CONCERT CHOIR (COLLEGE PREP) 9-12

This course is open to all students who would like to sing.  It is designed to further develop proper vocal technique.  High quality choral works will be emphasized.  Students will perform various musical styles: – classical, contemporary, jazz, folk, ethnic, etc. in a choral setting.  Attendance at public performances is required.

POP CHOIR (COLLEGE PREP) 9-12

Pop Choir offers the opportunity to learn various forms of movement combined with Broadway-type music and music drawn from our multicultural heritage.  The course will emphasize polished singing and movement and study originality.  A main goal will be to present short musical style performances at the regularly scheduled music department concerts.  Attendance at all public performances is required.

MADRIGAL SINGERS (HONORS) 10-12

This is a highly selective vocal ensemble.  Acapella singing is stressed with emphasis on the polyphonic music of the Renaissance.  An intense concert season is part of the program.  PREREQUISITE:  Audition and approval of the instructor.

MUSIC PRODUCTION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY (COLLEGE PREP) 10-12

This course is designed to instruct students in the art of recording, sequencing, and mixing down.  Students will be cutting a CD and placing recordings on the net or podcasts.  Students will be creating original music, as well as using tracks from popular software such as Garageband and Logic Express.  Students will be writing and implementing scripts for their podcasts.  Students will be creating sound tracks for film.
Note:  This course may be used for computer literacy credit.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE (HONORS) 9-12

This course is open to Freshmen through Senior students who wish to study percussion instrument performance. Students will learn and develop performance skills specific to the percussion instruments. They will experience and perform various percussion literature, symphonic literature, marching literature, while performing on and learning care techniques for a wide variety of percussion instruments. Students will support Symphonic Band and Freshman Wind performances. Participation in extra-curricular Marching Band is encouraged but not required.

SYMPHONIC BAND (HONORS) 10-12

This course is designed for a select group of instrumental students who play wind instruments. Advanced repertoire representing various musical styles will be studied and performed. Attendance at all public performances is required. Participation in extra-curricular Marching Band is encouraged but not required.
PREREQUISITE: Freshman Winds or approval following audition with Band Director.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (HONORS) 10-12

This course is designed for the advancing string player. High quality orchestral repertoire will be performed in a full orchestra setting, including wind, brass, and percussion performers. Attendance at all public performances is required.
PREREQUISITE: Freshman Orchestra or approval following audition with Orchestra Director.

MUSIC THEORY (HONORS) 10-12

This is an advanced course in the fundamentals of music theory which deals with notation, clefs, scales, tonality, intervals, chords, theory, terminology, ear training, elementary harmony, etc.  Original music composition, and beginning music on the computer through music writing software, will be introduced in the second semester.  Upon completion of this course students are encouraged to take the A.P. music theory exam. 
PREREQUISITE:  Approval of instructor only.

MUSIC THEORY (A.P.) 11-12

This is an advanced course exploring music theory, from the fundamentals of sound production to the analysis of complex musical forms as they occur in western music literature.  An emphasis will be placed on rhythmic, melodic and harmonic analysis in both written and aural presentations.  Students must be fluent in western music notation and be able to perform major and minor scales vocally or instrumentally.  Participation in the Advanced Placement test is required.

PIANO I (COLLEGE PREP) 9-12

This course involves students in music reading and its application to the piano keyboard. Students will study note names and values an the staff and keyboard. Hand/eye coordination will be emphasized and students will be encouraged to perform regularly.

PIANO II (COLLEGE PREP) 9-12

A continuation of Piano I.  Students will study techniques and pieces of greater complexity with continued encouragement of performance.
PREREQUISITE:  Completion of Piano I or permission of instructor.

INTERMEDIATE PIANO (HONORS) 10-12

Intermediate piano is for the piano student who wants to take his/her knowledge to the next level.  Students will learn to play by ear as well as written notation.

INTERMEDIATE PIANO (HONORS) 10-12

Intermediate piano is for the piano student who wants to take his/her knowledge to the next level.  Students will learn to play by ear as well as written notation, chord progression and develop compositional and theory skills.  Students will be required to perform before peers and at Music Department programs.

FRESHMAN WINDS ENSEMBLE (HONORS) 9

This ensemble is open to all Freshman who wish to study a woodwind or brass wind instrument. This course is designed to develop instrumental musicianship through an intense study of wind instrument techniques, including scales, modes, chorales and wind ensemble repertoire. Attendance at public performances is required. Participation in extra-curricular Marching Band is encouraged but not required.

FRESHMAN ORCHESTRA (HONORS) 9

This course is designed for students who play a stringed instrument. Focus will be on developing skills in shifting, vibrato, bowing, and other fundamental techniques. Attendance at all public performances is required.

GUITAR (COLLEGE PREP) 9-12

This course involves students in music reading and its application to the guitar. Students will study guitar tablature, note names and values, guitar technique, and chord structure. Students will be encouraged to perform regularly.

CHAMBER MUSIC & JAZZ (COLLEGE PREP) 9-12

This course of study includes explorations of repertoire for woodwind and brasswind quintet, woodwind and brasswind ensemble, instrument specific ensembles (i.e. guitar quartet, trombone quartet, etc.), small jazz combo and jazz orchestra.  Development of small ensemble performance practice and basic improvisational skill will be developed.  Repertoire will include music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods as well as the music of Contemporary American Jazz and Popular movements. The class is open to all wind, guitar, bass guitar (double bass), piano and percussion students. Percussion students must be fluent in keyboard percussion music notation.  Guitar and bass guitar students must be fluent in music notation.  Students who take this class may also participate in our extra-curricular Jazz program.