This course is intended to provide vocalists with the tools necessary to read a piece of music at sight and strengthen their musical ear. In both levels of Aural Skills, students learn to identify solfege, rhythms, and common musical devices such as chord tones, theme, and sequence, in order to enhance their ability to sight-sing. Students are also trained to sing and identify intervals, chords, and scales.

 

In this course students will be develop the tools necessary to read a piece of music at sight and strengthen their musical ear. In both levels of Aural Skills, students learn to identify solfege, rhythms, and common musical devices such as chord tones, theme, and sequence, in order to enhance their ability to sight-sing. Students are also trained to sing and identify intervals, chords, and scales.

 

 

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of choral and ensemble singing to 6th grade students in Vocal Music. In this course, students study a variety of repertoire from many different genres and will learn the basics of choral and vocal technique. Specifically, students will work on matching pitch, intonation, singing in 2-3-part harmony, developing blend and vowel shape, and reading music. As part of a rigorous pre-professional arts program, students also learn the value of professionalism in the choir rehearsal, proper concert and rehearsal etiquette, and the ability to work in harmony with one another to create a wonderful piece of music.

 

This is the collective group of all Middle School Vocalists. Students study a wide variety of repertoire throughout the year from many geographical locations and musical genres including traditional, jazz, folk, and pop, with emphasis on 3-part harmony while approaching 4-part harmony. Students will also focus on the fundamentals of sight-singing, applied music theory, and music of different cultural contexts. As well, all students are coached on the art of stage presence so that they learn the process of making a piece “performance ready”. Students in Select Ensemble will continue to hone these skills throughout the year, preparing them for Encore and/or our intermediate/advanced High School ensembles. 

 

Encore is an advanced "audition-only" Middle School a cappella ensemble, made up of 6 - 10 students, grades 7th – 8th.   Students in this ensemble will be exposed to a wide variety of complex 4 to 8-part choral arrangements. The primary emphasis will be on learning contemporary repertoire from the soul, pop, rock and R&B idioms. The style of arrangements will pull from the contemporary a cappella model, in which there are one or two lead vocalists, backed by singers imitating the sound of instruments. Encore is a repertoire-driven ensemble and requires learning music at a quick and advanced steady pace. Students will need to put in approximately 3 – 5 hours a week of outside preparation and do regular exercises and drills to maintain their theory and aural skills. Encore will perform semi-frequently and students are expected to handle the demands of a moderately busy performance schedule.

 

Fundamentals of Music Theory is the art of sound and silence through time. Fundamentals of Music Theory introduces students to the basics of music theory and notation, which will allow them to read and write in their art form. Students will gain competency in basic music notation and music theory by completing homework, in-class assignments and composition projects. All students are expected to contribute to the class by internalizing lecture materials, taking notes, completing in-class and homework assignments and contributing to class discussions.

 

This course introduces students to the basics of music theory and notation, and aural skills, which will allow them to read and write in their art form. Students will gain competency in basic music notation and music theory by completing homework, in-class assignments and composition projects. Topics Students will listen to different styles and genres of music as presented in listening exams.

 

The Second course in the Music Theory/History program concentrates on the development of diatonic melody and harmony in the common practice period using practical exercises. Students participate in sight singing and ear training exercises, dictation exercises, composition exercises, and keyboard realization of theoretical concepts. Pivotal works within the history of western music that highlight the material being covered are analyzed and discussed.

 

This course focuses on providing solo vocal performance support to middle school students. The class is intended to prepare students for auditions both inside and outside of school. During this year-long course, students study 4 solo vocal pieces within the musical theatre, traditional, jazz, and contemporary idiom. Students will learn and memorize the piece, study the history of their particular genre, and research analyze the context in which their particular piece was performed and written. Students will also learn the fundamentals of Vocal technique and anatomy. Finally, students will have regular opportunities to perform in class in front of their peers and receive constructive critique on stage presence and technique.

 

Choir

 

 

One Voice Ensemble
The One Voice Ensemble is the foundational  ensemble course in the High School Vocal Department including 9th - 12th grade students. The primary focus of this course is to establish in the students an understanding, appreciation and foundation of basic vocal and choral applications and technical process. As part of a rigorous pre-professional arts program, students also learn the value of professionalism in the choir rehearsal, proper concert and rehearsal etiquette, and the ability to work in harmony with one another to create a wonderful piece of music. In this course, students study and perform a variety of repertoire from many different genres, with a special emphasis on inspirational, American folk music, world music repertoire. Specifically, students will work on matching pitch, intonation, singing in 4-part harmony and beyond, developing blend and vowel shape, and reading music. 

