We believe:

• The visual arts are essential at all levels of human development.

• The visual arts are sensitive to learning styles and multiple intelligence: all students are capable.

• The visual arts develop critical and creative thinkers.

• Visual literacy and self-expression in the visual arts are vital forms of communication in our global society.

• Quality visual arts education requires instruction by professional certified art educators.

  (taken from the mission statement from the Texas Art Educator's Association TAEA website)

We offer a wide range of art classes that allow students to either discover a variety of art-making mediums or to become skilled in one.  The introductory course required for ALL art students is Art 1.  Once a student successfully completes Art 1, they can choose upper-level classes in Drawing/Painting, Sculpture, or Digital Art.  When the student is a junior or senior, they can take an AP Studio Art course and potentially receive college credit based on their portfolio score.  Samuel Clemens also offers IB Visual Arts as part of the IB Curriculum.  Our full list of courses:

• Art 1

• Art 2: Drawing 1, Sculpture 1, or Digital Art 1

• Art 3: Drawing 2, Sculpture 2, or Digital Art 2

• AP Studio Art or IB Visual Art (if student is part of the IB Diploma Program)

Clemens High School offers two choirs that meet during the school day. One competitive mixed chorus, Chorale, and one non-competitive treble chorus for women, Cantabile.

Each ensemble reads music by sight reading the notes and rhythms using a technique called Solfeg. This technique, as we know it so well from the movie The Sound of Music, the "Do-Re-Mi" song, is used for singers to help develop interval and spatial relationship between pitches. The technique was developed by well-known Hungarian composer and music educator, Zoltán Kodály.

Acceptance into Chorale is by audition and/or appointed by the director. Chorale sings at minimum,  3-part harmony; Soprano, Alto, Bass, and often 4-part harmony; Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass. Each lady and gentleman is classified into one of these voice parts depending on their vocal range, color, and timbre of their voice. 

Cantabile is open to any female singer who wants to join choir and is looking for vocal training and experience in a choral ensemble.

Choir curriculum at Clemens follow the Texas Education Association TEKS Chapter 117.60 for Music, as well as the National Standards for Music Education established by the Music Educators National Conference.

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.

4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.

5. Reading and notating music.

6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

7. Evaluating music and music performances.

8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

A Cappella Choir

Do you love to sing pop music? Vocal jazz? Contemporary? Doo Wop? Gospel? Barbershop? Sweet Adelines? Do you know how to beatbox or to vocal percussion?

• Matt Boening - Director of Bands
  The Mighty Samuel Clemens High School Buffalo Band. Wind Ensemble, Cadet Band.

• Zacarias Serrato - Asst. Director of Bands
  The Mighty Samuel Clemens High School Buffalo Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jordan Intermediate Low Brass.

• Rob Wheeler - Asst. Director of Bands/Percussion
  The Mighty Samuel Clemens High School Buffalo Band, Clemens Percussion, Corbett Jr. High Percussion and Wilder Intermediate School Percussion.

At Samuel Clemens HS Buffalo Theatre we welcome all students to come out for THEATRE CLUB 4:30-5:15pm every first and third Tuesday of the month in the Blackbox. Also, follow us on Instagram at @ClemensTheatre to keep up with our latest shows and happenings.

Our theatre program includes membership to the Texas Thespians Society, Troupe 1675. Students interested in learning about, and developing their acting skills can enroll in any of our theatre arts courses. Those more inclined to behind the scenes and tech aspects can enroll in our technical theatre courses.