Kindergarten
1st-3rd Grade
Orchestra
In Vista’s 3rd grade beginning strings class, students have the exciting opportunity to explore performance on the violin/viola/cello/bass. This class is an introduction to the string family. Third graders will learn the proper violin/viola/cello/bass set-up, bow hold and correct left and right hand technique.
Dance & Theater
Children love to move and need to move. They learn through engagement of whole self. The power of dance and theater education inherently promotes within students lifelong learning, complex learning, effective communication, compassion, aesthetic awareness, collaboration skills, responsible citizenship and career readiness.
Exploring Technology
3rd grade exploring technology, is the place for students who love tech. Students will develop collaboration and communication skills through hands-on coding, robotics and engineering projects.
Orchestra
Offers students the opportunity to study violin, viola, cello, and bass in a string ensemble/orchestra setting. Right and left hand technique exercises, including scales, and arpeggios will be taught.
Piano
This class is designed to help students foster a love for piano music and playing music in general. This class offers a gradual and fun curriculum that focuses on reading by motion and fingerings, developing a sense of rhythm, playing along to accompaniment, and learning some fun songs to play at home.
Choir
This class is designed to encourage excellency in vocal music through choral singing and introductions to music theory. This is an auditioned class that can be chosen as an elective course. Throughout the year, students will explore performance etiquette, choral vocal technique, solo opportunities, music theory, movement in music, and many other related musical ideas.
Theater
All students should have the opportunity to experience the fine arts as part of a well-rounded curriculum and complete education. The study of drama helps students explore realities, relationships, and ideas that cannot be expressed simply in words, numbers, or the other arts.
Dance
In this class, students will learn proper dance technique and terminology. Classical ballet is the foundation while creative movement and basic Jazz skills are incorporated to give variety and versatility. Classes are structured around American Academy of Ballet and RAD syllabus.
Exploring Technology
In this elective course, students will explore many different components of technology. This hands on STEM class will introduce students to circuits, coding, robotics and more. Students will integrate basic code with robotic platforms such as sphero, drones, Lego EV3, and VEX IQ.
Visual Arts
In this course young students will explore a wide range of mediums and processes. An introduction to art foundations with an emphasis on understanding the Elements of Art and Principles of Design as a basis for composition.
Band
4th grade band is an opportunity for students to explore band instruments. You will learn written rhythm and musical notation all while exploring various band and percussion instruments. This class will give you a strong musical foundation to spring-board your learning into the next band class.
Beginning / Intermediate Band 2
6-9 grade beginning/intermediate band is a class where students will choose one band instrument (or percussion) to play and begin to develop good musical sounds as well as begin to work toward independent playing.
Advanced Band
6-9 grade advanced band is an audition only ensemble. This group will represent Vista School by playing at community events and will participate in judged performances and competitions. We will increase our musical knowledge to include: style, compositions, composers, theory, and form in addition to consistently striving toward excellence in reading, playing, and blending within our instrumental ensemble.
Concert Choir
This is a non auditioned group that requires students to have at least one full year of experience in another choir and selection from the director to participate in. Advanced choir performs in many events throughout the year and focuses on developing within each student strength in vocal music performance.
Advanced Choir
Audition Required
Advanced choir is an auditioned only group that will be performing in the community and representing Vista at festivals. It is our top traditional choir and students will be expected to put in after school hours for practice and performance preparation.
Dance Company
Audition Required
This is an auditioned class. Auditions are held in the spring. Dancers in this company are required to commit to performances in the Nutcracker, at Jubilee of Trees, and the Spring showcase. Vista’s Dance Company classes include Dance Apprentice, Dance Corps, Dance Soloist and Principal Dancers.
Dance Technique
This is a non-performance class in which students will learn proper dance technique and terminology. Classical ballet is the focus, while basic jazz skills are incorporated to give variety and versatility. Classes are taught based on Mignon Furman’s American Academy of Ballet Technique asa well as The Royal Academy of Dance Method.
