Middle School Performing Arts > Instrumental Music

Pianists: Because of limited performance opportunities for pianists, students with keyboard skills are encouraged to consider studies in beginning instrumental music, vocal music, or electronic music. Advanced pianists may have the opportunity to audition at the end of the first semester for the annual chamber music concert.

1400-0 Beginning Strings

Full year
Grade 7 meets 5 times per cycle
Grades 8 & 9 by permission of instructor

Beginning Strings provides an opportunity for any student to become acquainted with the violin, viola, cello, or bass. This class is for students who have no prior experience playing a stringed instrument. Students are provided with a school instrument and daily group instruction. By the end of the first year of study, students will be proficient readers of music written in a variety of styles. Intensive studies of music literature, technique, ear training, and music theory make possible a lifelong involvement and appreciation for the discipline of instrumental music.

1500-0 Beginning Band

Full year
Grade 7 meets 5 times per cycle
Grades 8 & 9 by permission of instructor

Beginning Band provides an opportunity for any student to learn how to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. These instruments include the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. Students learn to play and care for their instruments. They also learn the fundamentals of music theory and how to read music. Students enrolled in this class are provided with a school instrument, texts for the class, and daily group instruction. This class is for students who have no prior experience playing a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. By the end of the first year of study, students will be proficient readers of music, and they will have acquired the proper technique that ensures a lifelong appreciation of and involvement in the discipline of instrumental music.

1405-0 Concert Strings

Full year
Grades 7, 8, and 9
Meets 5 times per cycle

Concert Strings provides an opportunity for students with previous playing experience on a stringed instrument to further develop both technical and musicianship skills. Students concentrate on more advanced technique, including shifting, tuning instruments, vibrato, ensemble playing, altered fingerings, bowing styles, and expressive playing. Technique is taught through carefully sequenced orchestral repertoire. Students learn about many different eras and styles of music. Activities are planned throughout the school year so students are always engaged, challenged, and musically satisfied. Professional conduct and careful listening are stressed in order to achieve these goals and to prepare for future participation in more advanced orchestras.
Prerequisite: Audition and/or permission of the instructor.

1505-0 Concert Band

Full year
Grades 7, 8, and 9
Meets 5 times per cycle

Concert Band provides an opportunity for students with at least one year of previous playing experience on a wind, brass, or percussion instrument to further develop both technical and musicianship skills. Auditions for this ensemble are held in the spring of every school year. Students learn about what is involved in playing an instrument with a large ensemble, from how to follow a conductor to what it means to be part of a musical team. Students are exposed to a wide variety of musical styles, ranging from classical to popular. The repertoire is carefully sequenced so that all concepts learned in class are continually reinforced, and students are constantly engaged, challenged, and musically satisfied. All students in this class participate in bi-annual school concerts.
Prerequisite: Audition and/or permission of the instructor.

1510-0 Symphonic Band

Full year
Grades 7, 8, and 9
Meets 5 times per cycle

Symphonic Band is open to advanced wind, brass, and percussion players whose skill level is beyond the intermediate stages of learning how to play an instrument. Students must have at least two years of playing experience, and one of these must have been spent as a member of a large ensemble. Auditions for Symphonic Band are held in the spring of every school year. There is an emphasis on learning how to adjust one’s intonation in relationship to others, as well as interpreting the music beyond the notes printed on the page. Musical expression, phrasing, tone quality, challenging technical passages, and the opportunity to become familiar with the classic Symphonic Band repertoire are all elements of learning to be covered in this performing ensemble. All students in this class participate in bi-annual concerts.
Prerequisite: Audition and/or permission of the instructor.

1420-0 Middle School Symphony

Full year
Grades 7, 8, and 9
Meets 5 times per cycle

Middle School Symphony is the most advanced symphonic music ensemble on the middle school campus. This course provides an opportunity for students with advanced playing experience to rehearse and perform music of various styles and periods. Auditions for this ensemble are held in the spring of every school year. Students are exposed to string, wind, and symphonic literature throughout the course of the year. Classwork provides appropriate challenge and technical difficulty to all members, and the orchestra presents performances throughout the year.
Prerequisite: Audition and/or permission of the instructor.

1515-0 Jazz Band

Full year
Grades 8 and 9
Meets 5 times per cycle

This course provides an opportunity for students to rehearse and perform jazz and blues in a big band and jazz combo setting. The instrumentation for this class includes piano, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. The coursework also covers some music theory and basic improvisation skills. Because class time is spent on ensemble work, a strong commitment to individual practice outside of the class is essential for all students.
Prerequisite: Audition and/or permission of the instructor.

1530-0 Rhythm Section Workshop

Full year
Grades 8 and 9
Meets 3 times per cycle

This class teaches guitarists, electric bassists, and drummers the fundamental techniques of ensemble rehearsal. Curriculum topics include basic instrument maintenance, intonation, rehearsal techniques, music theory, and playing from written arrangements, as well as learning music aurally (i.e., from recordings). This class may be repeated at the discretion of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Audition and/or permission of the instructor.

1600-0 Electronic Music I	Full year Grades 8 and 9 Meets 3 times per cycle
In this class, students create and program electronic music compositions using a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sequencer. Emphasis is on developing skills in manipulating the elements of music, including melody, rhythm, harmony, and form. Computer literacy on the Macintosh and knowledge of basic music theory are strongly recommended. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

1610-0 Electronic Music II	Full year Grades 8 and 9 Meets 3 times per cycle
This course is offered to students in grades 8 and 9 who would like to continue with electronic music. Students have more creative freedom in the second year, and they are encouraged to develop projects suitable for mastering for use as soundtracks on student animation, video, or other recording projects. This course also covers the basics of film scoring. Prerequisite: Electronic Music I.