Music

The music curriculum, which emphasizes individual growth, provides opportunities for all students to understand, participate in and enjoy the art of music as a life-long experience. The study of the creative process and self-expression in music fosters self-confidence and develops an appreciation of the historical and cultural aspects of music.

Music classes are taught yearly in each grade and feature two different types:

• Large ensemble participation – Concert Band, Chorus, String/Keyboards Ensemble, and General Music (music appreciation for non-performing musicians)
• Small, auditioned ensembles (Jazz Band and Core Choir)

Concert Band

Middle School Band emphasizes instrumental performance and ensemble playing. Age-appropriate classical and contemporary music is studied, rehearsed and performed. Students are encouraged to understand music in relation to history, and to appreciate musical self-expression as an integral part of the human experience.

Students are required to have their own band instruments and possess basic note-reading skills. They are expected to practice music outside of class as their grade will reflect the level of improvement they make during each grading period and throughout the school year. Participation in school concerts and the graduation ceremony are required.

Skill-building activities:

• Gaining awareness of the function of his/her instrument group individually and in relation to the larger ensemble
• Maintaining a discipline of practice outside of school
• Warming up
• Practicing dynamic control and articulation
• Reading and interpreting musical notation
• Following musical direction as given through hand gestures or baton
• Practicing large ensemble progress, musicianship
• Building performance experience, technique and etiquette

[top]

Chorus

Middle School chorus emphasizes vocal performance and multi-part ensemble singing. A wide range of classical and contemporary music is studied, rehearsed and performed. Students are encouraged to understand music in relation to history and to appreciate musical self-expression as an integral part of the human experience.

Previous formal training is not required, but at a minimum, the student should be able to match pitches played on the piano, and sing a major scale (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do). Students are expected to practice their music outside of class, as their grade will reflect the level of improvement they make during each grading period and throughout the school year. Participation in rehearsals and concerts are required.

Skill-building activities:

• Singing on key, harmonizing and blending
• Developing an awareness of his/her individual function within a vocal group and in relation to the larger choir
• Reading and interpreting musical notation
• Executing rhythmic and tempo indications accurately
• Interpreting dynamics and paying attention to proper phrasing
• Following musical direction as given through hand gestures or baton
• Listening for interplay between and among mixed parts
• Practicing large ensemble progress, musicianship
• Building performance experience, technique and etiquette

[top]

Strings/Keyboards Ensemble

The strings/keyboards ensemble allows students experienced in violin, viola, cello or bass violin to practice and perform as a string ensemble. Students should have their own instrument and possess basic note-reading skills. Since there is rarely a full complement of string instruments to make a full ensemble, keyboard synthesizers are used to provide additional string sounds (keyboard players are also asked to play select piano parts). Students are encouraged to understand music in relation to history and to appreciate musical self-expression as an integral part of the human experience.

This ensemble performs classical and contemporary music and occasionally a jazz-for-strings composition. Students are expected to practice their music outside of class, as their grade will reflect the level of improvement they make during each grading period and throughout the school year. Full participation in rehearsals and concerts is required.

Skill-building activities:

• Developing an awareness of his/her individual function within the instrument group and in relation to the larger ensemble
• Applying proper instrument technique
• Reading and interpreting musical notation
• Executing rhythmic and tempo indications accurately
• Interpreting dynamics and paying attention to proper phrasing
• Following musical direction as given through hand gestures or baton
• Practicing ensemble-playing, musicianship
• Building performance experience, technique and etiquette

[top]

General Music Curriculum

General music class coursework involves the basic components of rhythm, melody, harmony and musical form. Students develop skills and vocabulary to analyze and discuss a variety of musical genres, through class participation, musical listening, ear training, in-class singing, playing instruments and cooperative learning. Students are encouraged to understand music in relation to history and to appreciate musical self-expression as an integral part of the human experience.

Skill-building activities:

• Gaining music appreciation from hands-on experience
• Identifying dynamic changes, meter signature, syncopation
• Developing critical listening skills by identifying vocal and instrumental tone color, orchestral families
• Understanding developments of musical history
• Learning the anatomy of melody: major and minor, melodic contour, phrases, monophonic, polyphonic, homophonic textures
• Understanding harmony: identifying tonal and atonal music, blues scale, harmonic textures, dorian and mixolydian modes
• Identifying repetition and contrast in dynamics, tempo and articulation
• Identifying verse-refrain (AB), theme and variations, subject and episode, arch, rondo, sonata-allegro, augmentation and improvisation

Resource:

• Share the Music, McGraw Hill

[top]

< back