Music Studies 1 (Music Appreciation)
Semester 1
Open to grades 9 – 12
This is a general music appreciation course that is designed to guide students through the art of listening and experiencing different types of music. We will explore the historical periods and genres of music. In-class assignments, tests, quizzes, effort and participation are the assessment tools for this course and determine the overall grade.
Music Studies 2 (Music Theory & Applications)
Semester 2
Open to grades 9 – 12
Students will focus on the basic fundamentals of music theory and explore them through the use of instruments that they can use individually; keyboard, alto and soprano recorders, ukuleles, and world drumming techniques. Performance assessments, in-class assignments, tests, effort and participation are the assessment tools for this course and determine the overall grade.
Beginning Acoustic Guitar
Semester 1 or 2
Open to grades 9 – 12
Capacity: 13
Prerequisite: Students must be beginners with no previous guitar experience.
This semester-long class will allow students to learn the fundamentals of playing the guitar. Students will be instructed on correct hand positions, tuning of strings, and learning to read standard music notation and tablature. Performance assessments, in-class assignments, tests, effort and participation are the assessment tools for this course and determine the overall grade.
Introduction to Guitar Syllabus
Intro to Theater Arts
Semester 1
Open to grades 9 – 12
This course covers such areas as acting technique, technical theatre, history, improvisation, publicity and stage production. We will focus on the history of the drama and musical theater in the United States and through video examples exploring the many facets of these genres of theater. Projects, in-class assignments, tests, effort and participation are the assessment tools for this course and determine the overall grade. No stage experience required and there is no mandatory stage performance.
Honors Music Theory
Full Year
Open to Grades 11 – 12
Prerequisite: Students must be a member of band, choir, or have completed Music Studies 2 (Theory and Applications).
The ultimate goal of the course is to develop a student’s ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The achievement of this goal is best promoted by integrating approaches of student’s development of aural skills, sight-singing skills, written skills, compositional skills, and analytical exercises.