of singers that study and perform a wide range of Jewish, soul, and pop music in the close harmony, a cappella style. Students gain skills in blend, balance, tone, and healthy vocal techniques. 

Bringing Hollywood one step closer with every class--come and learn the basics all independent filmmakers need to know! Scripting to storyboarding, lighting to shooting, editing to distribution: everything you need to take your ideas from inside your head to the silver screen. Whether drama, comedy, horror or sci-fi is your genre of choice, you will find the building blocks to make your very own short films right here.  

This class will introduce the world of stagecraft - the art of producing theater. Students will learn fundamental skills in carpentry, sound, and lighting. They will examine each element individually, through hands-on, practical activities, and then consider how all these might blend to create a seamless production.