 

Chamber Choir is an “audition only” intermediate high school ensemble. This choir is open to all 10th – 12th graders, provided that they pass the entrance audition. Students are exposed to a wide variety of ensemble repertoire from a variety of genres and geographical locations. Most of the music sung in Chamber Choir consists of 4 – 8 part harmony , and students are expected to read music proficiently and hold their part with ease. Ear training and sight-reading heavily emphasized in order to prepare students for the advanced high school ensemble, Vocal Rush. Chamber Choir students also develop tone quality, genre versatility, vocal control, and stage presence as a soloist while participating in the group. Chamber Choir students are expected to handle the demands of a moderately busy performance schedule.

 

Vocal Rush is an advanced audition-only a cappella ensemble, made up of 10-16 students grades 11- 12. Students in this ensemble will be exposed to a wide variety of complex 4 to 8-part choral arrangements from many different genres (traditional, jazz, folk, spirituals) and geographical locations (South Africa, Bulgaria, The Philippines and more) but the primary emphasis will be on learning contemporary repertoire from the soul, pop, rock and R&B idioms. The style of arrangements will pull from the contemporary a cappella model, in which there are one or two lead vocalists, backed by singers imitating the sound of instruments – including vocal percussion. Vocal Rush is a repertoire-driven ensemble, learning music at a quick and steady pace. Vocal Rush. Students are expected to handle the demands of a highly busy performance schedule. In addition, students in Vocal Rush are expected to be exceptional leaders and role models.

 

In this course, students will explore classical voice. Students will study vocal anatomy, healthy maintenance of their instrument, classical deportment, and the potential uses of a classical approach. They will be introduced to IPA – International Phonetic Alphabet. Students will explore classical music through the study of at least one art song – its translation, pronunciation and performance. 

 

This course focuses on providing solo vocal performance support to high school students. During this year-long course, students study with a different teacher each quarter to learn within the musical theatre, classical/jazz, contemporary and songwriting. Students will learn and memorize the piece, study the history of their particular genre, and research analyze the context in which their particular piece was performed and written. Students will also learn the fundamentals of Vocal technique and anatomy. Finally, students will have regular opportunities to perform in class in front of their peers and receive constructive critique on stage presence and technique.

 

This course focuses on providing solo vocal performance technique to high school students. During this quarter long rotation, all students will study what Jazz really is and isn’t, solo Jazz vocal artistry, technique and history. Students will learn and memorize some of the most important selections from the Great American Songbook and the Jazz Real Book that comprise the Jazz repertoire we call standards. They will also study the genesis and history of Jazz, individual stylizing in Jazz, some of the most important vocal Jazz artists. As well, students will have regular opportunities to perform in front of their peers in class, learn about working with accompanists and receive constructive critique on stage presence and technique.

 

In this course, students will explore the idiom of musical theater through a single song selection. Students will study the greater musical work, examining the context in which the song appears, and will write a character analysis. Students will develop their solo performance skills through the study of vocal technique and stage performance skills relevant to the musical theater genre.

 

Music Theory 1
Fundamentals of Music Theory is the art of sound and silence through time. Fundamentals of Music Theory introduces students to the basics of music theory and notation, which will allow them to read and write in their art form. Students will gain competency in basic music notation and music theory by completing homework, in-class assignments and composition projects. All students are expected to contribute to the class by internalizing lecture materials, taking notes, completing in-class and homework assignments and contributing to class discussions.

 

Music Theory 2
This course introduces students to the basics of music theory and notation, and aural skills, which will allow them to read and write in their art form. Students will gain competency in basic music notation and music theory by completing homework, in-class assignments and composition projects. Students will listen to different styles and genres of music as presented in listening exams.

 

Music Theory 3
The Second course in the Music Theory/History program concentrates on the development of diatonic melody and harmony in the common practice period using practical exercises. Students participate in sight singing and ear training exercises, dictation exercises, composition exercises, and keyboard realization of theoretical concepts. Pivotal works within the history of western music that highlight the material being covered are analyzed and discussed.

 

Music Theory 4/Applied Theory
This course further develops students’ knowledge of chord structure and application, composition, arrangement, sight-singing and ear training. Students will gain competency in spelling of all types of 7th chords, chordal tensions/upper structures, minor scales, modes,melody writing and harmonization. Students will listen to different styles and genres of music as presented in listening exams, and will further develop their ears through interval, triad and 7th chord identification, as well as short dictation quizzes. In addition, students will continue work on chromatic sight-singing and further develop their musical ear by singing back and identifying intervals and chords.  

 

 

Beginner Piano

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