Welcome to the State College Middle School Music Program!  

All students at Park Forest Middle and Mt. Nittany Middle Schools  receive General Music education at their grade levels.  These courses focus on instrument playing and singing , as well as music reading and writing, music history, and many other music topics.   Students who are interested in performing music are provided with a sequential program of music courses in band, choir, and orchestra.  Students may enter the sequence at any grade.  Select groups, such as select choir, symphonic band, and jazz band, are available to challenge those students with more advanced abilities and who are members of the core ensembles for their grades.  Delta MS is a different and separate middle school music program.  Please see the Delta Website and Ms. Leah Mueller for the current music offerings.

6th Grade Band  (Year-long. Credit .33)  - Mr. McDonough, MNMS and PFMS

 Sixth Grade Band is intended for students who have previous instrumental music experience and are interested in continuing development of their musical skills.  Sufficient instruction and experience on a band instrument and the ability to play band materials at the sixth grade level is a prerequisite.  Beginners are accepted at the discretion of the director - please contact him.  In this course, students will learn musical skills and concepts through a variety of wind band literature.  Musicians will develop their note reading, rhythmic skills, and musical vocabulary while focusing on tone production and instrumental technique.  Student will work to develop performance skills including playing in tune, performing expression and responding to the conductor and to their follow musicians.  Assessments will include both formative and summative skill assessments.  Sixth grade band meets two periods per six day cycle.    Band members are also required to attend one small group lesson six-day cycle on a rotating schedule.  Concert participation is one of the requirements of this course.  Other performance opportunities may be available.  

7th Grade Band - (Year-long. Credit .33) - Mr. Nelson, MNMS;  Ms. Brownson, PFMS

Seventh Grade Band is intended for students who have previous instrumental music experience and are interested in continuing development of their musical skills.  Sufficient instruction and experience on a band instrument to play band materials at the 7th grade level is a prerequisite.  Beginners are accepted at the discretion of the director.  In this course, student will learn musical skills and concepts through a variety of wind band literature.  Musicians will develop their note reading, rhythmic skills, and musical vocabulary while focusing on tone production and instrumental technique.  Student will work to develop performance skills including playing in tune, performing expression and responding to the conductor and to their follow musicians, Assessments will include both formative and summative performance skill assessments.  Seventh grade band meets two periods per six day cycle.  In rehearsals students work on concepts of ensemble playing while preparing for two concert.  Band members are also required to attend one small group lesson each sic day cycle in a small group held during school hours on a rotating basis.  Concert participation is one of the requirements of this course.  Seventh Grade students may also have an opportunity to perform with the Jazz Band and/or Symphonic Band, co-curricular offering that have after school rehearsals.  Entrance to Jazz or Symphonic Band is at the discretion of the director or by audition.  Students may have the opportunity to participate in various enrichment activities, which can include festival band, symphony orchestra, clinics, or performance by special guest artists.  

8th Band - (Year-long. Credit .33) - Mr. Nelson, MNMS;  Ms. Brownson, PFMS

Eighth Grade Band is intended for students who have previous instrumental music experience and are interested in continuing development of their musical skills.  Sufficient instruction and experience on a band instrument to play band materials at the 8th grade level is a prerequisite.  Beginners are accepted at the discretion of the director.  In this course, student will learn musical skills and concepts through a variety of wind band literature.  Musicians will develop their note reading, rhythmic skills, and musical vocabulary while focusing on tone production and instrumental technique.  Student will work to develop performance skills including playing in tune, performing expression and responding to the conductor and to their follow musicians, Assessments will include both formative and summative performance skill assessments.  Eighth grade band meets two periods per six day cycle.  In rehearsals students work on concepts of ensemble playing while preparing for two concert.  Band members are also required to attend one small group lesson each sic day cycle in a small group held during school hours on a rotating basis.  Concert participation is one of the requirements of this course.  Eighth Grade students may also have an opportunity to perform with the Jazz Band and/or Symphonic Band, co-curricular offering that has after school rehearsals.  Entrance to Jazz or Symphonic Band is at the discretion of the director or by audition.  Students may have the opportunity to participate in various enrichment activities, which can include festival band, symphony orchestra, clinics, or performance by special guest artists.  

Symphonic Band - co-curricular - Mr. Nelson, MNMS;    Ms. Brownson, PFMS

Symphonic Band is a co-curricular offering for students in seventh and eighth grade, as well as a few qualified sixth grade students.  To participate, students must be members of their grade-level bands and be selected by the director.  

Jazz Band - co-curricular - Mr. Nelson, MNMS;     Ms. Brownson, PFMS

Jazz Band is a co-curricular band for students who are interested in playing jazz music.  Students must belong to their grade-level band and will be chosen by audition with the director.

6th Grade Choir - (Year-long. Credit .33) - Ms. Hickey, MNMS;     Mrs. Morris, PFMS 

Sixth Grade Choir is intended for all students who enjoy singing and want to develop personal and group singing skills. No previous experience necessary.  Students are required to attend two rehearsals per six day cycle for the year.  Rehearsals include training in singing skills, reading music, and singing a wide variety of music.  Participation in two concerts is one of the requirements of this course.  Skill development includes singing in major and minor, using solfeggio, in-tune singing in unison and two-part singing, developing three-part singing, unified vowel production, articulation of consonant sounds, following a choral music score, following a director’s musical cues, standing and moving carefully on risers, differentiating between head and chest voice, and staggered breathing. Repertoire at this level includes unison, two-part, canon, world language, folk, accompanied, and a capella singing.  Selected and interested singers will be eligible to participate in any other co-curricular vocal ensembles.

