Instrumental Music

Band                                                                                                                   1.00 Credit                                                                                         2 SEMESTERS

• Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

• PRE-REQUISITES: Completion of Middle School Band or Equivalent or Teacher consent.  

• MAJOR REQUIREMENTS OR PROJECTS: There are significant out of the school day responsibilities, including a one night a week rehearsal and several parades, home football games and marching band competitions, concerts and festival performances and two weeks of band camp right before school starts.   Attendance at all rehearsals and performances, both during and out of the school day is required and comprises a large portion of the grade for this class.  There are also monetary requirements.  Students must own their own instrument or rent one.  Students must purchase marching band shoes ($25), gloves ($3) and a band t-shirt ($10). 

• DESCRIPTION: Band is a performing musical and marching ensemble class.  During the first few months of the school year, the class serves as the marching band for the school, performing at home varsity football games, local parades, and competing at area marching band competitions.  Preparation for the halftime show begins in late July/early August with Marching Band Camp.  These day-long (9-12, 1-4) rehearsals run for two weeks and are essential for the success of the band and are required for membership.  Exceptions can be made in extreme cases.  Once school starts, the band rehearses during the regular school day and one evening a week 6-9.  This schedule depends on availability of the field and every effort is made to avoid Wednesday nights so as to not conflict with church activities.  Once the marching season has completed (usually late October, early November) the focus shifts to the concert band and the band will prepare and present a concert in December and May.  This class may and should be repeated.  Grades for this class are determined by attendance at rehearsals and performances as well as numerous in class tests and assignments.  

Modern Band                                                                                             1.00 Credit                                                                                          2 SEMESTERS

• Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

• PRE-REQUISITES: Completion of Guitar 1 & 2 or Teacher consent.

• MAJOR REQUIREMENTS OR PROJECTS: There are significant out of the school day responsibilities.  Attendance at all rehearsals and performances both during and outside of the school day, is required and comprises a portion of the grade for this class. 

• DESCRIPTION: Modern band gives students the opportunity and resources to explore popular musical styles in an authentic, real-world learning environment through faculty facilitators, peer mentors, and self-teaching. Students who take modern band learn the basics of rock band instruments such as drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, as well as new instruments and programs which fall under music technology and production. Performance opportunities for modern band students happen frequently throughout the duration of the class and are comprised of cover songs as well as originals written in class performed in a concert and at community and school events.  There are out of the school day commitments.

Guitar                                                                                                                  0.50 Credit                                                                                          1 SEMESTER

• Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

• PRE-REQUISITES: None

• MAJOR REQUIREMENTS OR PROJECTS: Students are required to own their own guitar, acoustic preferred.

• DESCRIPTION: Guitar is a class for the beginning guitarist. Students will learn the basics of playing guitar (chords, strumming, playing melodies, singing and playing) in a variety of styles including country, rock, folk, jazz and classical. Grades for this class are determined by the grading of tests, both playing and written and other in class assignments. The goal is for students to complete the class able to perform the basics and to gain the knowledge to continue teach themselves to further their study.

Guitar II                                                                                                              0.50 Credit                                                                                          1 SEMESTER

• Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

• PRE-REQUISITES: Completion of Guitar I or consent of teacher

• MAJOR REQUIREMENTS OR PROJECTS: Playing and written tests. A public performance is possible at the end of the semester.

• DESCRIPTION: Guitar II is a class for experienced guitarists. Students will learn advanced techniques such as power chords, barre chords, finger picking in a variety of styles. Grades for this class are determined by tests, both written and playing and other in class assignments.

Fundamentals of Music                                                                        1.00 Credit                                                                                          2 SEMESTERS

• Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

• PRE-REQUISITES: None

• MAJOR REQUIREMENTS OR PROJECTS: Final project choice of rock and roll timeline or Voyager III project (select 1 CD worth of music to send into space to represent human music making), both consist of a presentation in class and a paper.

• DESCRIPTION: Fundamentals of Music is a year long class designed to give non-musician students a basic understanding of how and why music is created. The class will focus on the basic technical aspect of music (pitch, rhythm, harmony, key) and then cover the development of western music starting with the middle ages to the modern times. The grade for this class will be determined through various in class and homework assignments, tests, quizzes and a final project.