Courses

Experience is provided in jazz and band instrumental ensemble performance, with intense training in music notation reading, advanced level technical development, improvisation, and ensemble performance. Literature from various jazz and band idioms is studied in rehearsal, and mature musicianship is encouraged through preparation for public concerts. Students are expected to participate in approved functions of the school, town, and state. This course may schedule additional sectionals intermittently throughout the year.

All jazz band members are expected to be enrolled in the SKHS Band Class or equivalent chorus or approved music class. Exceptions may be made depending on instrumentation.

Note: Approval of the music director and/or auditions at the end of the prior school year will determine enrollment in the course for the 2023-2024 school year.

This class meets Tuesday evenings and after school Mon or Wed in sectionals.

Concert Band provides the high school brass, woodwind or percussion musician the opportunity to play each day and develop technique and performance skills through daily practice, study of high-quality music, and multiple performance opportunities. Band students perform both outside and indoors throughout the year with a focus on music reading, individual and ensemble technique, listening and ensemble performance skills. Literature from several musical genres and periods may be studied in rehearsal and mature musicianship is encouraged through preparation for indoor and outdoor performances throughout the year. Students are expected to participate in approved school and town performances. THIS COURSE IS REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PLAYING IN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

As an essential element in the development of advanced individual musicianship and technical development, all students are required to participate in the Pep & Marching Bands (some students may be invited to perform on a secondary instrument that is more appropriate for the marching genre with the approval and additional assistance of the director). Additional rehearsals may be scheduled throughout the year as required and most performances take place outside of the regular school hours. This course may schedule additional sectionals intermittently throughout the year.

String Ensemble is open to all violin, viola, cello and bass students in the SK Orchestra program. The course focuses on music reading, individual and ensemble technique, listening and ensemble performance skills. We play classic and contemporary string trio/quartet, and string orchestra music and perform at a variety of school concerts and events. Students are expected to participate in all school scheduled performances. THIS COURSE IS MANDATORY FOR ALL FIRST-YEAR STRING PLAYERS IN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR SECOND YEAR. String Ensemble students are automatically part of the SKHS Symphony Orchestra and must attend at least 2 rehearsals prior to any scheduled performance.

Prerequisite: Ability to perform on string instruments above the beginning level is necessary and may require auditions for acceptance into the course.

This class meets after school 2 days per week.

Symphony Orchestra provides the high school orchestral musician the opportunity to play and to develop their technique and performance skills through daily practice, study of high-quality music, and multiple performance opportunities. Experience is provided in instrumental ensemble performance, with intense training in music notation reading, advanced level technical development, listening and ensemble performance skills. Literature from several musical periods may be studied in rehearsal and mature musicianship is encouraged through preparation for performances throughout the year. Students are expected to participate in all scheduled performances.

To maintain proper balance and instrumentation, percussion and wind players MAY be asked to audition for membership. Incoming 9th grade string musicians must enroll in 11964 String Ensemble concurrently. It is also strongly recommended that string musicians in grades 10-12 concurrently enroll in 11964. Wind or percussion musicians must enroll in 11940 Concert Band.

Prerequisite: For string players, prior experience and enrollment in string ensemble class is required.

This course is designed for students who wish to develop their singing technique, or expand on previous choral experience. While singing repertoire of various genres spanning from the Renaissance to modern day, students will build upon their understanding of proper vocal technique and performance, musical notation and solfège. Students will also develop the ability to sight-read and part-sing. Students are required to attend all choral concerts and functions, both during and after school hours.

This is a select vocal ensemble that meets during the school day to sing a variety of genres including jazz, popular and chamber music. While learning repertoire of various genres, students will build upon their understanding of proper vocal technique and performance, musical notation and solfège. Students will also develop the ability to sight-read, part-sing, and improvise. This ensemble competes and performs regularly and publicly, in a professional capacity. Students are required to attend all choral concerts, as well as all performances outside of SKHS, both during and after school hours.

Prerequisite: Students must be able to tunefully sing a modern piece of repertoire a capella and from memory, repeat given melodies within their vocal range, sight read basic melodies, and part sing within an SATB format. Previous choral experience is preferred but not required.

Admission is by audition only.

This is an introductory course covering the technical aspects of theater such as set design and construction, lighting, sound, stage management, makeup and special effects. Students may be required to be involved with production work outside of the class through the drama club or other theater class productions.

