Music And Band

Students will be introduced to the academic language of music and music theory. Students will also be introduced to musical instruments and their families and receive instruction on how to listen to, talk about, and write about music. This class is required prior to taking all other music classes, unless the student already has a musical instrument background such as having participated in a middle school band or orchestra.

Chorus trains vocal students to sing the finest choral music. An emphasis is placed on developing musicianship and vocal technique, self-confidence in solo singing, foundational music reading skills (sight singing), and building a critical ear. Students will develop active listening skills, learn basic music theory, and accumulate and apply the academic language unique to music. Through participation in chorus, students will also expand their problem solving and critical thinking abilities, achieve strong group skills, and have the opportunity to express themselves artistically through music. Chorus performs several times per year both at the high school and in the community. This course requires occasional time commitments outside of the school day.

Concert Band provides students with the opportunity to continue study on a major band instrument. The focus of the class is the performance of modern band literature, improving technical facility on instruments, and learning to play music in a large ensemble setting. Students will develop active listening skills, learn basic musical theory, and accumulate and apply the academic language unique to music. Through participation in band students will also expand their problem solving and critical thinking abilities, achieve strong group skills, and have the opportunity to express themselves artistically through music. The band performs several times per year both at the high school and out in the community. This ensemble also serves as the pep band for all home football games. This course requires occasional time commitments outside of the school day.

Handbells is an instrumental class where students learn to read music while playing as a team. The course emphasizes and aims to: encourage music participation, teach students the skill of reading music, develop students’ listening skills, prepare students for concerts and performances, introduce students to composers with a variety of styles and works, develop in students a fascination and recognition of musical styles. The foundation of this course is to teach students to read music as well as encourage students to prepare for and participate in live performance. This course requires occasional time commitments outside of the school day.

Piano I is a course open to students in grades 9-12. This course will instruct the student in Level 1, Beginning Piano. The student will be guided sequentially through the following: basic skills of keyboard technique; reading music; acquisition of terminology; the critique process; the basics of composition; research of a composer and performance of their work; and the historical, cultural, and career connections in music. Students learn from the very basic steps how to read music and play the piano. The class is set up for beginners who do not know how to read music and throughout the term students accomplish different playing tasks while building a working knowledge of the basics of music, music theory, music history and performances.

Piano II is a continuation of Piano I. Students will continue to develop basic keyboard technique, music reading, and basic music theory. Students must have passed Piano I with a minimum grade of C-

Piano III is a continuation of Piano II. Students will continue to develop basic keyboard technique, music reading, and basic music theory. More emphasis will be placed in developing an intermediate level of solo repertoire. Students must have passed Piano II with a minimum grade of C-