Learning About the Arts of AMHS!

Even though Magnet isn’t known for the arts, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some hidden gems in the arts department. Art classes at Magnet include Photography, Art 1, Guitar 1, Guitar 2, AP Visual Art, and AP Music Theory. We spoke with the art teachers of Magnet (Ms. Callicott and Mr. Grimshaw) as well as fellow students in order to uncover more about what they really think about the arts programs here at AMHS.

First, we stopped by the art classroom, which is definitely one of the best classrooms at Magnet with its high ceilings and large windows. Ms. Callicott said that she has the “best job in the whole building,” and that she is very glad that she does not have to worry about end-of-year exams or AP testing, something I’m sure all of her students love her for as well! She also said that a highlight of her job is being “able to teach kids basic art skills and hopefully help them identify what and why visual stuff is appealing or not appealing so that they become better visual consumers.” 

 

Art 1 is one of the classes that Ms. Callicott teaches, and some Art 1 students offered some insight into what goes on in the day to day during class. According to sophomore Maya O’Leary, “It’s actually really fun, I didn’t know how it was gonna be.” Maya said that her favorite project of the year so far has been doing the colored duck, she “liked doing that [as well as] the color wheel that we are doing now.” Sophomore Wren Kennedy added to this by saying that she “likes being in Art 1 because it’s a nice break from classes and a good chance to be creative.” Maya and Wren both agreed that a nice part of Art 1 was also a chance to try painting which Wren said was “really fun even though I’m not very good at it.” Good thing Art 1 gives all students the chance to build up their art skills and learn more about color, patterns, and analyzing artwork! 

 

In case you don’t love painting and visual arts, there are plenty of other music classes to experiment with. An AMHS favorite is Guitar 1, popular with many sophomores but still full of people of all ages. Senior Adi Katan in Guitar 1 says that he enjoys being in guitar because it has been something he has always wanted to do, but hasn’t ever had enough free time at home to spend time learning. Adi’s fellow classmate Jonah Sherman stated that guitar is a super fun class. With variations in what they do every day from reading times, to recording, to playing their own music, and much more, it is easy to find guitar enjoyable. Whether you take it for a fun time and to learn something new, or to pursue a passion you’ve always wanted to try, guitar has something for everyone. 

Advancing to a higher level class after taking Guitar 1 is always an option with Guitar 2. While teacher Mr. Grimshaw notes that he loves “watching kids go from nothing to something” in Guitar 1, one of his very favorite parts about teaching guitar has to be Guitar 2. Guitar 2 is typically full of returning students, which allows them to do “exponential work,” in Mr. Grimshaw’s words. However, Guitar 2 is always open to anyone, just the same as Guitar 1. Sophomores Britt Laubinger and William McCarty enjoy the class because they think it is an easy and enjoyable way to relax and have a fun break from the rest of their more tedious coursework. Additionally, they said advancing their skills and getting better at guitar is very rewarding for them as well. With a teacher who has been playing guitar since the eighth grade and teaching guitar at Magnet for over twenty years, he is super experienced and can definitely help kids of all levels. 

Yet another offering here at Magnet is AP Studio Art. Ms. Callicott says this class is great for people who not only want to perfect their technical skills, but “learn how to weave conceptual ideas” into their pieces as well. Similar to Mr. Grimshaw’s remarks, she loves to watch everyone progress from looking like they drew “with their left hand tied behind their back” to actually finding a spot where they can end up drawing very well. Senior AMHS student Katie Sheffield says that “AP Art is the highlight of [her] day.” As she goes there every A-day, she gets to “work on a portfolio under the investigation of [her] choice.” As far as the class as a whole,  she says that “Art 1 was helpful in practicing basic drawing and painting, but in AP art I’m able to apply my craft in different pieces.” She also added that everyone in the room is motivated and that there have been so many great pieces created already this year even though we aren’t even halfway yet. AP Visual Art is a great way to challenge yourself if you’re interested in pushing yourself with your artistic ability, and it’s a lot of fun! 

Ms. Callicott also teaches Photography, which gives students the opportunity to learn how to take and develop photos, as well as the other skills that go along with this. Sophomore Jack Ham gave some insight into the class, saying, “We learned about the camera and shutter speed and then we go home and take pictures… then we need to develop them in the film room, which is pretty cool.” This class is definitely an underappreciated one at Magnet, so be sure to check it out!

There are actually many other music programs at Magnet that aren’t classes. Some other programs that readers may not know about are the Jazz Band, which as Mr. Grimshaw said “is really strong, but I think sometimes people outside of Magnet don’t even realize that we have a jazz band,” that is until they perform at a school event. Another hidden treasure at AMHS is the Music Outreach Club, a place where all students are welcome to join regardless of any music background or knowledge. They get a chance to pursue their interest in music and their desire to perform in a way that isn’t necessarily as full time as enrolling in an actual music class. They organize performances for different communities, such as for people in nursing homes, in attempts to cheer people up and spread their love for music. Another goal of theirs is to conduct music lessons as well. So if you’re interested in a group like this (where you can also get community service hours!!) make sure to check them out. Last but not least, we have our very own Dirty Birds. They do hand drumming and percussion, and perform at lots of pep rallies so make sure to cheer them on!!