Performing Arts Grade 12

Audio Engineering (9-12): Students will learn to construct a dynamic, high-quality mix for live sound using a digital audio console.  Students will identify proper microphone technique, equalization, effects and dynamics processing to build professional quality instrument sounds and vocals.  Students will gain insight into both the art and profession of music production and will learn both the technical and interpersonal approaches to creating a successful recording. 

Concert Choir (9-12 tenor and bass singers) (10-12 treble singers): 

Prerequisite: An audition and/or teacher recommendation is needed for this course.

The Concert Choir is offered to treble singers in grades 10 through 12 and tenor and bass singers in grades 9 through 12 who have auditioned and have been accepted into the chorus.  Music of various styles and time periods will be performed in several concerts each year.  Concert Choir students will attend one sectional during the Wildcat Period every six-day cycle.  Grading in Concert Choir is based on a combination of class participation, attendance, sectional grades and individual singing grades. 

Attendance at all performances is required. 

Guitar (9-12): Guitar is designed for the beginning guitarist.  Areas of concentration include note reading, chord study and rhythmic patterns.  Students will learn many different styles, skills and techniques required to become a successful guitarist. 

Honors Performance Ensemble (11-12): 

Prerequisite: Students must be recommended by the director of the ensemble.

The Honors Performance Ensemble Course is designed to enrich, challenge, and better prepare the students for higher level performance. The rigorous class is offered to 11th and 12th grade Concert Choir, Orchestra, and/or Symphonic Band students who have participated for a minimum of 2 consecutive years in a performance ensemble. In addition, the students must be recommended by the director and be in good standing with the music department. Students in this course will be required to fulfill all the normal ensemble coursework plus additional requirements. These additional requirements will include performances, repertoire, research, service to the organization and listening assignments. Students should schedule their normal performance group(s). 

Selection for the Honors course will be through the music directors.

Keyboarding I (piano) (9-12): Keyboarding I is designed for the beginning keyboard player.  Students will develop their playing technique on the keyboard through the performance of basic solos and duets.  Topics will include reading music notation, rhythm, pitch, melody, harmony, texture, and form among others.  Students will also explore a variety of musical styles through performance and listening examples.

Keyboarding II (piano) (10-12): 

Prerequisite: Keyboarding I (piano)

Keyboarding II is an extension of the Keyboarding I course.  Students will continue to develop their piano skills and perform more advanced music.  This course will explore different styles of music and include group performances and improvisation.  Students will gain knowledge and skills in order to become successful keyboardists. 

Music History (9-12): Music History will trace the development of music, covering the major periods from the Medieval through the twentieth century.  A study of the major composers for each period in the evolution of music will be the focus of this class.

Music Theory I (9-12): Music Theory I is designed for students who are interested in learning the fundamentals of music.  This includes scale and chord studies, basic composition, and understanding the basic rules of harmony and part writing.  Students will use technology to compose and further develop the basic elements of music.   

Music Theory II (10-12): 

Prerequisite: Music Theory I

Music Theory II is an extension of Music Theory I with emphasis on solfege and ear training.  This will include more advanced study of harmony and part writing with an introduction to more complex harmonic analysis, composition, and arranging.  Students will use several software and online sources to create their own compositions.

Musical Theater (9-12): Musical Theater will trace the history of Broadway musicals, covering musicals from the late 19th century to modern productions.  Students will study the major productions, performers and composers throughout this time.  Students will explore aspects of musicals including sets, dance, make-up, costumes, acting and singing.

Orchestra (9-12): 

Prerequisite: An audition and/or teacher recommendation is needed for this course.

Orchestra is an elective course open to any string player.  One class per cycle will be designated as a string rehearsal and one as a full orchestra rehearsal including strings, winds, brass, and percussion. The orchestra will explore music from all the periods of music from Baroque to the 20th century.  All string students will attend one string sectional during the Wildcat Period every six-day cycle.  The orchestra performs a fall concert in November, a holiday concert in December, and the Spring String Festival and Spring Orchestra Concert in May.  The Orchestra also participates in the Graduation Commencement in early June.   Grading in orchestra is based on a combination of participation, attendance, group performance, and individual playing grades.

Attendance at all performances is required.  All exact concert dates may be found on the school calendar.

**ALL WINDS, BRASS, AND PERCUSSION STUDENTS will be subject to audition.  All winds, brass, and percussion students must be part of the performing arts rehearsal schedule and must be in the band program.

Symphonic Band (9-12): 

Prerequisite: An audition and/or teacher recommendation is needed for this course.

Symphonic Band is an elective course open to students who have experience and skill on wind instruments, percussion instruments or the string bass, which are common to the instrumentation of today’s modern symphonic bands.  Music of various periods and styles are introduced and performed by the band.  The band class includes one sectional during the Wildcat Period every six-day cycle.   Grading is based on a combination of participation, attendance, group performance and individual playing grade. 

Attendance at all performances and rehearsals is required.

Treble Choir (9-12): 

Prerequisite: An audition and/or teacher recommendation is needed for this course.  Students may elect to take this course more than one trimester.

The Treble Choir is offered to treble singers in grades 9 through 12 who enjoy singing.  This is a performing group.  Emphasis will be placed on improving music reading skills and singing techniques in preparation for auditions into Concert Choir.    Grading in Treble Choir is based on a combination of class participation, attendance, and individual singing grades.

Attendance at all performances is required.

Voice I (9-12): Voice I allows students to develop their vocal technique and perform solo repertoire.  Students will explore the vocal instrument, the elements of good voice production, solo singing and sight singing.  This course will develop skills that can be applied to a variety of styles of music and will help students to become a successful vocalist.  This is a non-performing group. 

Voice II (10-12): 

Prerequisite: Voice I

Voice II is an extension of the Voice I course.  Students will continue to develop their vocal technique and perform more advanced solo repertoire.  This course will develop skills that can be applied to a variety of styles of music and will help students to become successful vocalists.