Music

RECOMMENDED MUSIC COURSE SEQUENCE

MUSIC

90951X  CONCERT BAND

  (Grade 9,10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite:  The ability to play a concert band instrument)

Students will learn the important aspects of functioning successfully within a musical ensemble.  They will accurately interpret musical scores containing complex rhythms and melodies.  Students will demonstrate the fundamentals of acceptable tone production, including adjusting pitch to match that of the group and listening for proper blend and balance.  Moreover, students will develop skills and techniques applicable to their instruments.  Students will understand the basic concepts of music theory and music history and understand how the knowledge of these concepts improves performance.  Achievement will be demonstrated by participating in solo, small and large ensembles, performances, rehearsals, and self-evaluation.  Attendance for outside performances is required.

90951H  HONORS CONCERT BAND

  (Grade 12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

  (Prerequisite: Successful completion of 9, 10, and 11 grade Concert Band and Director Recommendation)

Students will learn the important aspects of functioning successfully within a musical ensemble.  They will accurately interpret musical scores containing complex rhythms and melodies.  Students will demonstrate the fundamentals of quality tone production, including adjusting pitch to match that of the group and listening for proper blend and balance.  Moreover, students will develop skills and techniques applicable to their instruments.  Students will understand the advanced concepts of music theory and music history, and understand how the knowledge of these concepts improves performance.  Achievement will be demonstrated by participating in solo, small, and large ensembles, performances, rehearsals, and self-evaluation.  Attendance for outside performances is required. Acceptance into Honors Concert Band is contingent on the student’s completion of Concert Band and/or a successful solo audition.

90952Y  CONCERT BAND SPLIT

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

  (Co-requisite:  Course 909953Y)

This course is designed for those students who desire to fulfill the course requirements described for course 90951X, Concert Band, and 90954X, Concert Choir.  This course is in conjunction with course 90953Y, Concert Choir Split.  Students must follow an alternating schedule arranged by the course instructors.

90953Y  CONCERT CHOIR SPLIT

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Co-requisite:  90952Y, successful solo audition and teacher recommendation required)

This course is designed for those students who desire to fulfill the course requirements described for course 90951X, Concert Band, and course 90954X, Concert Choir. This course is in conjunction with 90952Y, Concert Band Split.  Acceptance into Choir Split is contingent on a successful audition.  Students must follow an alternating schedule arranged by the course instructors.

90952H  HONORS CONCERT BAND SPLIT

(Grade12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

  (Co-requisite:  Course 909953Y - Successful completion of 9, 10, and 11 grade Concert Band and Director Recommendation)

This course is designed for those students who desire to fulfill the course requirements described for course 90951H, Honors Concert Band, and 90954X, Concert Choir.  This course is in conjunction with course 90953H Honors Concert Choir Split or 90953Y, Concert Choir Split.  Acceptance into Honors Concert Band Split is contingent on successful completion of 9th, 10th, & 11th grade Concert Band and band director recommendation. Students must follow an alternating schedule arranged by the course instructors.

90953H  HONORS CONCERT CHOIR SPLIT

(Grade 12) (0.5 Honors Elective Credit)

(Co-requisite:  90952Y, Successful completion of 9, 10, and 11 grade Concert or Zephyr Choir, successful solo audition, and teacher recommendation required)

This course is designed for those students who desire to fulfill the course requirements described for course 90951X, Concert Band, and course 90954X, Concert Choir. This course is in conjunction with 90952Y, Concert Band Split or Honors Concert Band Split.  Acceptance into Honors Choir Split is contingent on successful completion of 9th, 10th, & 11th grade Concert Choir and choir director recommendation. Students must follow an alternating schedule arranged by the course instructors.

90954X  CONCERT CHOIR

(Grade 9, 10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite: Successful solo audition and teacher recommendation required)

Concert Choir is an auditioned ensemble that enables students to excel in the performance of a variety of music styles and time periods.  Students will continue to develop their vocal, musical, and sight-reading skills while learning to be versatile performers in vocal and choral music.  Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble that performs intermediate and advanced choir repertoire: both masterworks of choral history as well as modern compositions.  Attendance for outside performances is required.  Acceptance into Concert Choir is contingent on the student’s completion of Tenor/Bass or Treble Choir and/or a successful solo audition.

