Music

Performance Courses: Band

Beginning Band  

Course Number(s): P402411 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: None 

Grade: 9-12 

This band develops inexperienced new band members’  skills so they can join Johnson Band. Beginning  instrumental technique, marching skills, and group  rehearsal etiquette will be included. Students will  consult with the director to select a woodwind or brass  instrument to play. Members accept an obligation to  participate in public performances, most of which are  outside the school day, including concerts, parades, and  athletic events. A limited number of school instruments  are available for loan. (Students with previous band  experience should register for Johnson Band.) 

Johnson Intermediate Band 

Course Number(s): P402431 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: Middle or high school band experience Grade: 9-12 

This class is for band students with experience and  skills. This band develops technique and musicianship  through a wide variety of challenging music in different  settings. All members will play in concert band, pep  band and marching band, and more advanced students  can audition into select concert band and/or jazz band.  Members accept an obligation to participate in public  performances, most of which are outside the school day,  including concerts, parades, and athletic events. A  limited number of school instruments are available for  loan.

Johnson Band - Honors 

Course Number(s): P432431 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: Johnson Band; audition; theory test;  teacher permission 

Grade: 10-12 

This class is an honor point class for advanced  musicians, and includes everything done in Johnson  Band with additional rigor in the development of  individual performance skills, knowledge of music theory, and introduction to music history. This band  develops technique and musicianship through a wide  variety of challenging music in different settings,  including concert band, pep band, jazz band and marching band. Members accept an obligation to  participate in public performances, most of which are  outside the school day, including concerts, parades, and  athletic events. A limited number of school instruments  are available for loan. 

Performance Courses: Choir

Beginning Choir 

Course Number(s): P402171 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: None 

Grade: 9-12 

Beginning Choir is for students who have not yet attained high school  credit for choir on their transcript. In this course,  students will discover the core fundamental basics of  singing in an ensemble setting. Various musical  concepts will be taught through daily rehearsal, self  discipline and constant teamwork. These concepts will  build a skill set with an emphasis on vocal production  and performance. This skill set will include: music  literacy (sight singing and rhythm reading), music  terminology, correct breathing and posture, proper  diction, blend, balance, phrasing, intonation, tone  quality, interval identification and aural training.  Students will have the opportunity to sing a variety of  choral literature and styles from around the world in  two-four part harmony. Beginning Choir will have multiple  opportunities to perform before audiences throughout  the school year. Members accept the obligation to  participate in public performances, including some  outside of the school day. 

Intermediate Choir  

Course Number(s): P402491 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: One of more years of choir on transcript 

Grade: 10-12 

Intermediate Choir is a performance-based ensemble for  students in grades 10-12 with at least two previous  semesters of a beginning level choir. If a student has  only had one semester of a beginning level choir, they  must audition  in order  to register. In this course, students will continue to  expand on their knowledge from Beginning Choir.  This choir provides additional opportunities for  students to learn self-discipline and teamwork as they  continue to develop their voices within a choral  ensemble. This choir is composed of soprano, alto, tenor,  baritone, and bass vocal ranges. Students will sing a  variety of choral literature and styles from around the  world in three and four-part harmony. Through daily  rehearsal, various musical concepts will be taught with  an emphasis on those skills related to singing: music  literacy (sight singing and rhythm reading), music  terminology, correct breathing and posture, proper  diction, blend, balance, phrasing, intonation, tone  quality, interval identification and aural training.  Concert Choir will have multiple opportunities to  perform before audiences throughout the school year.  Members accept the requirement to participate in public  performances, including some outside of the school day. This is a non-auditioned choir for students continuing in  the choral program, and this course may be repeated. 

Choir Honors - Govie Singers  

Course Number(s): P431701 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: This is an auditioned choir for students in  grades 10-12. Auditions take place in the spring for the  upcoming school year.. 

Students must have attained a minimum of four high  school credits in a beginning or intermediate level choir  in order to audition. 

Grade: 10-12 

Choir Honors-Govie Singers is an advanced, performance-based,  auditioned choir for students in grades 10-12. Auditions  for Govie Singers will be held in the spring of the  previous school year. Students who did not audition in  the spring will not be eligible to register for this course.  This choir is for music students who wish to pursue  high quality ensemble performance opportunities,  personal improvement through exposure to outside  peer and professional performances, preparing and  performing solo works, and dedication to excellent  personal musical contributions to the school music  program. This advanced choir performs literature in  four-eight vocal parts in multiple performances in and out  of the school building throughout the school year.  Various, advanced, musical concepts will be taught  through daily rehearsal, self discipline and constant  teamwork. These concepts will build upon their current  skill set with a heightened emphasis on vocal  production and performance within a chamber choir  setting. This skill set will include: music literacy (sight  singing and rhythm reading), music terminology,  correct breathing and posture, proper diction, blend,  balance, phrasing, intonation, tone quality, interval  identification and aural training. Day and evening  performances are required. Members accept the requirement to participate in public performances,  including some outside of the school day. This course may be repeated

Performance Courses: Orchestra

Beginning Orchestra  

Course Number(s): P402211 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: None 

Grade: 9-12 

This class develops inexperienced new orchestra  members’ skills so they can join orchestra. Beginning  instrumental technique and group rehearsal etiquette  will be included. Instruments include violin, viola, cello,  and bass; a limited number of school instruments are  available for loan. (Students with previous experience  should register for Intermediate Orchestra.) 

