Music Courses

PERFORMANCE

BAND

Freshman Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble

Continue to develop and refine playing skills, performance technique, interpretation and musical expression. Study traditional and contemporary band literature ranging through the collegiate and professional level. Collaborate with peers to critique and develop strategies to improve ensemble performance.

The focus of Percussion Ensemble is to develop technique and performance skills specific to traditional and auxiliary percussion instruments, including timpani, drum set and mallet instruments. Study a variety of repertoire written specifically for this ensemble.

Extracurricular activities include Marching Band, Blue and Gold Jazz Band, Color Guard, Winter Guard and Winter Percussion. Students have opportunities to audition for regional and state music festivals as well as travel to ensemble adjudication festivals.

CHOIR

Freshman Choir, Concert Choir and Chamber Choir

Continue to advance the development of the voice, music reading skills, and overall musicianship. Repertoire includes a

variety of styles, nationalities and time periods and ranges from the traditional to contemporary idioms. Collaborate with peers to critique and develop strategies to improve ensemble performance.

Extracurricular activities include Singers, male and female a capella groups and the yearly musical. Students have opportunities to audition for regional and state music festivals as well as travel to ensemble adjudication festivals.

ORCHESTRA

String Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra

Strengthen, develop and refine advanced performance technique specific to stringed instruments, as well as interpretation, musical expression and musicianship. Study traditional and contemporary symphonic repertoire ranging through the collegiate and professional level. Collaborate with peers to critique and develop strategies to improve ensemble performance.

Extracurricular activities include Chamber Ensemble and Pit Orchestra for the yearly musical. Students have opportunities to audition for regional and state music festivals as well as travel to ensemble adjudication festivals.

UNIFIED MUSIC

Students with and without disabilities and of all backgrounds come together to explore music and actively participate in making music in their own way. Musical concepts include performing, listening to, responding to and creating music. Students will have the opportunity to explore and develop their voice as well as beat and rhythm. They will collaborate with their peers to sing, play a variety of instruments (ex. Orff, rhythm instruments, Boom Whackers, body percussion) and participate in musical games, creative movement and dance. Students will perform in the winter and spring concerts.

COMPOSING, CREATING & PERFORMING

JAZZ IMPROVISATION

Jazz Improv 1 and Jazz Improv 2

Focus on the art of improvisation through the musical genres of jazz. Learn fundamentals and basic jazz theory (scale and chord proficiency, ear-training, 12-bar blues). Lean key concepts of jazz practice and performance and practical strategies for jazz improvisation. Continue to increase fluency in Jazz Improv 2 by broadening scale/chord repertoire and developing deeper understanding of chord progression. Expand strategies for jazz improvisation and study key styles, figures, and recordings from history of jazz. The Jazz Improv classes perform in winter and spring concerts.

Extracurricular activities include Blue and Gold Jazz Bands. Students have opportunities to audition for regional and state music festivals.

COMPOSING AND CREATING

HARMONY AND COMPOSITION

Gain an understanding of the basic language of music, as well as an appreciation for music as expression. Students will learn the fundamentals of music theory, including melody, harmony, composition, analysis, aural development and sight-reading. This is reinforced and applied through the creation of original music. Instruction also includes the utilization of computer technology and piano keyboarding. Student work is performed each year in the annual Composers Concert.

Extracurricular activities include opportunities to enter original compositions in regional and state contests.

AP MUSIC THEORY

Students will develop a deeper appreciation for music as an expressive language. Music theory is taught in a progressive sequence leading to complex musical structures. Class activities facilitate development of written/compositional skills as well as ear-training, sight-singing and analysis. Students will create original compositions and continue utilizing computer technology and piano keyboarding in the process. Students will be prepared to take to the Advanced Placement Examination in the May. Student work is performed each year in the annual Composers Concert.

Extracurricular activities include opportunities to enter original compositions in regional and state contests.

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

Music Technology 1 provides students an opportunity to explore the vibrant world of music production through creative projects in sound design and music composition as well as multimedia projects, such as video game scoring. Learn the mechanics of digital audio software by recording, editing and mixing tracks in both the MIDI and audio realms. Students explore various professions in the field such as composer, producer, sound designer and audio journalist.

Film scoring and additional multimedia projects are added in Music Technology 2 to help expand skills with digital audio software, sound design and music composition. Visual images and video clips are brought to life as students build a toolkit of versatile techniques used by experienced composers of commercial, film and video game music. Through the use of professional software, students master advanced techniques of MIDI and digital audio production while also expanding their comfort with the piano keyboard.

Students enrolled in Music Technology 3 build professional production skills as they create extended projects in sound design, music composition and multimedia composition. Students achieve greater expressive control and nuance in their work as they continue to master the digital audio software. Project directions are flexible and opportunities exist for students to explore specialized aspects of electronic and contemporary music such as sound synthesis, electroacoustic music and songwriting.

Original student work created in Music Technology 1, 2 and 3 is performed each year in the annual Composers Concert.

Extracurricular activities include opportunities to enter original compositions in regional and state contests.

HUMANITIES (MUSIC FOCUS)

Humanities is a course that is taught by and English and Music teacher. Students explore historical and cultural connections through literature, music and various forms of art. Students will express themselves in writing, discussion, presentation and audio formats. No musical or sound editing experience is necessary.