90954H  HONORS CONCERT CHOIR

(Grade 12) (1.0 Honors Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite: Successful completion of 9, 10, and 11 grade Concert or Zephyr Choir, and teacher recommendation)

Honors Concert Choir is an auditioned ensemble that enables students to excel in the performance of a variety of music styles and time periods at an advanced level. Students will continue to develop their vocal, musical, and sight-reading skills while learning to be versatile performers in vocal and choral music.  Honors Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble that performs intermediate and advanced choir repertoire: both masterworks of choral history as well as modern compositions.  Attendance for outside performances is required.  Acceptance into Honors Concert Choir is contingent on the student’s completion of Concert Choir or Zephyr Choir and/or a successful solo audition.

90955Z  ZEPHYR CHOIR

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Zephyr Choir is a beginning ensemble that enables students to excel in the performance of a variety of music styles and time periods.  Students will develop their vocal, musical, and sight-reading skills while learning to be versatile performers of vocal and choral music.  Zephyr Choir is a mixed ensemble that performs developmental choir repertoire, masterworks of choral history, and modern compositions. Attendance for outside performances is required.

90961W  MUSIC THEORY 1

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  The ability to read music and teacher recommendation)

Students will learn the basic principles of music composition, analysis, and performance.  They will understand and effectively use various clefs, meters, and time signatures and will become proficient in the performance of music utilizing these ideas.  Students will improve their listening skills by sight singing scale-wise melodies, as well as duets, and melodies with skips within the primary triads.  Moreover, students will perform rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation.  Achievement will be demonstrated by composing music using four-part writing, completing of small-scale musical compositions and a large-scale semester-length project involving an original musical composition.  A portfolio will be maintained.

90962W  MUSIC THEORY 2

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Course 90961X)

Students will be given the opportunity for an in-depth study of the principles of music, composition, analysis, and performance.  They will compose and analyze music using four-part writing techniques including all secondary chords, inversions thereof, and non-harmonic tones.  They will learn and apply the basic principles of secondary dominant chords and elementary modulation to their works.  Students will continue to develop their listening skills by sight singing melodies, which include skips in all diatonic triads and some chromatic alteration.  They will perform increasingly complex rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation examples.  Achievement will be demonstrated through the completion of small-scale musical compositions using course concepts.  

90963X  ADVANCED PLACEMENT MUSIC THEORY 

(Grade 11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Course 90962X)

Students will study the complex principles of music composition, performance, and analysis.  They will compose and analyze music using four-part writing techniques, including chromatically altered chords, borrowed chords, and modulation to closely related and foreign keys.  The students will create music modeled after famous 20th century composer’s techniques.  Students will develop their listening skills to an advanced degree by sight singing complex examples which include many chromatically altered tones and large leaps.  Some melodies may hint at atonality.  Students will perform complex examples of musical dictation which will include melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic examples, as well as those which demonstrate 20th century techniques.  Achievement will be demonstrated through the production of musical compositions containing both four-part vocal and instrumental examples.  A portfolio will be maintained.  Students will have the opportunity to register to take the AP Exam in May.

90972W  LEARNING TO PLAY THE PIANO LEVEL 1

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will experience hands-on learning of the piano using individual keyboards.  Working at one’s own pace using individualized instruction, each student will gain knowledge of a piano score and practice playing that music on the keyboard.  Basic piano techniques and theory will also be incorporated into the student’s learning.  Grading will be based on performance at the keyboard of musical pieces learned.  Self-motivation and ability to work independently are key factors in the success of the student.

90973W  LEARNING TO PLAY THE PIANO LEVEL 2

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Learning to Play the Piano Level 1 and Teacher Recommendation or Teacher Permission by Audition)

Students will experience hands-on learning of the piano using individual keyboards.  Working at one’s own pace using individualized instruction, each student will continue to build technique and performance repertoire.  Music theory and technique necessary for more advanced piano literature will be incorporated into the student’s learning, including written and aural skills.  Grading will be based on performance at the keyboard of musical pieces learned.

