Symphonic Band
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This is a full year course open to students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 possessing basic skills on woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The symphonic band primarily focuses on developing skills in rhythm, pitch, tone, and intonation. Students study music through the use of method books, exercises, and appropriate concert repertoire on levels 3 to 4. Performances are culminating experiences; acceptance of the set performance calendar is a course requirement.

Wind Ensemble
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This band is designed for woodwind, brass, and percussion students with advanced technical abilities who wish to broaden their musical knowledge and improve their performance level. Membership in the Wind Ensemble is based upon auditions and/or by recommendation of the instructor. The Wind Ensemble studies and performs music on an advanced level, encompassing grades 4.5 to 6, with emphasis on developing musical maturity appropriate to college and professional level music literature. Members of the Wind Ensemble may audition for woodwind, brass, and percussion parts in the high school orchestra. Performances are culminating experiences; acceptance of the set performance calendar is a course requirement. Students will be encouraged to participate in our recital series, as well as audition for the Region II and All-State Bands.

Basic Piano
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for students who have little or no musical experience and would like to learn to play the piano and other keyboard instruments. Included will be musical notation and graded individualized materials. Practice time will be provided during class sessions negating the need for students to have other access to a piano.

Advanced Piano
5 credits
Grades 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Basic Piano and would like to continue their learning on the piano and different keyboard instruments. Included will be music notation on an advanced level, and graded individual piano performances. Practice time will be provided during class sessions, the instruction will be differentiated, and a recital performance will be the culminating activity of the year.

Music Theory
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for the student interested in understanding the mechanics and structure of music including notation, intervals, scales, triads and chords. The fundamentals of music, rhythm, melody and harmony are emphasized as is ear training in melody and harmony. The piano keyboard will be used to supplement the teaching of the fundamentals of composition and orchestration. Previous music reading skills are a prerequisite.

Orchestra
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed primarily for string players who desire to learn and perform orchestral and chamber ensemble music. The class lessons emphasize fundamental playing skills for individuals and in ensemble. Select wind, brass and percussion players will join with the strings to form a full orchestra for performances. Students in the orchestra course are required to perform in all concerts. All concerts and programs are considered part of the course of study and are weighted accordingly.

Progressive Rock: The Music of YES and Friends
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This full year course is designed for the high school student, grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, who are interested in learning the history of the Progressive Rock Music Genre primarily through the music of the British rock band YES and other Progressive Rock Bands, such as The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, Rush, and Dream Theater. The students will study, analyze, interpret, and critique this genre of music at a high level of artistry, as it relates to the musical concepts being introduced. Although this course is open to all students, it is especially geared towards the non-traditional high school music performance student. This course satisfies the graduation requirement for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Women’s Ensemble
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for all female students who wish to pursue choral singing regardless of past experience. Singers will learn the fundamentals of music, musicianship, and singing through the rehearsal and performance of quality choral literature for women’s voices from all styles, genres, cultures, and musical eras. Concerts and performances out of school are required. Women’s Ensemble is the first level of curricular choir for all female students and all first-year women will be placed into this ensemble.

Concert Choir
5 credits
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for all students who wish to pursue choral singing. Students will learn the fundamentals of music literacy, musicianship, and singing through the study and performance of quality choral literature from all styles and historical periods, including 20th and 21st century compositions. Concerts and performances outside of school are required. Concert Choir is a non-auditioned choir, and enrollment is open to any female in grades 10, 11, or 12 who has successfully completed Women’s Ensemble with teacher placement recommendation, and any male in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.

Chamber Singers
5 credits
Grades 10, 11, 12
This course is designed for all students who wish to pursue choral singing at the highest level of artistry and technical ability. Students will apply knowledge gained in earlier choral music courses as a foundation for learning and performing highly challenging choral literature spanning all musical eras, genres, styles, and cultural origins (including 20th and 21st century compositions) as well as developing musicianship of the highest caliber. Out of school rehearsals and performing engagements are required. Chamber Singers is open to students selected by audition in the spring preceding each year. All students who meet a one-year prerequisite of a curricular choral music course are eligible to audition.

Ragazze Women’s Choir
5 credtis
Grades 10, 11, 12
Ragazze Women’s Choir is a full-year advanced choral music course available to all female students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who have successfully completed a one-year curricular choral music prerequisite and have earned placement into the course through the high school’s choral music placement audition process. Students will study, analyze, interpret, and perform challenging music for treble voices. The choral literature will span all musical eras, genres, styles, and cultural origins (including 20th and 21st century compositions.) The course is designed for students who wish to pursue choral singing at extremely high levels of artistry and technical ability. Students will apply knowledge gained in earlier choral music courses as a foundation for the learning and performance experiences in this course. Out of school rehearsals and performing engagements are an integral part of the course of study, and, as such, are required.