Music: The music department has something to offer every student! There are two major areas of study: General Music and Performing Ensembles.
General Music is the study of music in a classroom setting. Through the General Music curriculum, students are given the opportunity to create music through the generation of musical ideas and the opportunity to refine and rework their product in collaborative groups. After much interpretation and analysis, students then present their work to their peers. Throughout General Music, students build a language to respond to musical examples and performances, identifying meaning and intent. Students also connect their musical knowledge to their personal life, historical events, culture, as well as other classes they take throughout the day. This is a rich experience of music making!
Grade 6: In 6th grade, students will learn the proper technique of playing xylophone, ukulele, guitar, and voice. The students will demonstrate their knowledge of proper playing technique through various projects including a final project that compiles all of their knowledge of these instruments. The students will learn these techniques through composing and arranging ostinatos, learning familiar and multicultural songs, contrasting the different songs they learn, while learning the function of Tonic, Subdominant, and Dominant chords. With the skills acquired through learning the proper technique of each of these instruments, the students will be ready to receive more advanced training through ukulele, guitar, voice, and drumming in 7th grade and beyond.
Grade 7: In 7th grade, students will continue to develop musical skills such as accompaniment, improvisation, performance, arranging, and composition using guitar, ukulele, drums, and piano. They will advance their knowledge of these instruments to help them with the Blues Unit, which requires the students to learn the notation of the 12 bar blues form and compose Blues lyrics Students will also explore West African and Caribbean music via the "World Music Drumming" curriculum, wherein students recognize, perform and compose music based on these styles. Through studying these different cultures of music, students will learn to perform the proper technique on a variety of instruments. 7th graders also explore the deep connections between West African, Caribbean, and American musical traditions. The experiences of the 7th grade musicians will give the students the skills and tools to become lifelong musicians in 8th grade and beyond.
Grade 8: In 8th grade, students will build on the musical skills they learned in the previous grades. In the bucket drumming unit, students will focus on time-keeping, rhythmic patterns, grooves and fills, and drumming tones. The Soundtrap unit provides students with the skills and knowledge to operate a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), encouraging them to step into the role of producer by experimenting, arranging, and composing using modern audio tools and techniques. Additionally, students will explore the history of Western popular music through the “Rock ‘n’ Roll to Today” unit, which covers the music of the post-war period and connects the past to the students’ present musical preferences. Eighth graders finish their middle school musical studies with a culminating Capstone project which gives them the choice to score a film scene, create a Soundtrap mash-up, study a musician in-depth, analyze a piece of music, learn and perform a song, write and perform a song, or choreograph and perform a dance. The variety of options allows our diverse study body to delve into a medium and mode that is meaningful to them individually.
Performing Ensembles provide opportunities for students to expand their performing skills through singing and instrument playing with their classmates. Students are introduced to a wide variety of music styles and genres, as well as advanced instruction in music literacy, interpretation, rehearsal techniques, and performance etiquette. GMS provides multiple performance opportunities throughout the year for the members of the band, chorus, and orchestra.
Band
Band students play flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba, or percussion instruments. Students attend sectional rehearsals for woodwinds, brass, and percussion in grade 6. In grade 7 and 8 students receive full group rehearsals and a sectional. The Band curriculum includes instrument specific technique, score reading, audiation, and basic music theory.
*Students who join band as beginners are strongly encouraged to take private lessons as most students in band have already been playing their instruments for a minimum of one year!
Orchestra
Orchestra students play violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students attend sectional rehearsals for violin, viola, and low strings in grade 6. In grade 7 and 8 students receive full group rehearsals and a sectional. The Orchestra curriculum includes instrument specific technique, score reading, audiation, and basic music theory
*Students who join orchestra as beginners are strongly encouraged to take private lessons as most students in band have already been playing their instruments for a minimum of one year!
Chorus
Chorus members sing in Soprano, Alto, and often tenor/Baritone voice parts. The Chorus rehearses as a full ensemble twice each six-day cycle. In grade 7 and 8 students also receive a sectional rehearsal. The Chorus curriculum includes vocal technique, score reading, audiation, and basic solfege for sight reading.
After School Activities
Jazz Band: Any student in Band can sign up to play in the Jazz Band. Students will learn to play melodies, accompany, and solo in an idiomatic jazz style. Guitar, piano, and drum set players who are not in middle school band are also invited to join the jazz band.
Chamber Orchestra: Any student in Orchestra can join! Students will learn exciting, challenging pieces while making new friends across grades 6, 7, and 8.
Drama Club: All students are encouraged to audition for the GMS play and/or musical.