This course includes training in body and voice communication, creativity, improvisation and dramatic tradition. This is a project based class where we explore aspects of theater through different types of games and exercises that culminate in in-class performances (you will not perform outside of class). Students will be creating, performing, analyzing, and critiquing dramatic performances to develop a deeper understanding of musical and dramatic theater.

Singing ability or experience is NOT a requirement of this course.

This course explores and further develops musical and theatrical skills learned in Drama/Musical Theater 1. Students will focus on a variety of acting methods, scene and character study, and Musical Theatre techniques. Students will learn how to audition along with creating, performing, analyzing, and critiquing dramatic performances to further develop an understanding of musical and dramatic theater.

Singing ability or experience is NOT a requirement of this course.

Prerequisite: C or better in Drama 1

This course explores and further develops theatrical skills learned in Drama/Musical Theater 1 and 2. Students will study advanced acting methods through scene and character study. There will be an emphasis on auditioning technique, working with accents and developing your speaking and singing voice. Students will be expected to perform in a classroom and/or public setting.

Prerequisite: C or better in Drama/Musical Theater 2

This course is for students looking to learn guitar and guitarists who wish to improve their playing skills. Classwork is focused on developing rhythm/lead/and bass guitar playing skills through daily performance, small group work and individual projects. Rhythm guitar unit focuses on first position chords and later, barre chords, power chords and selected advanced techniques as time and ability allow. Lead guitar unit is focused on reading melodies and learning to improvise while playing as a class “band” using pop, rock, folk and student-selected songs for study. Students are encouraged to speak with the teacher for more information about the course.

Note: A supply of school-owned guitars is available for daily use and at-home practice. In some cases, students may need to use personally-owned guitars or acoustic guitars.

This class will run in the 2024-2025 school year; students are encouraged to enroll in Studio Band.

Guitar 2 builds upon the skills introduced in Guitar 1, covering advanced chord shapes in all positions up the neck, moveable scales for soloing in blues, pentatonic, major and minor keys. Advanced students will build upon their reading skills in playing melodies in 1st position and 5th position, and we will look at understanding and playing TABs online. Additionally, students will explore right hand techniques more deeply including fingerpicking and more advanced strumming patterns.

Prerequisite: Guitar 1 or audition with instructor

Note: A supply of school-owned guitars is available for daily use and at-home practice. In some cases, students may need to use personally-owned acoustic guitars.

This course is designed for students who wish to develop basic piano playing skills or expand on their existing skills. While playing, students will work individually and in small groups to master the techniques of playing while building upon an understanding of notes, rhythm, harmony, and form, as well as developing a vocabulary of scales, chords, and musical keys. All students will have the opportunity to perform alone and with an ensemble.

No previous musical experience is necessary.

Modern Band Workshop explores popular/rock music styles in performance on guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, percussion and vocals. Students learn basic skills in vocals and on rock band instruments using songs that they select that are matched to their skill level, and form small groups to develop skills and knowledge in music. Students will learn how to play, improvise and compose songs in a unique project-based learning setting. Frequent performance opportunities will be available in and out of class during the semester.

This course is open to all students who play and sing and wish to further develop their music skills by playing in a band setting with others.

Prerequisites: Guitar 1/Piano 1 or prior instructor approval

This course will run in 2024-2025.

This course provides a technical, hands-on approach to recording music using professional recording software. Projects include making loops, producing podcasts, creating movie trailers, song writing, recording original music, and mixing and mastering your recordings. You will also learn the basics of the equipment used in the recording process. Students considering a career in fields such as Music Production, Sound Design, Audio Programmer (video games), Broadcast Engineer, Dialogue Editor (TV and Movies), Field Recordist, Live Sound Engineering, Record Producer.

There is NO musical experience required to take this course.

(Offered 2023-2024 school year with significant enrollment)

Music Theory explores the language of music through its symbols, construction, harmony, melody, rhythm, meter, and form while developing the student’s musical mind and listening skills through ear training and sight singing. Students will work on daily/weekly assignments and projects while using a variety of digital and traditional tools in building their understanding and comprehension of music in its many forms. Time will be allotted for composition and arranging activities that build upon their understanding of music theory while developing a clear and comprehensive mastery of the language of music.

Students taking this course may be eligible for credit in conjunction with the Rhode Island College Early Enrollment Program. In order to receive a RI College transcript for the HS course, students are required to follow all RI College enrollment procedures and complete the enrollment process by the college’s registration dates. Student work will be assessed according to the college’s grading policy.

Prerequisite: NONE