Music
Choir
One (1) year; Half (1/2) credit
Students work on individual music reading and singing skills through sectional and group rehearsal of choral music. Throughout the year students will prepare choral music for concert performance. Musical styles include lighter selections, pop, show music, jazz, folk, patriotic, spirituals, sacred, and classical choral literature. Opportunities for students may include solo or small group work required by various choral pieces.
Company of Song
One (1) Year: Half (1/2) credit
Prerequisite: Audition and audition form submitted to school counseling
Company of Song is an audition-based choral ensemble using a mixture of pop; show tunes, classical, and secular music to entertain its audiences. Students will be expected to sing and learn choreography to enhance the musical performance. Students work on individual music reading and singing skills through sectional and group rehearsal of choral music.
Band
One (1) year; Half (1/2) credit
Students learn to play a band and/or orchestral instrument in small group lessons and in individual practice. Students rehearse together to prepare music for performances. All range of music is performed including lighter selections, show music, contemporary works and classic.
George Vosburgh Memorial Handbell Choir
One (1) Year: Half (1/2) credit
Prerequisite: Audition and audition form submitted to school counseling
Students learn to play handbells and to perform as part of a handbell choir. Music is prepared for public performance in rehearsals. This group performs many times throughout the year and has performed on radio and TV. Policy regarding membership in the bell choir is as follows:
Current members continue as members each year unless they desire to discontinue or are asked to re-audition with the director.
Open positions will be filled using the following priorities:
a. Past participation in a handbell choir
b. Preference to be given to upper classmenMembership in the group is subject to an audition by the director or music faculty.
Jazz Ensemble
One (1) Year; Half (1/2) credit
Prerequisite: Audition and audition form submitted to school counseling
Due to the more demanding music, students must audition to join the Jazz Ensemble. Students will explore music in various styles such as Jazz, Rock, Latin, and Swing and be introduced to basics of jazz improvisation. Performances will include three school concerts and various community appearances. The Jazz Ensemble will participate in jazz festivals at various events and locations every other year. Students will be evaluated on their participation, achievement, improvisation and musical ability.
Music Technology
One (1) Year; Half (1/2) credit
This is an introductory course for students interested in music technology. The student will learn how to use music recording software, setting up and placement of microphones, the use of a digital audio workstation, and creating and recording their own music. The number of students should be limited to the number of workstations that are available for use.
Orchestra
One (1) year; Half (1/2) credit
Students continue their development on a band and/or orchestral instrument in small group lessons and in ensemble rehearsals. Students will advance on their instrument and be able to participate in solo and ensemble festivals. A wide variety of musical styles will be taught including classical, show music, contemporary, and traditional.
Music Theory
One Year; Half ( 1/2) credit
Music Theory will introduce students to the building blocks of music. Within the course of one year, students will cover materials that will enable them to understand music structures, interval and chord progressions, musical notation, and dictation, basic harmonization and composition. The course will culminate with the final project, creation of a short choral composition.