Tomato Patch Visual and
Performing Arts Workshops

2010
TOMATO PATCH WORKSHOPS

2010 TOMATO PATCH COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Mornings (8:45 – 11:25) are spent working on a selected “Major”: 

 o    PERFORMANCE MAJORS:

PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES & REHEARSAL: Students study the fundamentals of vocal, dance and acting.  Emphasis is on projection, articulation, breath control and pitch for music.  Techniques of creating a role and working on stage as well as exercises to develop focused concentration and relaxation will be addressed in acting.  Dance encompasses modern forms and styles of expression in contemporary and classical dance.  Students will also rehearse, in selected groups, performance material from all three disciplines for the Festival performance.  Students choose to concentrate in DANCE, ACTING or VOCAL.

o    VIDEO PRODUCTION MAJOR in tandem with ACTING FOR THE CAMERA MAJOR:

·         Students enrolled in the VIDEO PRODUCTION Major and the ACTING FOR THE CAMERA Major will collaborate together as a production team and cast to produce an original video.

 VIDEO PRODUCTION: Majors will begin the session by brainstorming ideas and developing a story. As they are creating their script the VIDEO PRODUCTION Majors will also be learning hands-on about camera techniques and composition. Pre-production activities will include storyboarding, location scouting (on campus!) and the production plan. Field production will allow the campers to gain hands-on experience as a camera operator, producer, director, audio technician, and production assistant. Post-production will introduce the VIDEO PRODUCTION Majors to video/audio/graphics editing programs.  Campers will collaborate in the final edit of their original project. (12 Student Limit)

 ACTING FOR THE CAMERA: Majors will begin the session by collaborating with the VIDEO PRODUCTION Majors to create an original script. On-camera improvisation and character development will help to shape the story. Field production introduces the actor to the single camera shooting technique, continuity, and subtleties of camera acting. While the final project is shaped in post production, the ACTING FOR THE CAMERA Majors will gain experience on-camera doing mock commercial auditions and cold readings. Professional audition etiquette and protocol is discussed. (12 Student Limit)

o    VISUAL ARTS MAJORS:

THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN & PAINTING:  Three-dimensional sculptures will be created by combining shapes and forms using a variety of material such as wood, papier-mâché, plaster, wire, Paris craft and fabric.  The emphasis is on construction, discovery and experimentation in order to create original pieces of three-dimensional art works.  Painting will be included with the focus on exploring the fundamentals of color and composition.  Students will study the color wheel and be introduced to many painting techniques.  Materials will include tempera, acrylic and water color paints.  Each student will stretch his/her own canvas.  Students will proceed at their own level with a lot of personalized instruction.  An exhibit will be displayed at the end of the session in the theatre. (35 Student Limit)

Below you will find a sampling of classes offered during periods 3-6; students create their schedule during registration process:

o    COMPUTER ART:  The student will work in the computer art lab and explore programs used in computer graphic applications creating work to be displayed in the Festival of the Arts display.  (20 Student Limit)

o    TWO-DIMENSIONAL ART USING MULTI MEDIUMS: Students will create paintings, designs and use printmaking techniques.  Color, composition, balance and creativity are the emphasis of this course.  Projects will be inspired from nature, drawing from life, photographs and imagination.  Demonstrations and critiques will supplement classroom work.  (20 Student Limit)

o    VIDEO PRODUCTION: Students will learn all aspects of video production in our new state of the art TV studio.  They will create a video for display at the festival gallery exhibit.  (15 Student Limit)

o    MUSICAL THEATER:  Students explore and rehearse small scenes and numbers from musicals.  Recommended if interest is in theater and/or voice.

o    ACTING FOR THE CAMERA: Students will learn what film acting is all about. (15 student limit)

o    ADVANCED ACTING:  An advanced course for students who want to refine their performance skills.  Course will discuss text analysis and development of scene interpretation skills.  Selected scenes will be included in the Festival performance.

o    DANCE STYLES:  The student is exposed to several styles of dance, which might be encountered in the production of a musical; these include correct period dances and interpretational dance styles.  Students learn and rehearse pieces as an ensemble.