Digital Media
This course is an introduction to creating digital projects with programs from the Adobe Creative Suite. During the first 12 weeks of class, students will learn about the elements of design, typography, and text manipulation as they create and work with vector shapes and use the basic tools in Adobe Illustrator.
6-9 Digital Graphic Arts / Yearbook
Digital Media is a prerequisite. This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the field of desktop publishing. The ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator will be explored in this class. Students will learn how to use tools to implement effective design strategies.
6-9 Digital Graphic Arts
Digital Media is a prerequisite. This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the field of desktop publishing. The ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator will be explored in this class. Students will learn how to use tools to implement effective design strategies.
Intro to 3D Design / Creative Coding Robotics / Engineering
An introduction to 3D design, 3D Printing, Coding, Robotics and Engineering. This course will cover all 4 areas and give students a basic understanding with hands on experience. 4 sections will be split up between two classes and two teachers. Students will rotate half way into the year to the other section.
Creative Coding-Robotics is an introductory course intended for students to explore the art of coding. With the growing demand for computer programmers, coding is an exciting career to explore.
8-9 Video Editing & Effects
Prerequisite: Video Production
After successfully completing the Movie Production course, students who want to continue to improve their video production skills can take this advanced course. This course will focus heavily on the post-production side of video production. Rather than filming during class, students will instead focus on editing and manipulating videos that have already been filmed.
7-9 Coding with Robotics
Intro to 3D Design / Creative Coding Robotics / Engineering
This course is designed to extend what is taught in intro to creative coding to the physical world of electronics and robotics. This lab-style class is where students will explore the application of various programming languages to see how they are used in the world around us.
7-9 Advanced Robotics
Prerequisite: Coding with Robotics OR Computer Engineering & 3D Design
Advanced Robotics is a hands-on project-based STEM education course where students work in teams to collaborate, design, and build a VEX robot and other robotic and automated systems.
7-9 Computer Engineering & 3D Design
Prerequisite: Intro to 3D Design/Creative Coding/Robotics/Engineering
Students will gain deeper knowledge and experience of Computer 3D Design. Students will use software programs such as Fusion 360, Tinkercad, Sketchup, Sculptris and other software to design these objects.
8-9 Robotics Technology / Engineering Technology
Manufacturing Technology is a half year class that is an introductory course that focuses on the world of manufacturing technology. This hands-on class will help students gain an understanding of how manufacturing technologies impact politics, the environment, society, and the economy.
6-9 Fitness For Life
Students will participate in planning and implementing different types of personal fitness programs, demonstrate competency in lifetime activities, describe key concepts associated with successful participation in physical activity, model responsible behavior while engaged in physical activity, and fill a need for self-expression, challenge, social interaction and enjoyment!
6-9 Guitar, Beginning
Must provide your own instrument.
This class is designed to foster a love of playing the guitar and music in general. Students will learn to read guitar tablature, develop their sense of rhythm, play chords to accompany melodies, and play as a group with different parts.
6-9 Guitar, Advanced
Must provide your own instrument.
This course covers basic barre chords, embellished chords, fingerpicking, moderately complex strumming patterns, note reading, composing, and improvising.
6-9 Musical Theatre
This class is for anyone in the 6th – 9th grade that is interested in being involved in and exploring the world of Musical Theatre! It is team-taught between the Music and Theater teachers. The Music section focuses heavily on learning to sing your own parts as part of a greater musical ensemble as well as singing solos from the Musical Theatre canon.
6-9 Music Dance Theatre Companies / Musical Cast
This class consists of our Auditioned 6th – 9th Graders. Students will audition for a spot in class in the spring of the previous school year for placement in it for the following school year. They will be placed into VRS, Vocal XPressions, or our new MDT Showcase Company.
*This is a 2-period class
7-9 Music Production
This course is intended to introduce students to technology related to music production. Students with a musical background or students with an interest in music will learn the skills to produce and record music.
