Music Department Course Descriptions

Performing Classes

Course No. 950
Band

Full year.
Credit: 1 unit.
Target Audience: Students in grades 9-12.
Prerequisite: Students must have experience playing a wind or percussion instrument  (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, french horn, euphonium,tuba, snare drum, bass drum, mallets, timpani).
Students enrolled in band meet daily for band class. Participants will study music theory and music history as it relates to the music that is being prepared and performed by the class. In addition, band students meet for one class period once a week for a group lesson. In the group lesson students will have the opportunity to learn specific techniques that apply to their instrument. There are 3 concerts per year which take place on school nights. Students will receive ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’ at each week marking period as well as a written progress report.
Culminating Activity: Final Exam or project.

Course No. 951
Chorus

Full year.
Credit: 1 unit.
Target Audience: Students in grades 9-12.
Prerequisite: Students who have previous singing experience or a desire and motivation to learn how to sing in an ensemble.
Students enrolled in chorus meet daily for chorus class. Participants will study music theory, improve sight reading skills, and apply music history knowledge to the pieces they are preparing for performance. In addition, chorus students meet for one class period once a week for a group lesson. There are 3 or 4 concerts per year which take place on school nights. Students will receive ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’ at each week marking period as well as a written progress report.
Culminating Activity: Final Exam or project.

Course No. 954
Jazz Ensemble

Full year.
Credit: combined with band/orchestra is one credit, just jazz ensemble participation is one half credit.
Target Audience: The class is open to intermediate to advanced saxophone, trombone, trumpet, percussion, bass, guitar, and piano student performers in grades 9-12 that have intermediate to advanced music reading and performance skills on one of the instruments listed above.
Prerequisite: Previous jazz ensemble experience or permission of the instructor.
The class is a select (+/- 20 participants) music performance class designed to provide the opportunity for qualified musicians to learn classic and contemporary jazz, jazz-rock, rock and pop music in a traditional ‘big-band’ (saxophone , trombone, trumpet, and rhythm sections) setting. Participants will study the performance practices necessary to successfully play a broad repertoire of music. They will learn the jazz/music theory necessary to solo improvise in varied styles. All participants will improvise in class. Selected students will have the opportunity to solo improvise with the ensemble in performance. Participants will be exposed to the history of jazz, as it applies to the music they are performing. There are 2 concerts per year which take place on a school night. Students will receive ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’ at the ten week marking period. Students will receive a formal evaluation during each of the next three quarters.

Course No. 960
Orchestra

Full year.
Credit: 1 unit.
Target Audience: Students in grades 9-12.
Prerequisites: Students must have experience playing a stringed instrument (violin, viola, cello, bass).
Students enrolled in orchestra meet daily for orchestra class. In addition, orchestra students meet for one class period once a week for a group lesson. There are 3 concerts per year which take place on school nights. Students will receive ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’ at each week marking period as well as a written progress report.
Culminating Activity: Final exam or project.

Non-performing Classes

Course No. 952
Music In Our Lives

Full year.
Credit: 1 unit.
Target Audience: Students in grades 9-12 that have a desire to study the elements of music and who wish to satisfy the full credit arts requirement for graduation.
The class focuses on such topics as European music style periods, jazz, blues, film music and rock and roll, and explores the instruments of the orchestra, basic music terminology, music theory, and basic keyboard instruction.
Culminating Activity: Final exam or project.

Course Number: 953
Comprehensive Foundations of Music

Full year.
Credit: 1 unit.
Successful completion of this class will award the student one unit of credit toward a 3 or 5 unit sequence in music.
Target Audience: Students in grades 9-12 that wish to take an advanced music class or that plan to pursue music in college.
Prerequisite: Completion of Music In Our Lives or participation in a performing class or permission of the instructor.
The class focuses on the history and development of Western Art Music from ancient times to the present. Students will listen analyze and compose music from various style periods. This class will be offered alternating years with Music Theory.