Year-Long Course (1 VPA Credit)

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation required and/or prior music performance ensemble performance

AP Music Theory is an advanced level course designed to engage students in learning activities that will help them to achieve the outcomes assessed by the College Board's Advanced Placement Music Theory Examination. It is equivalent to a first-year college-level theory class.

The AP Music Theory course is designed to develop a student's ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score, as well as further student's study of musicianship. These abilities will be developed through various aural, performance, written, creative, and analytical exercises. The curriculum aims to enrich students' musical experiences both in and out of their performance ensemble classes. It integrates aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, elementary composition and, to some extent, history and style. Musicianship skills such as dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing and keyboard harmony are considered an important part of the theory course. Although this course focuses on music of the Common Practice Period (1600-1900), materials and processes found in other styles and genres are also studied.This course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to create and analyze music using an AP/college level approved text. The content will focus on the. It is essential that a student have performance skills on any instrument. This course is strongly recommended for the student considering music as a college major, minor or career. All students will take the AP Music Theory exam in the spring.

Year-Long Course (1 VPA Credit)

Prerequisites: Minimum Proficiency

Concert Band is open to any student at Freeport High School, regardless of prior experience in music. This course requires a combination of scheduled class time and after-school rehearsals and/or performances. Attendance at all concerts and scheduled performances is mandatory. Students are highly encouraged to take this course for more than one year.

Public performances include (but may not be limited to): the fall homecoming football game, a winter concert, a spring concert, a concert band festival performance, and the Memorial Day Parade.

Semester-Long Course (.5 VPA Credit)

Prerequisites: None

This course is designed for students with no previous drumming experience. Students will receive guidance and direction in solving problems related to playing the drums at a beginning level and will learn many of the different styles, skills and techniques required to become a successful drummer. Areas of concentration include: correct posture, note reading, rhythmic patterns, improvisation and performing experiences. A brief history of the drums along with a study of its respective musical styles will also be covered in this course. This course will explore the fundamentals of percussion performance. Exploration into the performance techniques and literature for all instruments of the percussion family will be the focus of the course, including snare drum, timpani, mallet percussion, drum set, and African and Latin percussion instruments. Drums will be provided for the students enrolled in this course. There is no requirement to purchase your own drums or drumsticks.

Semester-Long Course (.5 VPA Credit)

Prerequisites: None

This course is designed for students with no previous guitar experience. Students will receive guidance and direction in solving problems related to playing the guitar at a beginning level and will learn many of the different styles, skills and techniques required to become a successful guitarist. Areas of concentration include: correct posture, note reading, aural skills, rhythmic patterns, chord study, finger-picking styles, musical forms, improvisation and performing experiences. A brief history of the guitar along with a study of its respective musical styles will also be covered in this course.  Guitars will be provided at school (no requirement to purchase a guitar).

One Semester Each (.5 VPA Credit)

Prerequisites: None    

     Music Technology is open to any student at Freeport High School, regardless of prior experience in music. In this class, students will discover their own creative process and how to overcome musical challenges that come with creating music. Students work on an individual basis, which will allow for frequent personal feedback by the course instructor. Students will learn how to write music using traditional music notation in ‘Flat.io,’ and will also learn how to record music and MIDI tracks using ‘GarageBand.  Must complete Level 1 to enroll in Level 2.

In this class, students will explore the creative process and how to overcome musical challenges that come with making music. 

Music Technology 1 will teach you how to:

Work With Pre-Recorded Audio Samples.

Structure Music

Write Music for Drum Set, Bass, and other various instruments

Use Chords & Chord Progressions

Create a Cover Song

Create an Entire Original Song From Scratch

Music Technology 2 will teach you how to:

Create your own podcast

Create Your own Soundtrack to a film/movie

Continue learning how to create original music

Learn how to create and/or use samples within GarageBand.

And More

Students MUST pass Music Technology 1 to be eligible to enroll in Music Technology 2.