High School Music Teachers
Mrs. Elizabeth Morris
K-12 Music Curriculum and Instructional Leader
Theatre Arts Coordinator, Choral Director
Mrs. Meghan Stewart
7-12 Orchestra Director
Mr. Steve Fasoli
Band & Jazz Director, Music Technology
The mission of the Music program is to provide experiences which develop skills in playing, singing, creating, and/or performing and which foster the understanding and appreciation of a broad range of musical styles and genres. The performance courses are specifically designed to develop the work ethic, technical skills and communicative power for a quality presentation. The various ensembles perform at festivals, concerts, recitals, and receptions. Some groups may tour or participate in exchange performances. Certain performances are mandatory, and are considered performance assessments for grading purposes.
Music Technology Example Projects From Our Talented Students!
Band
Concert Band - Full Year, This course is open to all wind and percussion students This course is open to all wind and percussion students with prior band experience in grades 9-12.
Symphonic Band - Full Year, This course is open to all wind and percussion students with prior band experience in grades 9-12. Students are encouraged to continue private study on their instruments. Students will master performance skills through rehearsals and mandatory public performances.
Wind Ensemble - Honors, Full Year, This is an honors level performance course open to advanced wind and percussion students in grades 9-12 who are selected through an audition process, and who are interested in working on highly complex and challenging literature designed for wind ensemble. Additional performance expectations for students will be differentiated to allow students personalized avenues to fulfill honors requirements for this course. All students are assessed regularly on their performance of selected repertoire and their overall understanding of music reading, history and basic music theory skills necessary to support a high level of performance. Students perform at a variety of venues.
Jazz Ensemble - Full Year, (0.5 Credit) The purpose of this ensemble is the study and performance of Jazz literature. Membership is through audition held in the spring. Instrumentation is limited to trumpets, trombones, saxophones, flutes, guitar, bass, piano, and drums. Students will audition for placement in one of the two ensembles. The Weston High School Jazz Ensemble, for more advanced players, meets on Wednesday nights. Students perform at a variety of venues. This course meets outside of the school day and the attendance policy applies.
2019 Wind Ensemble.mov2019 Wind Ensemble
Juggernaut by Gary D. Ziek
Orchestra
String Orchestra - Full Year, This is a performance course open to all students who play an orchestral string instrument at a fundamental level of proficiency. There are no lessons offered during the school day, therefore it is strongly suggested that orchestra members study privately. The repertoire is for string orchestra and the ensemble performs a minimum of twice a year.
Symphonic Orchestra - Honors, Full Year, This is an honors level performance course open to advanced string students in grades 9- 12 who are selected through an audition process and who are interested in working on highly complex and challenging literature designed for string orchestra. Additional performance expectations for students will be differentiated to allow students personalized avenues to fulfill honors requirements for this course. All students are assessed regularly on their performance of selected repertoire and their overall understanding of music reading, history and basic music theory skills necessary to support a high level of performance. Students perform at a variety of venues.
Choir
Concert Choir - Full Year, This is a performance ensemble open to all students who enjoy singing in an ensemble and wish to improve their ability to sing and perform choral music. Literature and training is designed to give students the fundamentals of healthy vocal technique, to improve their aural skills, sight-singing ability, sense of ensemble, overall musicianship, and to develop their communicative power for audiences. This ensemble performs at mandatory concerts and other selected venues.
Women’s Choir - Full Year ,Women’s Choir is open to treble voices in grades 10-12 who are interested in pursuing another level of musicianship. This advanced ensemble performs challenging choral music for treble voices in a variety of styles and genres. Participation in this ensemble requires independent work outside the classroom, with additional requirements for honors 23 credit. Students are assessed regularly on their performance of selected repertoire and their overall understanding of music reading, history and basic music theory skills.
Chamber Singers - Honors, Full Year, This is an honors level performance course open to advanced choral students in grades 10-12 who are selected through an audition process, and who are interested in working on highly complex and challenging literature designed for chamber choir. Additional performance expectations for students will be differentiated to allow students personalized avenues to fulfill honors requirements for this course. All students are assessed regularly on their performance of selected repertoire and their overall understanding of music reading, history and basic music theory skills necessary to support a high level of performance. Students perform at a variety of venues. ● Prerequisite: Audition ● Requirements to receive honors credit are listed in the syllabus and include additional performance, concert attendance and individual project.
Digital Music Production, Music Industry, Music Theory and AP Music Theory
Digital Music Production- Semester, This digital music course is open to any student who is interested in music. Students will engage in real-world applications and technologies used in the music industry while sharpening their knowledge of musical elements, song form, sampling and remixing, recording, editing and producing music. Students will develop an understanding of audio production through the use of digital audio workstations, which includes using keyboard controllers, studio recording, live sound recording and navigating multiple music sequencing software programs. They will explore careers in the music industry and current and future trends in popular music.
Music Industry- Semester, The Music Industry course is designed to build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the Digital Music Production semester course. This advanced course will focus on various aspects of creating digital music including video game music, music for movies and music videos. Students will complete intensive projects that are personalized and cross disciplines (i.e. video, live performance, sound engineering). Students will learn the processes involved in the music business which include music management, copyright, promotion and brand development and will have the opportunity to create a business plan and portfolio. Prerequisite: Digital Music Production or Music Technology 1
Music Theory - Semester, In this non-performance course students will explore the elements of music through ear training, sight singing, musical texts, compositions and digital projects. Students will listen to and analyze recorded works to solidify their understanding of musical concepts. 24 Notational skills and score analysis skills will be developed using electronic and handwritten means, recording software and on-line applications.
AP Music Theory - Full Year, In this non-performance course students will develop a deep understanding of the elements of music through ear-training, sight singing, musical texts and compositions. Students will listen to and analyze recorded works to solidify their understanding of musical concepts. Notational skills, score analysis and advanced aural skills will be developed using electronic and handwritten means, recording software and online applications including the College Board AP Modules, Noteflight, Sight Reading Factory, Teoria, Earpeggio and Music Theory Lessons.The following written and aural skills will be covered in preparation for the AP Music Theory Exam: musical vocabulary, pitch, rhythm, key signatures and modes, intervals, triads, chords, seventh chords, inversions, non-chord tones, chord progression, cadences, advanced melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, counterpoint and figured bass.
Classroom Aide in the Arts - Semester/Year, The Classroom Aide program in the Arts offers the opportunity for selected upper level students to assume the responsibility of: ● Assisting teachers in instruction; ● Tutoring students; ● Organizing, collating, filing and/or storing materials. Qualifications for eligibility include: ● Desire to be of service; ● Submission of written application; ● Teacher recommendation based on excellence in classroom performance, demonstrated maturity and academic; ● Interview with prospective teacher; ● Recommendation by school counselor; ● Approval of Curriculum Instructional Leader. Grading of PASS or FAIL will be based upon the effective completion of assignments. Interested students must pick up from, complete and return an application to the School Counseling Department.