• Ninth to Twelfth Grades: Piano 1

    This course is designed for students who wish to develop basic piano playing skills.  No prior piano knowledge is necessary. Students will become familiar with music notation, piano chords, piano technique, and piano performance practices. Each student completes a Piano 1 Playlist of each recorded song and compositions finished throughout the course.  Piano keyboards are provided for students in the music lab.

    Concepts:

    • Rhythm
    • The Staff
    • Accidentals
    • Major Chords
    • Minor Chords

     

    Materials:

    Modern Band Method: Keyboard; Supplemental Piano Books by Scott Burstein, Spencer Hale, Mary Claxton, Dave Wish
    MusicFirst; Soundtrap

     

    Ninth to Twelfth Grades: Piano 2

    This semester long course is for intermediate piano students who are comfortable performing, and reading music notation and piano chords. Piano II is an extension of the Piano I curriculum, focusing on more challenging repertoire piano technique. This class is focused more on achieving individual performance goals. Piano keyboards are provided for students in the music lab.

    Concepts:  

    • Scales
    • Chord Inversions
    • Sight-Reading
    • How to effectively practice. 

    Materials:

    Modern Band Method: Keyboard; Supplemental Piano Books by Scott Burstein, Spencer Hale, Mary Claxton, Dave Wish
    MusicFirst; Soundtrap; Sight-Reading Factory

     

    Ninth to Twelfth Grades: Music Theory 1

    Music Theory is the study of how music works.This course is for those students wishing to gain a deeper understanding of music through analysis and creation of music compositions. The course, through daily projects and classwork, will cover: notation and analysis of pitch, harmony, meter, form, and rhythm, ear training, and key signatures. Although it is recommended that students know how to read music and play an instrument or sing before they begin the course, it is not necessary.

    Concepts:    

    • Elements of Music:
      • notation and analysis of pitch
      • harmony
      • meter
      • form
      • rhythm
      • ear training
      • key signatures

    Materials:

    From Sound to Symbol by Micheal Houlahan and Philip Tacka
    MusicFirst; Soundtrap; Noteflight

     


    Ninth to Twelfth Grades: Music Theory 2

    The course is an extension of the Music Theory I curriculum, continuing ear training and adding topics such as intervals, chords, and functional harmony. Students will continue to create musical compositions and analyze music. This course is highly recommended for those seriously interested in music or contemplating a career in music. 

    Concepts:      

    • Intervals
    • Chords
    • Functional Harmony.

    Materials:  

    From Sound to Symbol
    MusicFirst; Soundtrap; Noteflight


    Ninth to Twelfth Grades: Concert Choir

    This course is offered to any student who is interested in singing. Students of all singing abilities are welcome to join this class. The goal of this course is to develop vocal technique and choral ensemble skills. Students are required to sing in two major concerts per year (Winter Concert, Spring Concert), attend a few after school rehearsals per semester, and perform in community performances. Course outcomes and expectations include applying vocal techniques and music theory to choral literature, singing in other languages, and developing leadership and teamwork skills in the choral ensemble. This course may be taken multiple times throughout high school. 

    Concepts:        

    • Basics of Singing
    • Music Notation
    • Sight-Reading

    No text is used. Concert Selection pieces change from year to year depending on ability of the ensemble.
    MusicFirst; Soundtrap; Sight-Reading Factory


    Tenth to Twelfth Grades: Select Choir

    This course is a year-long, audition-based performance level class for students to continue developing singing skills, music literacy, and performance techniques from the concert choir class. This course also includes learning music theory, performing intermediate level sight-reading, and analyzing music of different time periods. Students are required to sing in two major concerts per year (Winter Concert, Spring Concert),attend  a few evening rehearsals per semester, and participate in multiple community performances.  This course may be taken multiple times throughout high school.
    Students apply concepts from concert choir into higher level repertoire


    No text is used. Concert Selection pieces change from year to year depending on ability of the ensemble.


    MusicFirst; Soundtrap; Sight-Reading Factory