o    VOCAL SOLOS:  Students will work with the coach to develop a polished vocal solo appropriate for their range, which can be used as an audition piece.  Selected soloists will be featured in the Festival performance. (15 Student Limit)

o    DRAWING, PEN, INK & PASTELS:   This is a basic course in understanding perspective, shape, line, form and value.  Pencil and charcoal will be used to create drawings and still lives.  Landscapes will be created using pastels.  Pen and ink techniques will be introduced.  Demonstrations and critiques will supplement classroom work. (20 Student Limit)

o    VOCAL ENSEMBLE:   Students will learn, polish and perform pieces in three and four part harmony.

o    CHILDREN’S THEATER:   Students learn the basic acting principles and participate in selected scenes from plays written for children.  Scenes are presented in the Festival performance.

o    COMEDY:  Students will explore four areas of comedy (Dramatic, Physical, Stand-up and Musical).

o    JAZZ DANCE:  The student learns the fundamentals of jazz dance techniques with emphasis on syncopated rhythms and body movement isolations.

o    “WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYHOW?”  This course is designed to enhance the student’s improvisational skills.  Students deal with a large variety of improvised situations using their imaginations as a springboard.

o    THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN:  Three-dimensional sculptures will be created by combining shapes and forms using a variety of material such as wood, papier-mâché, plaster, wire, Paris craft and fabric.  The emphasis is on construction, discovery and experimentation in order to create original pieces of three-dimensional art works.  (Student limit 20)

o    CARTOONING AND ANIME:  Students will learn concepts of caricature and figure design and create their own original character(s).  Learn how to show emotions & actions and incorporate a character into a series of drawings becoming a comic strip. (Student limit 35)

o    TAP DANCE:  Students will learn the basics of tap dancing and create a piece to be performed in the Festival.  Tap shoes or shoes with taps are desired.

o    STAGE COMBAT:  Combat techniques for the stage will feature hand to hand combat and selected theatrical weaponry; focus will be on safety.  (20 Student Limit)

o    HIP HOP:  Move and groove as you learn the high energy urban street movement, hip hop, as seen in your favorite music videos.   It's an exciting way to learn one of the most popular dance disciplines in the entertainment industry today. (30 Student Limit)

o    A CAPELLA SINGING:  Students will be given the opportunity to sing without an instrumental net!  The a cappella workshop will include exposing the campers to different styles of a cappella singing, teaching the campers how to emulate instrumental sounds with their voices, and creating their own a cappella arrangements of their favorite songs.  Singing a cappella is perfect for improving not only vocal skills, but also ear training, tuning and blending with other voices.

o    MAKING MUSIC VIDEOS:   Express your creativity and bring a song to life. The class will choose a song, create a concept, and shoot and edit a music video. Course will include EFP (Electronic Field Production) green screen techniques, and basic post production. The final edit will be included in the DVD

o    WEB DESIGN – Safe and Fun:  This course will emphasize the technical and aesthetic concepts necessary to create a safe and fun video for YouTube, Facebook, or Webpage.  Course will include planning, production and post production including uploading and compression techniques.  Privacy, broadcasting and sharing dos and don’ts will also be covered.

o    VIDEO EDITING:  This course will teach students the basic concepts of editing. Students will learn to use editing software working with footage on a timeline. Video editing concepts such as continuity, sequencing, and green screening will be explored. Class will work on videos from video production classes as well as their own videos.

There is a 30 minute lunch, scheduled at 11:25.

Kids are welcome to bring their own lunch or, it may be purchased from our cafeteria.

After lunch, students attend pre-selected classes for periods 3 – 6; each period runs 1 hour.

Sign-in and pick-up are at the Kelsey Theatre.

First class begins promptly at 8:45; classes end at 4:15.

Before/After Care is available, please ask for further information.

Our staff consists of local educators, artists and performers. 

Our instructors base their curriculum on the levels of experience within each class.

The size of the staff is based on the need of the program.