Music Program
MUSIC PROGRAM
The Music Department offers courses designed for the musical and aesthetic education of students with varying abilities and interests. These classes include the performing ensembles of Concert Band, String Orchestra, Chorus, and Jazz Ensemble, which aim to increase proficiency on a musical instrument or with the singing voice while developing the musical knowledge and skills essential for quality performance in a musical organization. Also, through rehearsals and concerts, students develop an appreciation of music as a vehicle for expression, learn to recognize the value of disciplined collaboration, and to take pleasure from the resulting experience. An extensive extra-curricular program offers additional small-group performance experiences as well as opportunities to participate in music festivals sponsored by Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and the SouthEastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association.
Additional, non-performing course offerings provide students an opportunity to study music theory, songwriting, ear training, music history, and piano, drumming, and guitar methods. While a number of these classes further develop musicianship skills or provide an introduction to reading music and playing an instrument, others do not require students to be musical performers but rather to become educated audience members and evaluators.
Honors Credit for MHS Ensemble Classes
Students who opt to take Band, Chorus, Strings or Jazz for Honors credit will complete the work required of the unleveled class PLUS an independent project each term.
Independent projects can include:
Preparing a solo performance piece and writing a reflection about the preparation process. (This option can only be chosen once per year.)
Composing an original musical work and writing a reflection about the composition process.
Directing and participating in a chamber group or small ensemble and a reflection about the directing process.
Researching a topic of interest relating to music performance, history, composition, pedagogy, etc.
Learning a secondary instrument and writing a reflection about your progress.
Accompanying a performance ensemble and supplemental reflection and/or presentation.
Arranging a piece for performance.
Additional proposals not listed above may be submitted for approval by the ensemble director.
Course Listings:
CHORUS Honors 80407 Unleveled 80007
CONCERT BAND Honors 80408 Unleveled 80008
JAZZ ENSEMBLE Honors 80405 Unleveled 80005
STRING ORCHESTRA Honors 80403 Unleveled 80003
PIANO LAB Unleveled 80002
HONORS MUSIC THEORY Honors 80404
AP MUSIC THEORY 80501
MUSIC STUDIO Unleveled 80009
THE BLUES TO THE BEATLES AND BEYOND Unleveled 80021
MODERN BAND 1: DRUM/KEYBOARD Unleveled 80018 (Formerly Drumming)
GUITAR Unleveled 80004
MODERN BAND 2: GUITAR/BASS TRACK Unleveled 80020
MUSIC PROGRAM COURSE SEQUENCE
Grade 9
Piano Lab
Chorus
Concert Band
String Orchestra
Jazz Ensemble
Modern Band 1/2
Grade 10
Piano Lab
Honors Music Theory
Chorus
Concert Band
String Orchestra
Jazz Ensemble
Modern Band 1/2
Grade 11
Honors Music Theory
Chorus
Concert Band
String Orchestra
Jazz Ensemble
Modern Band 1/2
Grade 12
AP Music Theory
Chorus
Concert Band
String Orchestra
Jazz Ensemble
Modern Band 1/2
Recommended courses for all students (can be taken any year)
Piano Lab, Modern Band 1/2, Guitar, Music Studio, The Blues to the Beatles and Beyond
Recommended courses for all students (can be taken any year)
Grades 9-12 Piano Lab, Music Studio, Rock and Jazz Experience, Modern Band 1/2, and Guitar