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Academics » Music

Music

Please click on the courses below to see their descriptions.
Modern Music Ensemble I is a performing ensemble for instrumentalists or vocalists who play any instrument (guitar, ukulele, winds, strings, piano, percussion) or sing any vocal style/part. This is an honors-level performance ensemble that performs inside and outside of the school community. Modern Music Ensemble’s primary goal is the preparation and performance of modern music genres including jazz, rock, pop, folk, and 21stcentury repertoire for public concerts, various school functions, and local and regional community events. Music selections will be drawn from a variety of modern music genres, as well as student created original compositions. Improvisation, composition, and innovative ensemble instrumentation will be introduced and built upon throughout each year a student enrolls in Modern Music Ensemble. Students will develop musical technique, rhythmic reading, and music expression while being a productive member of the ensemble. Participating in individual growth opportunities, such as solo or duet performance within the ensemble at concerts, community performances, and competitions is expected. Students are required to complete three music performance-based projects each semester allowing them to demonstrate authentic real-world musicianship skills acquired, including stage presence, basic performance techniques, sight singing, song composition, collaboration and understanding of the 3 basic music elements.
Prerequisite: Recommendation from or audition for the music director

Grades 9 - 12

Honors

Full year   1 HS Credit

Modern Music Ensemble II is an honors-level performance ensemble that performs both inside and outside of the school community. Modern Music Ensemble’s primary goal is the preparation and performance of modern music genres including jazz, rock, pop, folk, and 21st century repertoire for public concerts, various school functions, and local and regional community events. Students continue to develop musical technique, rhythmic reading, and music expression while being a productive member of the ensemble and taking more responsibility to learn how to be an ensemble leader. Participating in individual growth opportunities, such as solo or duet performance within the ensemble at concerts, community performances, and competitions is required (at least once). Students are required to complete three music performance based projects each semester, allowing them to demonstrate authentic real world musicianship skills acquired through, including stage presence, basic performance techniques, sight singing, song composition, collaboration and understanding of the 5 out of 9 music elements needed to create and perform music effectively. Students enrolled in this course are expected to act as role models both musically and socially within the Modern Music Ensemble, whole school district, and outside community.
Prerequisite: Recommendation from or audition for the music director

Grades 9 - 12

Honors

Full year   1 HS Credit

Modern Music Ensemble III is an honors-level performance ensemble that performs both inside and outside of the school community. Modern Music Ensemble’s primary goal is the preparation and performance of modern music genres including jazz, rock, pop, folk, and 21st century repertoire for public concerts, various school functions, and other local and regional community events. Students will develop and begin to master their musical technique, rhythmic reading, and music expression while being a productive member of the ensemble and taking more responsibility as a leader of the ensemble. Participating in individual musical growth opportunities, such as solo or duet performance within the ensemble at concerts, community performances, and competitions is required twice throughout the year. Students are required to complete three music performance based projects each semester, demonstrating authentic, real-world musicianship skills acquired - including stage presence, basic performance techniques, sight singing, song composition, collaboration, and understanding of the 7 out of 9 music elements needed to create and perform music effectively. Students enrolled in this course are expected to act as role models both musically and socially within the Modern Music Ensemble, whole school district, and outside community and participate as a student leader (Tri M, officer, section leader, music mentor).
Prerequisite: Recommendation from or audition for the music director

Grades 9 - 12

Honors

Full year   1 HS Credit

Modern Music Ensemble IV is an honors-level performance ensemble that performs both inside and outside of the school community. Modern Music Ensemble’s primary goal is the preparation and performance of modern music genres including jazz, rock, pop, folk, and 21st century repertoire for public concerts, various school functions, and other local and regional community events. Students will master their musical technique, rhythmic reading, and music expression while being a productive member of the ensemble and taking most responsibility as a leader of the ensemble (stage manager, section leader). Participating in individual musical growth opportunities, such as solo or duet performance within the ensemble at concerts, community performances, and competitions is required three times throughout the year. Students are required to complete three music performance-based projects each semester, demonstrating authentic, real-world musicianship skills acquired - including stage presence, advanced performance techniques, sight singing, song composition, collaboration, and understanding of the 9 music elements needed to create and perform music effectively. Students enrolled in this course are expected to act as role models both musically and socially within the Modern Music Ensemble, whole school district, and outside community and participate as a student leader (Tri M, officer, section leader, music mentor).
Prerequisite: Recommendation from or audition for the music director

Grades 9 - 12

Honors

Full year   1 HS Credit

All Modern Music Ensemble students are required to attend all school and community performances. Travel for all community performances is required. 
Concert band is a large ensemble for instrumentalists and is open to all wind and percussion players. Its primary goal is the preparation and performance of music for public concerts and adjudicated festivals. Students will be able to make positive contributions to their local and regional communities by utilizing their musical talents. Music selections will be drawn from a variety of styles, cultures, and time periods. Throughout the year students will hone and develop technique, rhythmic reading, and music expression while being a contributing member of a community of musicians. They will utilize the latest technologies including but not limited to, midi, sound recording, and instant feedback. Opportunities for individual activities such as auditioning for regional ensembles will be offered.
Travel for adjudicated competitions is required.