90974W  THEATRE ARTS I

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

This course provides a medium for students to begin exploration of theatrical performing arts.  Emphasizing creative and expressive acting, students will be trained in the fundamentals of improvisation, movement, voice, character, and production of scenes.  Students will perform in solo and group projects, developing skills in peer evaluation and accepting constructive criticism.  Students also learn basic skills in theatrical critique and analysis as well as scriptwriting.

90975X  THEATRE ARTS II

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Successful Completion of Theatre Arts I and Teacher Recommendation Required)

Theatre Arts II is a continuation of skills learned in Theatre Arts I.  Students will continue their study of technical theatre skills as well as advanced rehearsal and performance in monologues, duo, and group scenes.  This class is designed as an acting studio which will focus more on the implementation of the skills and pure acting and performance instead of learning the basics of stage performance.  Students will be given opportunities to start basic stage directing.

90976W  INTRODUCTION TO MUSICAL THEATRE

(Grade 10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None; however, singing is a required part of this class)

This class is designed for students who desire to learn more about the development and performance of musical theatre in America.  Students will study the history and development of musical theatre and Broadway from the late 1800’s to modern day including major theatrical movements, composers, performers, and productions.  Students will be challenged to critically analyze how the culture in America directly reflected in the development of musical theatre throughout the century.  Students will also choose musicals to study and perform several songs from different decades with a focus on good vocal technique and acting through the song.  Students will leave the class with a portfolio of repertoire to use in performance or audition.  Note: Singing is a required part of this class. 

90979W  INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES 1 / 90980W  INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES 2

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit Each)

(Prerequisite:  Music Teacher Recommendation)

This course is designed to meet the needs of the serious musician as well as the beginning musician.  The elements of a quality performance will be emphasized, catering to each student’s own individual needs.  Students will learn how to play individually as well as in a small ensemble, scale studies, sight reading, musical responsibilities of each instrument, effective practice techniques, characteristics of different music styles, historical information about music selected for performance, and how to organize and program a performance.  Prior to enrolling in the course, all students must get approval from a music instructor.

90981W  POPULAR MUSIC 1 (The Roots of Rock Music)

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Explore the beginnings of rock and roll! Students will listen to, analyze, and write about the blues, country, and gospel music that shaped early popular music. Learn how these roots influenced the songs and artists we still love today. 

90982W  POPULAR MUSIC 2 (Bob Dylan to the Beatles)

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Step into the music of the 1960s! Students will explore teen idols, folk and folk-rock, soul, and the British Invasion. Students will use technology to listen, analyze, and write to understand how these artists changed popular music forever. 

90983W  POPULAR MUSIC 3 (The Blues Revival to Hip-Hop)

(Grade 10,11,12) (1.0 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  Successful Completion of Popular Music 1 & Popular Music 2)

Take your journey through music from the 1970s to today! Explore funk, disco, punk, reggae, hip-hop, and more, learning how genres influenced each other and shaped modern music. Students will analyze, listen to, and write about the songs and stories behind the music. 

90985W  GUITAR

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite:  None)

Students will experience hands-on learning of the guitar. Students will learn basic guitar techniques such as basic music theory, basic chords, melodies, and scales. Students will also work at their own pace learning how to play a variety of styles. Grading will be based on performance on the guitar of musical pieces learned.  Self-motivation and ability to work independently are key factors in the success of the student.

90986W  ROCK BAND 

(Grade 9,10,11,12) (0.5 Elective Credit)

(Prerequisite: The ability to play an instrument)

Students will learn the important aspects of functioning successfully within a musical ensemble on guitar, bass, drums, piano, vocals and horns in various modern styles (pop, jazz, R&B, rock, blues and more) of music.  They will accurately interpret musical scores containing complex rhythms and melodies.  Students will demonstrate the fundamentals of acceptable tone production, including adjusting pitch to match that of the group and listening for proper blend and balance.  Moreover, students will develop skills and techniques applicable to their instruments.  Students will understand the basic concepts of music theory and music history and understand how the knowledge of these concepts improves performance and apply them to performances of their pop music.  Achievement will be demonstrated by participating in solo, small and large ensembles, performances, rehearsals, and self-evaluation.