General Music

Piano I

Students will be introduced to elements of music and fundamental concepts of performance techniques on piano. Through group instruction and demonstration, students will learn the basic skills necessary for playing songs with this instrument. Students will develop an appreciation for various styles of music and gain a deeper understanding of the value of music and its role with social development. Technology will be incorporated to better enhance the student’s understanding of the performing arts.

Piano II

Prerequisite: Piano I or recommendation from the instructor. Students will further their skills learning a variety of piano literature. Students will learn to perform on electronic and acoustic pianos. Through the use of technology, students will gain a deeper understanding of piano composition and will create and perform original pieces.

Guitar I

Students will be introduced to elements of music and fundamental concepts of performance techniques on guitar. Through group instruction and demonstration, students will learn the basic skills necessary for playing songs with this instrument. Students will develop an appreciation for various styles of music and gain a deeper understanding of the value of music and its role with social development. Technology will be incorporated to better enhance the student’s understanding of the performing arts.

Guitar II

Prerequisite: Guitar I or recommendation from the instructor. Continuing on the foundation of Guitar I, students will learn new techniques and form for the guitar. Through this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of guitar styles, notation, and composition. Students will have the opportunity to play solo and group repertoire using folk, reggae and pop styles of music.

Music Theory

This course is designed for any student who plays an instrument or sings and wishes to enhance their musical skills. In Music Theory I, students will learn the art of sight singing, musical dictation, interval identification (aural and written), and basic chord structure. Students must first demonstrate the ability to read and understand basic music notation. Students taking Music Theory I will be able to sight sing passages with basic intervals, identify, understand, and appreciate basic chord structures, and be prepared to take AP Theory.

AP Music Theory

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Music Theory I or teacher approval. AP Music Theory will develop the student's ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. Fundamental aural, analytical, and compositional skills will be thoroughly examined using both listening and written exercises. The course will also give students the opportunity to explore various composition techniques including the harmonization of a melody by selecting appropriate chords, composing a musical bass line to provide two-voice counterpoint, and the realization of figured-bass notation. All students enrolled in AP courses are strongly encouraged to take the College Board’s Advanced Placement Exam.

Music Technology I

An introduction to music technology software and hardware, focused on basic acoustics, digital audio, MIDI, and MIDI sequencing and notation software. Lab activities will place an emphasis on the operation and components of the typical MIDI and digital audio lab (hardware and software). Students will complete independent projects in areas such as digital audio, music notation, and MIDI sequencing. In addition to the hands-on curriculum, students will learn about the history of analog and digital synthesis and the evolution of the technology, focusing on the relationships between past and present technologies.

Music Technology II

A continuation of Music Technology I, students will further explore the elements of music production and fundamentals concepts of studio and live sound engineering. Through group instruction and demonstration, students will learn the skills necessary to choose and operate equipment, both hardware and software, for any given situation. Topics include: Song Composition, Podcast Development, Loop and Beat Creation, Music Business, Recording Equipment, Artist Development and Promotion, Live Sound and Music Career Options. Coursework includes journal work, hands-on training, quizzes, and exams (may be written or application work). (Prerequisite: Music Technology I or permission from instructor.)

Music Technology III

A continuation of studies begun in Music Technology I & II, this course focuses on advanced concepts in music technology and their application to multimedia. Students learn how to score for film and synchronize multimedia with advanced sound design, sampling, and production techniques. This course prepares students for the techniques and practices used in a professional recording studio. It includes learning various studio hardware, signal processing, mixing board console navigation, signal flow, microphone designs and how they are used for recording sound, and where they are typically placed. Students learn how to run a live recording session and the best way to record, edit and master that session. In addition students will learn about entrepreneurship in the music industry: marketing music projects, contracts and licensing, royalty reporting and other technological competencies necessary for a successful entertainment industry business. (Prerequisite: Music Technology I & II or permission from instructor.)