About the Music Department
Students can study voice, piano, jazz, commercial music, percussion, guitar, band, orchestra, or recording technology. All of these courses receive daily instruction for credit. Each path within the music curriculum requires an audition process to move beyond beginner to intermediate and ensemble work are provided in class and as extra-curricular activities.
Graduating seniors can earn a Music Major Certificate by completing 5 credits in music with at least one credit at the Advanced Level, one credit in an additional art elective, and the completion of a senior project approved by the Music Department Faculty.
Course Descriptions
Beginning Courses
Music 6 is a beginning level course that provides a broad overview of the fundamentals of listening to, reading, and writing music. Students will study the most basic elements that comprise the music we hear every day. This class also provides a “performance lab” experience where the students are offered the opportunity to play and experience first hand the rehearsal and performance techniques that musicians experience when making music.
Music 7 is a beginning level course that focuses on learning fundamentals of music through piano instruction. Students will receive one semester of music instruction, ensuring that each student will read written music, play hands together melodies, identify intervals, play major scales, and demonstrate melody, rhythm, harmony, and form. Students will also study music history and listening skills.
This ensemble class develops playing proficiency and includes several performance opportunities for beginning-to-junior high level wind players. Students will learn professional skills need as woodwind and brass performers in concert band, full orchestra, small ensembles, and as soloists. Students are encouraged to continue performing as junior high-to-high school level players. Public performance is a major requirement of the course.
Fees: Travel and event fees apply as warranted
This beginning level course focuses on learning fundamentals of music and vocal technique through group instruction using choral literature. Students receive instruction on proper posture, breathing and breath support, and voice placement (chest and head voice). Students will identify the parts of written music: treble and bass clef, time signature, note names, intervals, and signs and symbols. Solfege is used for sight reading and audition. Assignments investigate the history and composers of choral music. Students will demonstrate and identify the four main elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, and form. The group will perform regularly, enabling the students to apply the basic principles of performance etiquette: dress, professionalism, focus and preparation.
Prerequisite: Audition Required
Introduction to proper etiquette, technique and history of ballet. Students will learn basic adagio and allegro combinations. Students will learn basic turns and leaps. Students will have an opportunity to learn and perform choreography.
Fees: Students must provide leotard, tights and ballet slippers.
This is an entry level class for students in any grade, with no experience, or limited experience on violin, viola, cello or bass. This class covers Essential Elements Books 1 and 2 in their entirety. Students learn to play individually as well as being part of an ensemble. Skills covered include: one and two octave scales in open string keys, rhythms in combinations of quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes, various bowing styles and centering pitch. Many students take Beginning Orchestra for two years in order to be prepared for Intermediate Orchestra.
Fees: Methods Book $16
Beginning Guitar is for anyone who would like basic guitar instruction in a class format. Basic note reading and chordal accompaniment are covered during the year. Practical guitar skills like changing strings and tuning plus basic guitar maintenance are also covered. A minimum of two guitar class concerts are scheduled for each year so everyone gets a chance to perform!
Prerequisite: None. Music VI completion would be helpful.
The purpose of beginning percussion is to introduce the basic techniques needed to play both pitched and non-pitched percussion. Emphasis will be placed on rudiment mastery and sight-reading on mallet (bells) instruments. Aside from daily lessons, students enrolled in beginning percussion will also participate in rehearsing and performing percussion ensemble music.
This course provides students an opportunity to learn basic skills for performing in a rock and pop music ensemble. Students learn aspects of working as a group, developing good habits for rehearsal and preparation. Students learn skills needed to perform and arrange songs in various commercial music styles.
Prerequisite: One year’s experience on guitar, keyboard drum set, and by audition
Intermediate Courses
This ensemble class develops playing proficiency and includes several performance opportunities for junior high level wind players. Students will learn the professional skills needed as woodwind and brass players in concert band, full orchestra, small ensembles, and as soloists. Students are encouraged to continue performing as high school level players. Public performance is a major requirement of the course.
Prerequisite: Audition required.
Fees: Travel and event fees apply as warranted
Chorus is offered as a two level course at the intermediate and advanced levels, focused on vocal technique, music fundamentals, choral repertoire, and performance. Students receive instruction on proper posture, breathing and breath support, voice placement, tone, and intonation. Repertoire addresses music history and composers of choral music. All chorus members will perform regularly, enabling the students to apply the basic principles of performance etiquette: dress, professionalism, focus, preparation, and audience sensitivity. The intermediate level focuses on music reading skills and solfege as a tool for sight reading and audiation.
Prerequisite: Audition required. Advanced also requires music reading and sight-singing exam at audition.
This is a class for the developing string player who already has several years of string playing experience on violin, viola, cello or bass. This class covers Essential Technique for Strings in its entirety. Students will continue to develop their individual technique, especially two-octave scales, shifting to upper positions and vibrato. Students will also learn to play as members of small ensembles, such as string quartets as well as perform as a string orchestra and full orchestra in combination with the Intermediate Band class. Most students take Intermediate Orchestra for multiple years in order to be prepared for the advanced String Orchestra.
Prerequisite: Audition required.
Fees: Method Book $8
Intermediate Guitar continues where Beginning Guitar left off. After a review, Barre Chords are introduced and used in songs. More complex melody reading is also added. Scales in upper positions are also learned throughout the year. Some improvisation is then learned after the scales are in your skill set.
A minimum of two concerts with the guitar classes happen each year. Everyone gets to perform, singing and band playing also is available.