Johnson Intermediate Orchestra Course Number(s): P402221 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: Middle or High School orchestra  experience 

Grade: 9-12 

This class is for orchestra students with experience and  skills. Students will develop technique and  musicianship through study of a wide variety of music.  Instruments include violin, viola, cello, and bass; a  limited number of school instruments are available for  loan. Members accept the obligation to participate in  public performances, most of which are outside the  school day.  

Johnson Orchestra (Honors) 

Course Number(s): P432231 

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)  

Prerequisites: Orchestra Intermediate; Teacher  Permission; Theory Test 

Grade: 10-12 

This class is an honor point class for advanced  musicians, and includes everything done in Orchestra  with additional rigor in the development of individual  performance skills, knowledge of music theory, and  introduction to music theory. Students will develop  technique and musicianship through study of a wide  variety of music. Instruments include violin, viola, cello,  and bass. A limited number of school instruments are  available for loan. Members accept the obligation to  participate in public performances, most of which are  outside the school day.

Performance Courses: Music Skills

Guitar 1: Beginning Class Guitar 

Course Number(s): P403311 

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits) 

Prerequisites: None 

Grade: 9-12 

Learn to play the guitar! Guitar I includes basic chords  and power chords, blues progressions, and basic note  reading and tablature. Students will use school guitars  in class, but having their own at home for practice  would be helpful. 

Guitar II: Intermediate 

Course Number(s): P403321 

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits) 

Prerequisites: Guitar I or Audition with instructor Grade: 9-12 

This is a continuation of Guitar I. Add to your skills in  playing and reading chords, notes, and tablature. Start  learning rock guitar riffs. Students will use school  guitars in class, but having their own at home for  practice would be helpful. 

Piano Beginning 

Course Number(s): P403211 

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits) 

Prerequisites: None 

Grade: 9-12 

This course is for beginning piano students who have  little or no piano experience. The core objective of this  course is for students to learn the basic techniques and  functions of piano playing. Students will be allotted in class time to practice piano and learn necessary  

performance skills such as hand positions, music  reading, notation and rhythm. Students begin learning  basic five-finger patterns in major keys, and learn to  play pieces using those 5-finger patterns, including  basic I, IV, and V7 chords. Worksheets, method books,  flashcards and other supplemental materials will be  used to reinforce student learning. 

Piano Intermediate 

Course Number(s): P403221 

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits) 

Prerequisites: Piano Beginning and/or teacher  recommendation 

Grade: 9-12 

This course is for piano students who have completed a  beginning level piano course with a C or higher. The core objective of this  course is for students to continue developing basic  techniques and functions of piano playing. Students will  be allotted in-class time to practice piano and learn  necessary performance skills such as hand positions,  music reading, notation, and rhythm. Students expand  their five-finger pattern skills, progressing from major  to minor keys, culminating in performance of one octave scales and basic chord progressions. Repertoire  selected will synthesize students’ understanding of  musical elements, including melody, rhythm, harmony,  dynamics, tone color, texture, and form. Worksheets,  method books, and other supplemental materials will be  used to reinforce student learning.

Piano Advanced 

Course Number(s): P403231 

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits) 

Prerequisites: Beginning Piano and IntermediatePiano  and/or teacher  recommendation 

Grade: 9-12 

This course is for students who have completed a  beginning level and an intermediate level piano course with a C or higher. The core objective of this course is for students to  expand their techniques and functions of piano playing.  Students will be allotted in-class time to progress in  their note-reading and piano performance skills.  Students expand their technical skills as they learn to  play scales, chords and arpeggios in major and minor  keys. Individualized instruction and repertoire selected  will expand students’ understanding of musical  elements, including melody, rhythm, harmony,  dynamics, tone color, texture, and form. Improvisation,  playing “by ear” and time for creation of original  compositions will be covered. Method books and other  supplemental solo and ensemble literature will be used  to reinforce student learning. This course may be repeated.

Percussion Intermediate 

Course Number(s): P402721 

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits) 

Prerequisites: One semester of any music course on transcript.

Grade: 9-12 

Students who sign up for Percussion Intermediate must have successfully completed one semester of a music course with a C or higher. Students will learn to read percussion notation as well as complicated rhythms. Students will also learn proper striking technique, improvisation, and percussion maintenance on a variety of instruments. Outside performances are required.