Music Classes Information

We offer several music classes at Colts Neck High School

• Band I-IV

• Honors Band II-IV

• Chorus I-IV

• Honors Chorus II-IV

• Musical Keyboarding I

• Musical Keyboarding II

• Music Theory

• Popular Music I and II (half year courses)

Overview

Music Theory

This is a difficult course! Serious, dedicated students only! 

Prerequisite: Ideally, students should have familiarity with reading music notation.  Students will need to possess a strong commitment to learning the fundamentals of music, chords, pitches and how they relate to each other.  This is a rigorously academic study of music theory, not a survey course.  Students interested in surveying music through a course should register for Pop Music or Keyboarding.  

Honors Credit is available for music theory to students who are members of CNHS performing ensembles.  

Popular Music I & II (Half-Year Courses)

This class is a music history course which focuses on the study of American music styles/genres from about the mid 1800’s - late 1900s. It explores the importance of popular music throughout each decade. No pre-requisite or musical ability required. Focus is on the most significant artists and impact of music throughout the decades. Students will take a midterm (TCA1) at the end of MP1, and then a final exam (TCA2) at the end of MP2 in January for Pop Music I. Pop Music II students will take a midterm (TCA1) at the end of MP3, and then a final (TCA2) at the end  of MP4. **If at all possible, please sign up for both Pop I & Pop II as it is a continuation of the decades. We go up to Blues at the end of Pop Music I and cover the 50s - 90s decades in Pop Music II. 

Music Keyboarding I & II 

This is an introductory course to the basic concepts necessary for piano performance and technique. Students work individually at his/her own pace and receive individual attention as they progress through a piano course book. Students will be expected to perform for grading purposes. No prerequisite for level one!  It is helpful if they are familiar with reading music and have a keyboard/piano for practice at home, but it is not necessary. Keyboarding II provides students the opportunity to continue to develop piano performance skills at an advanced level. Prerequisite for level II students -should have already taken level one keyboarding the previous year. 

Band & Choir

Must register for the course in order to perform. Exceptions are made when their educational program forbids them from taking an elective (learning center or vocational program)

• Band & Choir - After school, evening, and weekend performances required

• Concert Choir - Students registered for the class are required to attend the concert dress rehearsal and performance (one in December, one in May)

• Band - Participation Concert Band required

  • There are only 2 (including the dress rehearsal) after school rehearsals before the winter concert and 2 (including dress rehearsal) before the spring concert

• Learning Center and Vocational Students are permitted to participate in after school band commitments, but must follow strict commitment rules.  Many of these students can work their schedules to register for our classes in their freshman and senior years.  Please assist and facilitate that process when possible

• If an upperclassman wants to register for choir or band, they should be placed in the band level that corresponds with their experience.  Exceptions may be made, please reach out to the music director

Honors Credit 

• Students will need to register for the band/choir course in order to perform at concerts. Exceptions are made ONLY when their educational program forbids them from taking an elective (learning center or vocational program). Those students may apply/audition to be a part of band club, which will entail a commitment to practice and submit virtual playing tests if they are approved for the club, and only 2 in person rehearsals prior to the two performances (Winter & Spring Concerts). There will be a chorus club for Christmas Jingles that will take place before school/during lunch to prepare for Caroling before winter break, which will hopefully help encourage students to participate in choir class!

• If an upperclassman wants to register for choir or band, they should be placed in the band level that corresponds with their experience (for example, a first year band class member that’s also a senior should be in Band I).  Exceptions may be made, please reach out to the music director.

• Freshmen may ONLY enroll in Chorus/Band I regardless of prior experience.

Honors Credit 

• Band & Choir

  1. 1. 1. 1. Honors is not available for 9th grade.

• For Grades 10-12. Recommendation of instructor required. Additional proficiencies.

  1. 1. 1. Must audition (or at least prepare the audition and play/sing for teacher) for Region/All State/All Shore Band or Chorus

        2. Perform in all concert choir activities, concerts and event (if a choir member)

        3. Must audition for band leadership team (if a band member)

        4. Perform in at least 1 co-curricular ensemble in addition to marching band (for band)

        5. Extended Scale Testing

Future Band Recruitment

• October football game.

• January Music Department Invitational Day at Howell Middle School North & Cedar Drive Middle School

• Subs -n- Sounds in June with Cedar Drive Middle School

Scheduling:

It is possible and encouraged that students take band all four years.  Colleges consider band/choir an academic, extracurricular, and athletic endeavor.

Continuity of Programs

Registered students in band/choir learn necessary skills and concepts which allow them to reach their full potential as a performer. We believe that the musical growth of our students is most successful when students study these performance classes in succession.  This is why we strongly encourage students to register for these classes every year. 

9th Grade Band and Choir students are encouraged to take music in grades 10, 11 & 12. Many students now are realizing that being in our classes is really a life-style choice and we need to be upfront with ways for students to be in our music classes for each of their high school years.

8th graders - Students come from all over the sending districts.  It is imperative that counselors know what instrument or voice part the 8th grade student plays/sings.  We need to be in touch with these registered 8th grade students in the spring in order to establish the summer commitments for both band and chorus. These commitments are often based on the instrument played.  Furthermore, we need to know throughout the summer of additions or drops.  

It is important to our programs that music students graduating from 8th grade are made aware of the musical opportunities in high school.  There are two band/choir recruitment efforts that you and your staff should know about.  

• The first is in October and is a Marching Band Recruitment event in which the middle school students attend a football game and perform with the high school band on the field at the game.  

It is imperative that rising freshmen remain in the music program.  We are aware of the state elective requirements.  We explain to the music students so they understand that in order to remain in the music program they will need to satisfy the requirement at another time.  

Thanks again in advance for your support of our music program.  We can't stress the importance of having the students registered and in our classrooms everyday.  Otherwise we are robbing them of the proper music education that they deserve.