Music

6th Grade General Music

Length: Semester
Format: Meets Every Other Day
Description: General Music classes alternate between the music classroom and the piano keyboard lab. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of piano technique, vocal technique, note reading, and the instruments of the orchestra. Areas of instruction include beginning level music literacy, keyboard performance skills, and in-depth exposure to the instruments of the orchestra via videos, recordings, and live demonstrations.

7th Grade General Music

Length: Semester
Format: Meets Every Other Day
Description: The General Music classes alternate between the music classroom and the piano keyboard lab. Students continue their study of piano technique, vocal technique, and note reading learned in 6th grade. Units of instruction include: rhythm, melody, basic music theory, and a brief history of Jazz and Rock and Roll.

8th Grade Music Technology

Length: Semester
Format: Meets Every Other Day
Description: Music Technology is offered as an eighth (8th) grade music elective, meeting three (3) times a cycle for one (1) semester.  Students use and build upon basic music skills using software and hardware devices to complete class assignments and composition projects throughout the semester.  Areas of instruction include equipment care and operation, music literacy (reading and writing music), keyboard performance skills, basic compositional elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, form and texture; music technology-related history, concepts, terminology, and experience with several software applications.  Students are also introduced to digital sound editing, and links are made to the study of sound in the eighth (8th) grade Science  curriculum.  Listening and analysis of recorded examples of various forms of music created using electronic instruments is done throughout the semester.  Additional focus is placed on the historical development of electronic musical instruments and the recording process.  Quarterly grades are determined by student progress and growth in performance skills at the keyboard, technical skill, manipulation of digital music data, listening journal, compositional skill, and class participation.

Software: Apple GarageBand and Logic music sequence recording software; Audacity recording and sound editing software; selected recordings.

8th Grade American Musical Theater

Length: Semester
Format: Meets Every Other Day
Description: This course will offer an overview of American Musical Theater from its beginnings in Vaudeville to modern-day musicals like Wicked and Hamilton.  Students will explore the different musical styles employed in Broadway shows, discovering how the show’s songs reflected American popular culture.  Students will:  listen to audio recordings, watch video clips, and discuss overarching themes in relation to history.  Students will also learn major songs from selected shows and add group movement and choreography.  In-class group singing and dance is a requirement for this course.  There are no public performances outside of class and all levels of experience are welcome.

6th Grade Concert Band

Length: Year
Format: Rehearsal (Full Ensemble):  Meets Three (3) Times in an Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory); Group Lesson:  Meets Once Every Six (6) Days
Description: The sixth (6th) grade Concert Band extends the opportunity for students who have received instruction on a band instrument for at least one (1) year prior (or equivalent) to continue instruction and performance on their selected band instrument as part of a large grade‐level ensemble. Primary focus is placed on sequential skill development on the student’s instrument in their second year of playing, as well as advancing ensemble performance and listening skills. Within each eight (8)-day rotation, students meet three (3) times for large ensemble rehearsal, and also have one (1) instrument-specific group lesson every six (6) days. The sixth (6th) grade Concert Band performs a daytime performance for their class and an evening performance near the end of each semester. Students are assessed on instrumental progress and musical growth each quarter. Quarterly grades are determined by demonstrated musical progress and growth, music preparation, attendance, and participation.

7th Grade Concert Band

Length: Year
Format: Rehearsal (Full Ensemble):  Meets Three (3) Times in an Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory); Group Lesson:  Meets Once Every Six (6) Days
Description: The seventh (7th) grade Concert Band extends the opportunity for students who have received instruction on a band instrument for at least two (2) years prior (or equivalent) to continue instruction and performance on their selected band instrument as part of a large grade- level ensemble. The seventh (7th) grade Concert Band combines with the eighth (8th) grade Concert Band for daytime and evening performances each semester. Primary focus is placed on sequential skill development on the student’s instrument in their third year of playing, as well as advancing ensemble performance, listening, and developing higher-order musical skills. Within each eight (8)-day rotation, students meet three (3) times for large ensemble rehearsal (combining with 8th Grade Band on the third rehearsal each cycle), and also have one (1) instrument-specific group lesson every six (6) days.  Students are assessed on instrumental progress and musical growth each quarter. Quarterly grades are determined by demonstrated musical progress and growth, music preparation, attendance, and participation.

