Grade 9 Coursework

ENSEMBLE: All chorus classes sing a variety of literature including secular, sacred, popular, and show music. Chorus classes afford all interested students an opportunity for pleasurable vocal music experience and training. In addition to class instruction each marking period, students are required to attend choral lessons during the lunch blocks. Opportunities exist for students who are highly motivated to audition for a number of extra-curricular vocal groups in the high school, the school musical, and Region I and State Honors Choirs. The chorus presents a number of musical performances throughout the school year.

VOCAL PERFORMANCE I: Designed for academy vocal performance students, Vocal Performance I places emphasis on the study of healthy vocal production and singing. Students will learn healthy vocal production techniques through the study of vocal health, solo repertoire, and observations of other voice students. The fundamentals of diction, articulation, phonetics, and pronunciations of English and Italian are also included. Additionally, students will study music theory and develop the ability to recognize, understand and describe the processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The course will seek to instill mastery of the rudiments and terminology of music, including hearing and notating: pitches, intervals, scales and keys, chords, meter, rhythm. The coursework is designed to prepare students to take AP Music Theory or IB Music in their Junior or Senior year.

TECHNICAL THEATRE I: In this course, students will be introduced to basic elements of technical theatre practices. Through a series of practical exercises and authentic projects, students will explore the various production roles of Sound and Lighting, Production Operations, Costuming, Makeup and Hair, and Set Construction. Students will also demonstrate understanding of fundamental industry language and terminology of Technical Theatre practices and be able to apply them. This floating unit will be infused throughout a student’s academy course work in grades 9 and will prepare students obtain a CTE credential in Technical Theatre.

Grade 10 Coursework

PIANO FOR SINGERS: Vocal students will continue their instrumental study by synthesizing music theory and piano techniques. Through rehearsal and deliberate practice, students will learn keyboard proficiency in scales, arpeggios, sight-reading, accompaniment, and introductory improvisation techniques and gain experience performing on a keyboard instrument, analyzing musical score, and developing other essential music composition skills. The piano is a foundational instrument for performing arts students. Whether a student is simply learning pitches or performing with self-accompaniment, basic piano skills are important to develop in young singers.

VOCAL PERFORMANCE II: Vocal Performance II continues to emphasize the study of healthy vocal production and singing. Students will apply healthy vocal production techniques through the study of vocal health, solo repertoire, and observations of other voice students. In addition to the fundamentals of diction, articulation, phonetics, and pronunciations of English and Italian, students will begin a study of German repertoire.

TECHNICAL THEATRE II: In this course, students will be introduced to basic elements of technical theatre practices. Through a series of practical exercises and authentic projects, students will explore the various production roles of Sound and Lighting, Production Operations, Costuming, Makeup and Hair, and Set Construction. Students will also demonstrate understanding of fundamental industry language and terminology of Technical Theatre practices and be able to apply them. This floating unit will be infused throughout a student’s academy course work in grades 10 and will prepare students obtain a CTE credential in Technical Theatre.

Grade 11 Coursework

MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP: The first semester introduces the student to the synthesis of acting and singing the song. Students explore song material drawn from major periods of the American musical. Sight-singing skills and musicianship are also emphasized.  During the second semester, students will perform short musical theater scenes, duets, and solos. This class culminates in a final public performance.

VOCAL PERFORMANCE III: This course is designed as a continuation of techniques and skills acquired from Vocal Performance I, Vocal Performance II and Piano for Singers. Repertoire includes art songs and arias spanning the 17th-19th centuries, with the added study of performance practice of 16th-century Baroque arias and early music performance practices. This course will also include strategies and skills to develop audition practices as students focus on future audition preparation. Students will focus on developing characters through aria and recitative work. They will explore implementing acting techniques studies concurrently in Theatre Performance Workshop into their classical vocal repertoire.

Vocal students will continue their instrumental study of piano by synthesizing  music theory and piano techniques. Students will continue to expand their proficiency in scales, arpeggios, sight-reading, accompaniment, and improvisation through rehearsal and deliberate practice. Additionally, students will gain continued performance experience on a keyboard instrument, analyze musical scores, and further develop composition skills which may be tied to composing original music for the original musical they will write together in Theatre Performance Workshop.

TECHNICAL THEATRE III: In this course, students will be introduced to basic elements of technical theatre practices. Through a series of practical exercises and authentic projects, students will explore the various production roles of Sound and Lighting, Production Operations, Costuming, Makeup and Hair, and Set Construction. Students will also demonstrate understanding of fundamental industry language and terminology of Technical Theatre practices and be able to apply them. This floating unit will be infused throughout a student’s academy course work in grade 11 and will prepare students obtain a CTE credential in Technical Theatre.