Mastery of the Arts Program

The YUHSD Mastery of the Arts Program is for ALL YUHSD students who have a purposeful interest within the arts. The intent is to work collaboratively with community artists and educators to enhance and refine a student's skill sets within the arts. All program courses are open to students grades 9-12 for elective credit and are designed to be an extension of a student's fine arts high school experience. 

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Students must apply. Courses are to be offered in the afternoons and evenings one day a week. See schedule for details. 

LOCATION
Snider Hall, Yuma High School: 400 S. 6th Ave, Yuma, AZ

VISUAL ARTS:

Paint the Town/Community Murals
Help make Yuma more colorful, one wall at a time! In this hands-on art class, students will learn the process of designing and painting large-scale murals. From sketching ideas and planning designs to painting on real community projects, you'll discover how public art can tell stories, inspire others, and transform spaces.
This course includes occasional off-site learning experiences within the community. Transportation to these locations will be the responsibility of the student and family.  

Figure It Out!/Drawing the Human Form
Learn how to draw what you see with confidence. This class focuses on the human figure, including faces, hands, movement, proportion, shading, and expression. Through guided practice, live references, and creative projects, students will strengthen their observation skills while developing their own artistic style.

Trash Treasures/Upcycled Sculptures
Turn everyday objects into works of art. Using unexpected materials, students will design and build creative sculptures while learning the principles of three-dimensional art. From cardboard and paper mache to fabric and mixed media, you'll discover how imagination can transform "trash" into treasure. Get ready to build, experiment, and think outside the box.

PERFORMING ARTS:

Triple Threat/Musical Theater
This class is designed for students who love performing and want to grow as musical theater artists. Students will develop skills in singing, learning choreography, and developing stage presence while exploring ensemble numbers from popular musicals. Whether you're a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, Triple Threat will help you build confidence and shine in the spotlight.

Pitch Perfect/Show Choir
Love to sing and perform? Pitch Perfect combines vocals, harmony, movement, and stage presence into exciting group performances. Students will learn songs from a variety of genres while building teamwork and confidence.

5,6,7,8!/Dance Choreography
Step into the role of choreographer. This class focuses on creating original dances while exploring movement, music, storytelling, and performance. Students will learn how to design choreography for soloists and groups, experiment with different dance styles, and bring creative ideas to life on stage. No matter your experience level, this class is all about creativity, collaboration, and finding your unique voice through movement. 

Garage Band Jam Session/Music Making
Make music with other musicians and discover what happens when creativity meets collaboration. Students will strengthen their practice skills, explore improvisation and arrangement, and work together toward multiple live performances throughout the year. Whether you're a singer, drummer, guitarist, keyboard player, or another type of musician, you'll learn what it's like to be part of a real band. This class is designed for students who are already proficient with their instrument or voice and are ready to collaborate with other musicians in a performance setting.

MEDIA ARTS:

Sound Machine/Audio Production
Students will learn the fundamentals of music production using professional recording software and equipment. From recording vocals and instruments to mixing and mastering tracks, you'll gain hands-on experience creating your own music. This course includes off-site learning experiences within the community. Transportation to these locations will be the responsibility of the student and family.

Say Cheese!/Photography
Capture the world through a creative lens. This class explores photography techniques, composition, lighting, editing, and visual storytelling. Students will participate in photo walks, creative challenges, and location-based shoots while learning how to take photographs that stand out. Whether you're using a camera for the first time or already love taking pictures, this class will help you see the world in a whole new way. This course includes occasional off-site learning experiences within the community. Transportation to these locations will be the responsibility of the student and family.

"The 70"/Podcasting
Have something to say? Learn how to turn your ideas into a podcast. Students will create episodes focused on student stories, community topics, current events, and creative interests while learning interviewing, recording, editing, and storytelling techniques. By the end of the course, students will have produced professional-quality podcast content that can be shared with audiences across YUHSD and beyond.
This course includes occasional off-site learning experiences within the community. Transportation to these locations will be the responsibility of the student and family.

Q.  Who is eligible to participate in the M.A.P.?

All YUHSD (9-12) students that have a purposeful interest in the arts are eligible to participate. Students must apply for admission.

Q.  What kind of credit can I earn through the M.A.P.?

Students will earn elective credit only and can potentially earn concurrent credit through AWC. Since the M.A.P. is a program not a high school, students will not be eligible to earn a high school diploma and will need to work with their home high school to ensure graduation requirements are satisfied.

Q.  When and how long are the classes?  

Classes are “college style” meeting once a week from 3:00-5:30 p.m.

Q.  Do I have to have my own transportation?

Yes, students must provide their own transportation to Snider Hall at Yuma High School. For most campuses, a YCAT route is available. Contact us for more information. 

Q.  How do I enroll in the M.A.P.?

Interested students should complete the online application. Please reach out to your school counselor for more information. 

Here's your chance to help our schools without it costing you a thing.

Arizona allows state income taxpayers to receive a tax credit of up to $400 for contributions made to public schools to support extracurricular activities. This tax credit is available to all taxpayers whether or not they have children in public schools. 
 
The kinds of programs you can help fund range from sports and band fees to lab sciences and art projects. The Yuma Union High School District is committed to maintaining these activities for the enjoyment and enrichment of our students. Unfortunately, our funding is not sufficient to offset all of the associated costs. As a result, these programs must depend on fees from students. And that's where you can help.

You can donate to the Mastery of Arts Program by simply clicking here, choosing the "buy now" option, and selecting "Mastery of Arts" from the "Name of Activity" section. 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR MAP