CHAMBER CHOIR
Study of choral music for singers, including advanced study. Students form a cohesive musical chorus through reading and musicality, including tone evaluation, intonation work, and ensemble singing. Music selections include a number of styles from the 1600’s (Mozart, Beethoven) to popular music. Students will also participate in community events. Select choirs may be formed from this group.
Concert performance is mandatory to receive course credit.
SYMPHONIC BAND
The Symphonic Band includes instrumental musicians in grades 9-12. The Symphonic Band provides students with a chance to explore excellent works in the field of instrumental music. Styles covered include pop, jazz, classical, and traditional concert band literature. Students may also participate in Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band and Marching Band, and may elect to participate in the NYSSMA solo festival each year, as well as possible consideration for All-County, Area All-State and All-State Bands. Each student is provided with a lesson each week as part of his or her musical training and curriculum. The band performs at several concerts and events throughout the year.
Concert performance is mandatory to receive credit.
BEGINNING PIANO I & II (½ credit)
Students with no previous experience in piano will learn basic early piano skills from understanding bass clef and treble clef, simple melodies, some simple harmony, hand position, and chord basics. Class requires playing in class sometimes as a group and sometimes alone.
Prerequisite: Chamber Choir or Symphonic Band
MUSIC HISTORY I & II (½ credit)
A course recommended for the aspiring music professional that focuses on the foundations of music in Prehistoric times, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and beyond. Music History I will conclude with the Classical Period, Music History II will pick up from Classic to modern day music. Literature and performance study will allow for connections between multicultural music and influences that shape new performances today. If students are part of a curricular performance ensemble, literature from the prospective courses will be tied into the course material.
MUSIC THEORY I & II (½ credit)
Music Theory I & II will focus on teaching basic understanding of the elements of music, covering clefs, time signatures, articulations, rhythm, dynamics, key signatures, scales, intervals, solfege, transposition, chords, and musical form. Students will creatively apply their knowledge and understanding through opportunities to engage in musical composition.
THEATER AND STAGE (½ credit)
Students learn a basic appreciation and understanding of the theater through hands-on experiences in improvisation and monologues, two person scenes and multiple character scenes from the Dramatic literature. Students also gain an understanding of the musical theater and its forms, innovations and conventions through reading and staging scenes, viewing excerpts or singing select examples. Students also learn some of the important personalities (directors, choreographers, performers, etc.) and the important writing teams (Lerner & Loewe, Gershwin Brothers, Rodgers & Hart, Jerry Herman, Rogers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, etc.)