Music
Please note that classes with a garnet background fulfill typically SUNY General Education requirements.
Grey backgrounds indicate new changes to programming.
560 Band
GRADES 9-12 1 UNIT
PREREQUISITE: Students must currently be enrolled in band to enroll for the subsequent year OR Students must receive the music teacher’s approval before signing up for band.
Satisfies the Art/Music graduation requirement.
A basic ability to play a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument is necessary for participation in the band. Your musicianship will improve and your enjoyment of music develop as you prepare a variety of musical compositions for school and community concerts. Grade 9-12 band students will be scheduled for one of two bands based upon an audition, teacher recommendation and need for instrumentation. (Note: band, chorus and orchestra students are required to take a weekly lesson for one-half period minimum. Lessons are scheduled from study hall or lunch. Lessons are in addition to the regular daily rehearsal.)
569 Orchestra
GRADE 9 1 UNIT
PREREQUISITE: Students must be enrolled in 8th grade orchestra in order to enroll in Orchestra 9 OR Students must receive the music teacher’s approval before signing up for orchestra.
Satisfies the Art/Music graduation requirement.
A basic ability to play a string instrument is necessary for participation in the orchestra. As your playing improves, you will develop musicianship and style. Your technique will get better as you prepare music for public and school concerts. The orchestra is the best place to put your music lessons to great use! (Note: band, chorus and orchestra students are required to take a weekly lesson for one-half period minimum. Lessons are scheduled from study hall or lunch. Lessons are in addition to the regular daily rehearsal.)
572 Orchestra
GRADES 10-12 1 UNIT
All orchestra students entering grades 10-12 should register for this course. Students will be divided one of two ensembles based on grade level and audition.
563 Chamber Singers
1 UNIT 564
PREREQUISITE: Singing Audition
Satisfies the Art/Music graduation requirement.
Chamber Singers is a highly prestigious choral group that requires students to audition for entry. They work to prepare a large volume of music that is challenging yet approachable for skilled High School singers. Auditions take place annually in March. In addition to school concerts, the CCHS Chamber Singers perform at a number of events including the Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony, the Pep Rally, iCARE Holiday Lights, and Raiderfest. The Chamber Singers are committed to upholding important Colonie traditions and contributing to the existing positive culture of both our school and community.
EVERY OTHER DAY 1/2 UNIT
565 Mixed Chorus
1 UNIT
Satisfies the Art/Music graduation requirement.
Students who are interested in singing in a large choral group are invited to join the mixed chorus. In chorus you will learn how to improve your singing and learn to read music. Your musicianship will improve and your enjoyment of music will develop as you prepare a variety of musical compositions for our quarterly concerts. (Note: band, chorus and orchestra students are required to take a weekly lesson for one-half period minimum. Lessons are scheduled from study hall or lunch. Lessons are in addition to the regular daily rehearsal.)
568 Mixed Chorus
EVERY OTHER DAY 1/2 UNIT
576 Elements of Music (New for 2024-2025)
GRADES 9-12 1 UNIT
PREREQUISITES: Must have already satisfied the Art/Music graduation requirement
This course is designed to build foundational knowledge of music skills and concepts with the goal of empowering students to increase awareness and appreciation of the elements of music through listening, verbal and written response, composition, and analysis. Students will study music from a variety of time periods and genres to better understand the context of how this art form was developed and will learn vocabulary necessary to speak articulately about music. As a culminating activity, students will demonstrate their knowledge of song form and structure through music analysis and music composition using both traditional and modern methods.
This course is offered on an alternating schedule with AMUS 245 Rudiments of Music
AMUS 245 Rudiments of Music (UAlbany in the High School Course)
1 UNIT
PREREQUISITES:
1. Student has successfully completed Elements of Music
OR
2. Music teacher recommendation into course
OR
3. Skills test
To ensure success in this course, students need to be able to read notes on treble, bass, and or/alto clef. They should have some familiarity with recognizing and understanding Major key signatures as well as common time signatures.
This course will provide a comprehensive set of tools for the understanding of music theory through the exploration of harmonic procedures. Students will learn the fundamentals of music including ear training, sight singing, notation, major and minor scales, key signatures, scale degrees, intervals and their qualities; elements of rhythm including durational symbols, beat, tempo, meter; simple and compound time signatures, triads, seventh chords, and their inversions; diatonic triads in major and minor tonalities; principles of voice leading, root position part writing, harmonic progression and harmonic sequences; counterpoint, musical form, cadences, phrases, periods and sentences. To assess student progress, the course will include: Weekly homework assignments to be completed on or before the date stipulated by the instructor; Two quizzes per course segment (8 total); One test per course segment (4 total); Midterm; Final Exam
This course is offered every other year alternating with Elements of Music. It will be offered in the 2025-2026 school year.
Career Exploration (CEIP)
HRD 103 Career Exploration Internship Program SUNY Adirondack - 1 CREDIT
GRADE 12 1/2 UNIT *This is a Pass/Fail Course
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Business Communications; completed application; interview with Work-based Learning Coordinator.
*For students in the fine and performing arts pathway
NYS Seal of Civic Readiness Pathway
CCHS Seniors have the opportunity to participate in a 54 hour unpaid internship in an area related to the student's interest in Business through CEIP. This course is designed to help students understand the connection between their high school academic program and the world of work. Topics covered in the course include business etiquette, employability skills, workplace laws and safety regulations. Each student will be required to complete 27 hours of instructional assignments, maintain work journals and submit a final written report. An evaluation of the field performance will be made by a supervising practitioner. Students will need to provide their own transportation. Internships will be supervised and approved by CCHS Work-based Learning Coordinators.