8th Grade Concert Band

Length: Year
Format: Rehearsal (Full Ensemble):  Meets Three (3) Times in an Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory); Group Lesson:  Meets Once Every Six (6) Days
Description: The 8th  Grade Concert Band extends the opportunity for students who have received instruction on a band instrument for at least three (3) years prior (or equivalent) to continue instruction and performance on their selected band instrument as part of a large grade-level ensemble.  The 8th Grade Concert Band combines with the 7th Grade Concert band in performance for daytime and evening performances each semester.  Within each eight (8)-day rotation, students meet three (3) times for large ensemble rehearsal (combining with 7th Grade Band on the third rehearsal each cycle), and also have one (1) instrument-specific group lesson every six (6) days.  Primary focus is placed on sequential skill development on the student’s instrument in their fourth year of playing, fostering greater musical independence, as well as advancing ensemble performance, listening, and higher-order musical skills.  As band instrument instruction is sequential by nature, various elements of music and instrumental pedagogy are taught concurrently and expanded upon as student skill progresses.  Main content areas include:  Instrument operation, care and handling; performance fundamentals (instrument position, posture, tone production, breath support, embouchure, note fingering, and sticking); individual and ensemble performance (note and rhythmic reading, listening skills, key signatures, meter signatures); technique development (note and range extension, flexibility, intervals, extended and alternate note fingerings); and musical expression (articulations; dynamics; changing tempo; expanding ranges of performance tempo; musical vocabulary).  Students are assessed on instrumental progress and musical growth each quarter.  Quarterly grades are determined by demonstrated musical progress and growth, music preparation, attendance, and participation.

7th and 8th Grade Jazz Band

Length: Year
Format: Meets Twice Weekly (before school)
Description: The seventh (7th) and eighth (8th) grade Jazz Band is an auditioned ensemble providing the opportunity for advanced students to learn and perform in a jazz ensemble setting. Students will learn to play in the four (4) major stylistic genres of Swing, Rock, Ballads, and Latin/Afro-Cuban. Members are also introduced to basic concepts in jazz improvisation and gain fundamental knowledge of chord and scale relationships, jazz harmony, and rhythmic patterns. Major focus is placed on development of skill in the “Swing” style of jazz and the required rhythmic and melodic phrasing to accurately play in this style. Students also develop greater instrumental and musical independence, as most musical parts are only one player per part. No grades are given for Jazz Band; however, students are assessed regularly on musical preparation and progress. The Jazz Band performs in three (3) concerts each school year: one near the end of each semester, and in the annual District Jazz Night concert in conjunction with the high school jazz bands.

6th Grade Chorus

Length: Year
Format: Meets Two (2) Days in an Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory)
Description: The Chorus is divided into two (2) equal groups and rehearses separately on one day and together on the other cycle day.  In this way, students are able to securely learn their parts and then hear them together with the other group.  Most songs are in two-part harmony and some will use simple motions and/or choreography.  All sixth (6th) grade students are eligible and no audition is required.  Band and Orchestra do not conflict with chorus rehearsals, so instrumental students are highly encouraged to participate in the choral program as an important part of their musical training.  The Chorus performs for a school assembly and an evening concert, usually in February and June.

7th and 8th Grade Chorus

Length: Year
Format: Meets Two (2) Days in an Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory)
Description: The Chorus is divided into three (3) sections that rehearse separately on their own one day and combine together on the other cycle day.  In this way, students are able to securely learn their parts and then hear them together with the other sections.  Most songs are in three-part harmony and some will use simple motions and/or choreography.  All seventh (7th) and eighth (8th) grade students are eligible and no audition is required.  Band and Orchestra do not conflict with chorus rehearsals, so instrumental students are highly encouraged to participate in the choral program as an important part of their musical training.  The Chorus performs for two (2) school assemblies and two (2) evening concerts, usually December and May.

6th Grade Orchestra

Length: Year
Format: Rehearsal (Full Ensemble):  Meets Three (3) Days in an Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory); Group Lesson:  Meets Once Every Six (6) Days
Description: Sixth (6th) Grade Orchestra is an instrumental performing course for students learning a member of the stringed instrument family (violin, viola, cello, or bass). Typically, students are in their third year of study. All students participate in one (1) small group class, a lesson of like instruments every six days; and three (3) large group rehearsals comprised of all participants in an eight (8)-day cycle.

7th Grade Orchestra

Length: Year
Format: Rehearsal (Full Ensemble): Meets Three (3) Days in an Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory); Group Lesson: Meets Once Every Six (6) Days
Description: Seventh (7th) Grade Orchestra is an instrumental-performing course for students learning a member of the stringed instrument family (violin, viola, cello, or bass). Typically, students are in their fourth year of study. All students participate in one (1) small group class, a lesson of like instruments every six days; and three (3) large group rehearsals comprised of all participants in an eight (8)-day cycle.

8th Grade Orchestra

Length: Year
Format: Rehearsal (Full Ensemble):  Meets Three (3) Days Every Eight (8)-Day Cycle (during Advisory); Group Lesson:  Meets Once Every Six (6) Days
Description: Eighth (8th) Grade Orchestra is an instrumental-performing course for students learning a member of the stringed instrument family (violin, viola, cello, or bass).  Typically, students are in their fifth year of study.  All students participate in one (1) small group class, a lesson of like instruments; and three (3) large group rehearsals comprised of all participants in an eight (8)-day cycle.