Music

The Music Program gives students with or without a musical background an opportunity to study the important fundamentals of music, including history and theory. Students learn to critically listen and enjoy a wide variety of music ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day. With a focus on writing, using technology, and developing 21st-century skills, students are encouraged to reflect and use music in an expressive way on a daily basis. Our main goal is to give all students who enroll in these courses a new appreciation for music.

GRADE 9

Band & Chorus 9
These ensembles are for students who want to continue their chorus or band experience. With daily rehearsals during your academic schedule, the chorus and band will perform two to three concerts per year, feature selected soloists/ensembles for school functions, sing at sporting and other events around the area, and more. The ensembles will work with the other grade levels to complete instrument/vocal sections. Additionally, students can audition for statewide festivals and area honor ensembles.

Ukulele
This course is designed to provide freshmen, with or without a musical background, a chance to apply music and the history of the ukulele, learn one-string melodies and multi-chord songs, and even prepare a full-length song as a group project. Additionally, students will study the fundamentals of music and history in genres popular amongst young adults, such as Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock & Roll, and Country.

GRADE 10

Band & Chorus 10
These ensembles are for students who want to continue their chorus or band experience. With daily rehearsals during your academic schedule, the chorus and band will perform two to three concerts per year, feature selected soloists/ensembles for school functions, sing at sporting and other events around the area, and more. The ensembles will work with the other grade levels to complete instrument/vocal sections. Additionally, students can audition for statewide festivals and area honor ensembles.

Music Appreciation
This course allows students to take a music appreciation course geared towards general music topics without prior knowledge or experience. Students will study music theory fundamentals, the history of the Baroque through the Romantic periods, and the lives of key musicians and composers, as well as learn basic music composition skills. Students will begin to see how the music of those periods has influenced popular music of the 20th and 21st centuries by looking into various modern-day genres. Most of this class is studying applied music aimed at music theory, which will prepare sophomores to take Advanced Placement Music Theory during their junior year (optional).

GRADE 11

Introduction to Piano & Pop Music
This course is open to any student who wishes to learn the piano! Students will learn basic piano skills, which include reading music and performing basic songs to gain hands-on musical instrument experience. Additionally, students will listen to and critique popular music of the 20th century and beyond. We will take an in-depth look at the music that has influenced today’s popular music by studying the history, foundations, and key musicians of many different styles and types of music from 1900 to the present. Students study genres such as Jazz, Blues, Heavy Metal, and Country. The important social, political, and cultural elements of popular music will also be explored, analyzed, and discussed, along with the impact certain historical events had on pop music.

Advanced Placement Music Theory
This class is meant for students interested in music composition and songwriting, whether they are college-bound or not. Students should be able to read music; previous instrumental or singing experience is highly recommended. Topics such as music theory, aural skills, and sight singing are all covered in this course and are required for the spring AP Music Theory exam. These concepts are studied through heard and notated music with an emphasis on the identification and analysis of musical features, relationships, and procedures in full musical contexts. Musicianship skills through melodic and harmonic dictation, sight singing, and error detection exercises are also mastered and included on the exam. Students must take the AP Exam in May to receive AP credit on their transcript. A qualifying score of three or better on the AP Exam may earn students college credit and/or help them into advanced classes.

GRADE 12

Movie Music
Ever wondered where or when movie soundtracks began? What about sound effects or even gaming music? Then this is the class for you! In this course, students take the entire school year to listen to and watch movie music from its earliest forms to their favorite modern movies and shows. Students will learn about the history of film music, key composers, historical and cultural events, and even studio recordings. Additionally, students will hear from actual recording artists and their experience in the studio. Alongside movie music, students will also study how gaming music has changed the world of computer and personal device games.

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