Prerequisite: Beginning Guitar or Audition
Intermediate Jazz Combo is for advanced players who are new to Jazz. Subjects covered are Improvisation, accompanying in the various Jazz styles, music theory (required for improvisation), history of jazz. The group plays a minimum of three concerts with the Advanced Jazz Combo. Outreach performances are also possible depending on achievement level and availability.
Prerequisite: Advanced Guitar or by audition.
The purpose of intermediate percussion is to continue to introduce and practice the techniques needed to play both pitched and non-pitched percussion. Emphasis will be placed on rudiment mastery and sight-reading on mallet (bells) instruments. Aside from daily lessons, students enrolled in beginning percussion will also participate in rehearsing and performing percussion ensemble music.
Prerequisite: Audition required
This course is an extension of private piano lessons and music studies. Advanced students must be proficient at the piano above the Intermediate level. Intermediate students should be proficient at the piano above the Music 7 level. Students will be given private and group piano instruction, music history lessons, music theory lessons, arts integration opportunities, and performance opportunities.
Prerequisite: Students must be at or above the Early Intermediate level of piano playing.
Students move beyond the basic skills for performing in a rock and pop music ensemble, learning to develop a wide range of musical styles, strengthening practice techniques, writing original songs and creating inventive covers. Performance is a major part of the course, putting skills into action.
Prerequisite: One year’s experience on guitar, keyboard, drum set, and audition required
Advanced Courses
A performance class for advanced students in strings, winds or piano, that incorporates repertoire and practice for multiple performances throughout the year. Study includes standard repertoire for many musical settings, string quartet literature, and mised chamber ensemble pieces. Students must enroll concurrently in String Orchestra, Studio Winds, or Piano, as appropriate.
Prerequisite: by audition or instructor permission only
Advanced Guitar moves into more complex songs, multi-part guitar ensembles, and more advanced improvisation. Successful players can move to the Jazz and Pop Combos in the Commercial Music Program or repeat Advanced Guitar. The music and skills covered in the class enable new material even if taken multiple times! The Guitar Classes Concerts will feature the class and also a Jazz Guitar Ensemble if the students audition successfully!
Prerequisite: Intermediate Guitar or Audition
Advanced Jazz Combo develops the skills to perform on the professional level. Music theory, advanced improvisation, accompaniment, and the practical skills needed to perform for the public are covered and mastered. Jazz repertoire is also built. There are a minimum of three concerts with the Intermediate Jazz Combo. In addition, there are many outreach performances outside of school for the public. Most of our Advanced Jazz students are able to play professionally!
Prerequisite: Intermediate Jazz Combo or by audition
The scope of this course is large. While in Advanced Percussion you will study all of the techniques that are commonly utilized as a professional percussionist. In addition to daily rehearsals, you will also be responsible for a weekly private lesson during which you will study solo techniques and dedicate private time to some of the more challenging passages in your current ensemble literature.
Prerequisite: Audition required
In this course, we will study and perform percussion music that is not rooted in western culture. It is my intent that student that take this class not only understand how to play non-western percussion instruments, but that they also understand the roles of ethnic percussion in western musical environment. In this class, there will be heavy emphasis on steel drum performance, but we will also perform and discuss other areas of non-western percussion.
Prerequisite: Audition Required
Additional Courses
This ensemble class develops playing proficiency and includes several performance opportunities for high school level wind players. Band students will learn professional skills needed as woodwind and brass performers in concert band, studio/symphony orchestra, jazz/pop combo, small ensembles, and as soloists. Students are encouraged to continue performing as college or professional players. Public performance is a major requirement of the course.
Prerequisite: Audition Required
Fees: Travel and event fees apply as warranted
This ensemble class develops playing proficiency and includes several performance opportunities for high school level string players. String Orchestra students will learn professional skills needed as string performers in a string orchestra, studio/symphony orchestra, jazz/pop combo, small ensembles, and as soloists. Students are encouraged to continue performing as college or professional level players. Public performance is a major requirement of the course.
Prerequisite: Audition required.
Fees: Travel and event fees apply as warranted
For the drummer specifically interested in set playing, covering basic and advanced skills in rock, jazz, and other styles. Drum set is common to all forms of commercial and popular music, and the skills required are distinct from percussion and percussion ensemble playing. Students focus on playing set, and developing the multi-limb coordination required to be a good set drummer. Various styles of music which use drum set are explored.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission required
Piano Seminar is a course provided to students preparing for college and careers in music. The focus of the course is on piano proficiency. Students also receive necessary instruction in the subjects of music theory and history, and develop life-long music appreciation and evaluation skills.
Prerequisite: Students must receive permission (signature) from the instructor to take this course. No audition is necessary, just permission.
This course is designed to help students prepare for professional or collegiate level music careers by building skills in music theory, career and employment skills, and communication skills. Real-world, hands-on projects and assignments reflect the actual standards in college, the industry, and community. Students are challenged to work independently and take the initiative as would occur in the music business.
Prerequisite: None. Music majors only
This course is designed to help students prepare for professional or collegiate level music careers by building on skills and concepts from previous music theory study, career and employment skills, and communication skills. Real-world, hands-on projects and assignments reflect the actual standards in college, the industry, and community. Most of the subject matter will be studied in greater depth at the undergraduate level. Students are challenged to work independently take initiative as would occur in the music business.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Music Seminar 1
Students begin with the basics of engineering live sound and producing music electronically. They create , capture, edit, mix, and synchronize music tracks, incorporating them into audio and video. They study acoustics, reflection, reverberation, and all of the ways recording and electronic mixes are used in commercial recordings, and how to produce those effects themselves. The studio generates recordings of student work throughout the year.