7th Grade Choir - (Year-long. Credit .33) - Mr. Glocke, MNMS;    Mrs. McAninch, PFMS

Seventh Grade Choir is intended for all students who enjoy singing and want to develop personal and group singing skills. Students are required to attend at least two rehearsals per six day cycle for the year.  Rehearsals include training in singing skills, reading music, and singing a wide variety of music.  Participation in two concerts is one of the requirements of this course. Selected and interested singers will be eligible to participate in Centre County Chorus and other co-curricular vocal ensembles. Skill development includes singing in major and minor, using solfeggio, in-tune singing in unison, two-part singing, three-part/SAB singing, developing SATB singing, unified vowel production, articulation of consonant sounds, following a choral music score, following a director’s musical cues, standing and moving carefully on risers, posture, differentiating between head and chest voice, range extension, and staggered breathing. Repertoire at this level includes unison, two-part, three-part, SATB, world language, accompanied, and a capella singing with increased complexity and stylistic variety while addressing the adolescent voice change.

8th Grade Choir - (Year-long. Credit .33) - Mr. Klixbull, MNMS;   Mrs. Clayton, PFMS

Eighth Grade Choir is intended for all students who enjoy singing and want to develop personal and group singing skills. Students are required to attend at least two rehearsals per six day cycle for the year.  Rehearsals include training in singing skills, reading music, and singing a wide variety of music.  Participation in two concerts is one of the requirements of this course. Selected and interested singers will be eligible to participate in Centre County Chorus and other co-curricular vocal ensembles.  Skill development includes reinforcement and further development of sixth and seventh grade skills, as well as the physiology of appropriate vocal production. Repertoire at this level includes all types of part singing with even more emphasis on SATB singing, world language, accompanied, and a capella singing with increased complexity and stylistic variety while addressing the adolescent voice change.

Select Choir - co-curricular

Select choirs exist at both Mt. Nittany and Park Forest Middle Schools.  The groups perform SATB a cappella music most often.  Rehearse are before school and are very fast paced.  Performances include school concerts and special events.  Students must audition and be members of their grade-level school choirs.

6th Grade String Orchestra   (Year-long. Credit .3) - Mr. Matt Shaffer - MNMS & PFMS

Sixth Grade String Orchestra is intended for students interested in improving their skills on a string instrument. In rehearsals, students work on concepts of orchestral ensemble performance while preparing for their concerts. In addition, all string players are required to attend one small group lesson and two rehearsals per six-day cycle. Lessons help each student develop proper technique and musicianship. Selected students will be eligible to participate in the Keystone String Orchestra.  Beginners are accepted at the discretion of the director - please contact him. 

7th and 8th Grade String Orchestra    (Year-long.  Credit .33) - Mr. Matt Shaffer - MNMS & PFMS

Seventh and Eighth Grade String Orchestra is intended for students interested in improving their skills on a string instrument. In rehearsals, students work on concepts of orchestral ensemble performance while preparing for their concerts. In addition, all string players are required to attend one small group lesson each six day cycle. Lessons help each student develop proper technique and musicianship. Selected students may be eligible to participate in the Keystone String Orchestra.

Sixth Grade General Music:   (All students. Semester-long  course. Credits - .5) - Ms. Hickey, MNMS;    Mrs. Morris, PFMS

Sixth grade general music is a team course for all sixth grade students for one semester, every other day for a full block.  Students will learn about themselves as music makers (how to sing, move, play on instruments, listen, create, make connections) and  how to reflect and respond to the musical world around them. Students will explore and develop an understanding of music from various time periods and cultures and will explore music as a language and interpret intents and meanings. Students will learn about how music is organized and will learn how to read and use music notation/symbols.  Emphasis in sixth grade are:  instrument performance (percussion and chordal strings), cultural music including Medieval and Renaissance Periods, musical instruments, and singing

Seventh Grade General Music:  (All students. Semester-long team course.  Credit .5.) - Mr. Glocke, MNMS;    Mrs. McAninch and Mrs. Van Allen, PFMS

Students will learn about themselves as music makers (how to sing, move, play on instruments, listen, create, make connections). They will learn how to reflect and respond to the musical world around them. Students will explore and develop an understanding of music from various time periods and cultures. Students will explore music as a language and interpret intents and meanings. Students will. learn about how music is organized and will learn how to read and use music notation/symbols.  Emphases in seventh grade are: Guitar, Cultural Music including Baroque and Classical Pds, Musical Theatre, Singing 

Eighth Grade General Music:  (All students. Semester-long team course.  Credit .5.) Mr. Klixbull, MNMS;   Mrs. Clayton, PFMS

Students will learn about themselves as music makers (how to sing, move, play on instruments, listen, create, make connections). They will learn how to reflect and respond to the musical world around them. Students will explore and develop an understanding of music from various time periods and cultures. Students will explore music as a language and interpret intents and meanings. Students will learn about how music is organized and will learn how to read and use music notation/symbols.  Emphases in eighth grade are: Keyboard , Music Theory, Cultural Music including Romantic Pd through the Present including Jazz styles, Singing