6-9 Beginning Orchestra
Beginning Strings will offer students the opportunity to continue the study of violin, viola, cello, and bass as a chamber orchestra. Right and left hand technique exercises, scales, arpeggios, etudes, Suzuki Book I and II, and the String Calisthenics Method Book will be used in preparation for exciting intermediate to advanced musical selections.
6-9 Intermediate Orchestra (Audition Required - Must provide/rent your own instrument )
Intermediate Orchestra will accept string candidates who have successfully completed the 6-8 Grade Strings Class and who have auditioned for the music director. Intermediate Strings will offer students the opportunity to continue the study of violin, viola, cello, and bass as a chamber orchestra.
6-9 Advanced Orchestra (Audition Required - Must provide/rent your own instrument)
Will accept string candidates who have successfully completed the 6-8 Grade Strings Class and who have auditioned for the music director. Audition requirements are: One 3 octave major scale and arpeggio, mm-50 per note, non-vibrato, and a two minute solo of student’s choice. Cello and Bass have the option to perform a two octave major scale and arpeggio, mm-50 per note, non-vibrato, and a two minute solo of their choice.
6-9 Piano
This class is designed to help students foster a love for piano music and playing music in general. This class offers a gradual and fun curriculum that focuses on reading by motion and fingerings, developing a sense of rhythm, playing along to accompaniment, and learning some fun songs to play at home.
8-9 Spanish I
Beginning Spanish is designed to develop listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills in Spanish as well as cultural competency in the Hispanic world. This course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Spanish.
8-9 Spanish II
Prerequisite: Spanish I
6-9 Theater Foundations
All students should have the opportunity to experience the fine arts as part of a well-rounded curriculum and complete education. The study of drama helps students explore realities, relationships, and ideas that cannot be expressed simply in words, numbers, or the other arts.
7-9 Video Production / TV Broadcasting (Prerequisite: Digital Media)
Digital Media is a prerequisite. This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the field of desktop publishing. The ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator will be explored in this class. Students will learn how to use tools to implement effective design strategies.
7-9 Theater Foundations II (Prerequisite: Theater Foundations I)
All students should have the opportunity to experience the fine arts as part of a well-rounded curriculum and complete education. The study of drama helps students explore realities, relationships, and ideas that cannot be expressed simply in words, numbers, or the other arts.
7-9 Acting & Audition Technique
Advanced Acting class nurtures creativity and educates the whole child and helps each one learn the important life-skills that theater demonstrates above and beyond just acting and comprehension.
7-9 Theater Tech
In this class students will learn what goes into scenic design and construction, lighting, costuming, and providing props for a theatrical production through in-class instruction, hands on projects, and some practical experience. No previous experience needed.
8-9 Theater Production & Design (Prerequisite: Theater Tech)
This class differs from Theater Tech in that it will be accomplished with more hands-on projects, and mostly practical experience. This class requires an application. You must have taken Theater Tech and received a passing grade in order to apply. The students in this class will be the Tech Crew for Vista productions.
6-9 Visual Art
Students will learn important elements of making and appreciating art, through emphasis on important artists, works of art, and artistic concepts. Students will review, develop, and apply concepts introduced in previous grades, as they work with and explore many different mediums.
8-9 Advanced Visual Arts (Prerequisite: Visual Arts)
In this course, advanced students will focus on portfolio development as they continue to develop skills in producing high quality works of art. Emphasis is placed on creating more complex visual statements. A range of materials and processes will be further explored, and students will have the opportunity to focus on a chosen subject or medium.
8-9 Vista Theatre Company
Vista Theatre Company is a class for 8th-9th graders focused on refining acting skills and preparing for high stakes performances. Students in the class will prepare a variety of pieces to compete at the Utah Shakespeare Festival competition in the fall, the Utah High School Region and State Drama competition in the spring*, and incorporate advanced acting techniques into all of their performances.