Music

The Music Department at Northern Highlands is dedicated to nurturing students' creativity, musicianship, and performance skills through a diverse range of courses that cater to varying levels of interest and ability. Our program offers opportunities for students to explore vocal and instrumental music, digital audio production, music theory, and the history of music in film and culture. Whether through performance ensembles, songwriting, or recording technology, students develop technical proficiency, critical listening skills, and an appreciation for the role of music in society. Our mission is to inspire a lifelong love of music and equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue their musical passions, whether for personal fulfillment or professional aspirations.

Music Full Year Courses

A Cappella & Choir     Grades 9-12 

This course is primarily a performance ensemble, which performs in winter and spring concerts, and in other settings of the director’s choosing. It is also a vocal technique class, where students learn the basics of traditional and contemporary pop a cappella and the skills necessary to improve as individual vocalists and chorus members. Students have the opportunity to apply these skills in both rehearsal and performance, further contributing to the success of the group. This course may be repeated for additional credits. 

Honors A Cappella & Choir   Grades 10-12 

The honors level class will include lessons in music reading. theory, and performing practices. Participation in all performances is required. This is a select vocal ensemble committed to a high standard of performance. The entire spectrum of repertoire is covered at an advanced level from traditional choral music to contemporary pop a cappella. This group performs in both the winter and spring concerts and other local and community events. The ensemble also represents Northern Highlands at selected festivals and competitions. Students are encouraged to participate in other select choirs at the local, regional, state, and national levels. This course may be repeated for additional credits. 

Prerequisites: Teacher Recommendation. 

Criteria: Ability to sing in tune with an advanced level of tone production; ability to sight read and evidence tonal memory; ability to follow vocal score. 

AP Music Theory   Grades 11-12 

This course corresponds to two semesters of a typical introductory college music theory course that covers topics such as musicianship, theory, musical materials, and procedures. Musicianship skills including dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are considered an important part of the course. Through the course, students develop the ability to recognize, understand, and describe basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. Development of aural skills is a primary objective. Performance is also part of the learning process. Students understand basic concepts and terminology by listening to and performing a wide variety of music. Notational skills, speed, and fluency with basic materials are emphasized. This is a detailed presentation of the elements of music in preparation for the AP Music Theory examination, which students are expected to take in May. Please see page 5 for additional information regarding advanced placement courses and exams. 

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation. 

Note: A summer assignment may be required. 

Recording/Audio Technology   Grades 10-12 

This class introduces the student to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software and hardware: Mixcraft, effects plug-ins, Melodyne, as well as the Microsoft operating system, used in the audio studio that utilize computers for Audio and Video. Related equipment, including microphones, outboard processors and basic musical concepts and terms are covered. Students will learn how to create background soundtracks for film using the Mixcraft Loop Library. Skills will be developed in recording technique, including acoustics, microphone setup and placement, mixing, sampling and understanding the history of recording and audio production. Practical applications will include recording projects and providing live sound and audio recording. 

String Ensemble     Grades 9-12 

String Ensemble is a full year course designed to provide students with a continuation of musical skills developed in middle school. This course is a developmental performance-based group. Students are expected to reach a proficiency level on their instruments conducive to playing level IV-V music. They will have knowledge of the technical skills applicable to their respective instruments. String Ensemble is an elective, performance class open to all orchestral string players who have completed the middle school string program or its equivalent outside of the system. This ensemble has concerts in the winter and spring, as well as performances at various local and community functions, festivals, and competitions. Students are prepared for participation in ensembles at the college level and beyond, and are encouraged to participate in more select bands at the local, regional, state, and national levels. 

Symphonic Band     Grades 9-12 

The Symphonic Band is a full year course designed to provide students with a continuation of musical skills developed in middle school and beyond. Skills, behavior patterns, and attitudes learned in this class benefit every performance ensemble at the high school. This ensemble has concerts in the winter and spring, as well as performances at various local and community functions, festivals, and competitions. Individual and group improvements are vital to the continued success of the high school instrumental program; students are prepared for participation in ensembles at the college level and beyond. Students are encouraged to participate in more select bands at the local, regional, state, and national levels. 

Prerequisite: Prior instrumental experience and performance is required. 

Honors Wind Symphony   Grades 10-12 

This performance ensemble builds upon Symphonic Band preparation and has concerts in the winter and spring, as well as performances at various local and community functions, festivals, and competitions. Students develop valuable musical skills and experience, utilizing an increasingly difficult and varied repertoire (levels 5 & 6). The skills, behavior patterns, and attitudes first learned in Symphonic Band will continue to benefit every performance ensemble at the high school. Opportunities to audition for and participate in select ensembles on the local, regional, and state levels are very actively sought, and students are strongly urged to partake of these opportunities. 

Prerequisites: Teacher Recommendation. 

Criteria: Ability to play with an advanced level of instrumental technique and tone production; ability to sight read. 

Note: A Capella & Choir//Symphonic Band Grades 9-12 Students receive equal time in vocal and instrumental music each week. 

Note: Honors A Capella & Choir/Wind Symphony Grades 10-12 Students receive equal time in vocal and instrumental music each week. 

Music Semester Courses

Guitar Academy     Grades 9-12 

This semester course provides the student an opportunity to learn basic guitar skills and techniques through study of various styles of music for the guitar. Guitar Academy is designed to develop the basic skills necessary to be a successful performer and overall musician or build on their current level of proficiency and knowledge of the guitar through the study of music theory, vocabulary, historical references, performance opportunities, recording, and creative composition. Guitars and methods books will be provided in school but students are encouraged to purchase/rent a guitar for home practice. No prior guitar playing experience is required. 

Music in the Movies     Grades 9-12 

This semester course will examine the development of music in film from its origins in 19th century musical traditions to the modern day. The class emphasizes analysis and the relationship between music and narrative films. Students will study the overall history and trends in the development of film music and explore the role of music in storytelling and its ability to enhance the emotion felt by an audience. The study of film often centers on the visual aspects of the medium with little attention given to the important role that music plays. The purpose of this course will be to obtain an increased awareness of the many functions of film music and learn about its prominent role in the cinema. 

Music Theory I     Grades 9-12 

Music Theory I is a half year course designed to cover the basic fundamentals of music theory. Students will learn about the rudiments of music, including pitch, duration, scales, keys, intervals, meter, rhythm and other related areas. No musical experience is required, as this course covers music theory (written & aural) from the “ground-up”. This course is intended for students interested in learning about the inner workings of music theory, and provides the fundamentals needed for students who may be interested in taking AP music theory in a subsequent year. 

Rocking Through the Ages     Grades 9-12 

In this semester course, students will recognize the development of music from a historical and cultural perspective. Students will understand the fundamentals of music and discover basic music terminology, and instrument families. These elements will then be used throughout the course as a foundation for discussion of music throughout history. Eras covered will include the fifties through today. Students will gain an understanding of the context in which music was created by recognizing and aurally identifying style characteristics, genres, and representative masterworks from various periods and how that ties into the culture of the period. The course utilizes listening examples of influential artists alongside historical context to gain greater understanding of the growth and development of music. Students will explore artistic ideals and issues related to the worldview reflected in music. 

Songwriter’s Studio     Grades 9-12 

This course focuses on songwriting styles and techniques. Over the course of the semester, different songwriting methods will be presented and students will be shown easy to understand methods to develop the necessary skills to compose well-crafted lyrics and music. Focusing on melody writing, chord progressions, and lyric structure, students will develop their own personal musical identity as well as critical listening skills. This class welcomes budding musicians and poets and students will function as independent songwriters and collaborative songwriting teams.