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Full year   1 HS Credit

Advanced Concert Band has the same course description as Concert Band. This course meets at the same time and performs the same music as Concert Band. Students who enroll in the Advanced Band class are required to audition for Eastern Regional Competition as well as perform a solo, small chamber group/ensemble, or demo/mentor younger members of our music department (district-wide). Students enrolled in this course are expected to act as role models both musically and socially within the band and whole school district (section leaders, officer positions, mentors, and Tri-M members).
Prerequisite: Recommendation of the band director

Grades 11 - 12

Honors

Full year   1 HS Credit

This course option is offered for students in grades 9-10th who are also enrolled in a Physical Education class that meets every other day and would like to participate in either Concert Band or Concert Choir on the days they do not have a gym class. This course option is offered to students in grades 11-12th who are also enrolled in a support class that meets every other day and would like to participate in either Concert Band or Concert Choir on the days 
they do not have support class.
Prerequisite: Recommendation of the choral director and the School Counselors’ Department

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Full year   1 HS Credit

Advanced Concert Choir has the same course description as Concert Choir. This course meets at the same time and performs the same music as Concert Choir. Students who enroll in the Advanced Choir class are required to audition for Eastern Regional Competition as well as perform a solo, small chamber group/ensemble, or demo/mentor younger members of our music department (district-wide). Students enrolled in this course are expected to act as role models both musically and socially within the band and whole school district. (Section leaders, officer positions, mentors, Tri-M members)
Prerequisite: Recommendation of the choral director

Grades 11 - 12

Honors

Full year   1 HS Credit

Guitar I is an introductory course designed for beginner students with little or no prior guitar skills. Emphasis is placed on developing proper technique and music reading skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of styles of guitar culture such as classical, blues, folk, jazz, and rock. Students will have opportunities for using technology to augment the learning process. Students will be given the opportunity to do solo and ensemble work.

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Semester   .5 HS Credit

Guitar II will be a course that will expand the learning achieved in Guitar I. Students will be given a variety of opportunities to learn more advanced songs from various culturally diverse materials. Students will begin to apply music theory to the guitar work and may be given the opportunity to take their knowledge base and use it to create their own music. They may also use various means of technology to record their work. This course will provide students with the opportunity to perform more advanced works in a small community setting and possibly get constructive feedback on their own creative platforms.
Prerequisite: Guitar I or music department recommendation

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Semester   .5 HS Credit

Harmonization at the piano will include basics of music theory and their relation to basic piano technique. The course will explore the theory behind songwriting and basics behind piano technique. Emphasis will be placed on proper piano technique and will explore a vast array of culturally diverse music. Students will also be given the opportunity to play solo and with small ensembles. Music theory will include all musical elements including pitch, rhythm, and harmonic progressions. Discussion will also include form and analysis of many genres of music. Students will be given the opportunity to compose original songs and use technology to record and edit them.

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Semester   .5 HS Credit

Harmonization at the piano II will continue where harmonization at the piano I left off. The course will continue to explore the theory behind songwriting and the basics behind piano technique. Emphasis will be placed on proper piano technique and will explore a vast array of culturally diverse music. Students will also be given the opportunity to play solo and with small ensembles. Music theory will include all musical elements including pitch, rhythm, and harmonic progressions. Discussion will also include form and analysis of many genres of music. Students will be given the opportunity to compose original songs and use technology to record and edit them.

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Semester   .5 HS Credit

This course is an introductory course designed to explore the wide range of musical technology that is available to students through online resources, compositional programs (garageband, audacity, voice recorders), and web based music programs (smartmusic, makingmusicfun), that all demonstrate the different ways a student can use technology to learn a wide range of musical components, not limited to composing, mixing, arranging, performing, creating music videos, and podcasts. 

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Semester   .5 Fine Arts or .5 Technology

This course explores string performance at an advanced level for High School students. Students will continue to develop their skills and experience with greater emphasis on ensemble playing, technical proficiency, and performance with musical styles from the Renaissance period to the present day. Students will explore solo repertoire. Emphasis also remains consistent on basic principles of healthy bow technique, correct posture, and consistent sound production.

Grades 9 - 12

Academic

Semester   .5 Fine Arts or .5 Technology

Music Exploration is a class designed for students about to embark on their musical journey, regardless of previous musical experiences. It is designed for students who are not yet sure of which musical path to follow, instrumental or vocal, guitar or piano? The course will allow for students to experiment, explore, learn, and be exposed to all of the instrument families as well as vocal development activities in order to develop a basic understanding and appreciation for music. Students who take this course are more committed to their music studies because they can choose their own instrument based on their own experiences and musical interests. 

Grades 8 - 12

Academic

Semester/Intersession   .5 HS Credit

 
This course will explore Music therapy and the use of music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of a group or individual. Students will explore a variety of activities, such as listening to melodies, playing instruments, drumming, writing songs, and guided imagery. Mindfulness and SEL approaches will also be the main focus in learning the role of music therapy in today’s ever-changing world. Part psychoanalyst and part conductor, the music therapist helps us all to identify and play our emotions or thoughts through music. With a hands-on approach, this course will delve into these many different aspects of music and its therapeutic benefits.

Grades 8 - 12

Academic

Semester/Intersession   .5 HS Credit

Based on the Teachrock curriculum designed by Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist Steven Van Zandt, History of American Music is a class that explores social issues and culture through the lens of American music. We will listen to, research, and discuss music genres ranging from the blues to modern rap, country, pop, and rock. Some issues we will study include civil rights, gender/race, protest, addiction, economics, war, current events, and youth/teenagers.

Grades 8 - 12

Academic

Semester   .5 HS Credit