Choral and Instrumental Music

Students will experience what it means to be part of an ensemble as they learn classical, a cappella, and pop songs from Mozart to Pentatonix. The choir participates in a wide variety of performance opportunities including school chapels, assemblies, and evening performances with the high school choir. No audition is required and no previous singing study is required to be a part of the ensemble, but solos and duets are auditioned when appropriate. (A one-year study hall exploration class for 7th and 8th grade students.)

Saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, drum, and piano players work together to rehearse and perform fun and exciting jazz charts and develop improvisational skills. Students will learn how to improvise, “comp,” and apply basic theory knowledge to their instruments, as well as perform for various concerts and assemblies. Audition required for guitar, bass, drum, and piano players. (A one-year study hall exploration class for 7th and 8th grade students.)

Rhythm section players (guitar, bass, drum, and piano) work together to rehearse and to perform fun and exciting jazz charts and to develop improvisational skills. Students will learn how to improvise, “comp,” and apply basic theory knowledge to their instruments, as well as perform for various concerts and assemblies. Audition required for guitar, bass, drum, and piano players. (A one-year study hall exploration class for 7th and 8th grade students.)

From “Harry Potter” to Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro,” the orchestra exploration class is an exciting class for string, woodwind, and brass players interested in learning and performing orchestral music for concerts, assemblies, chapels, and other special events.(A one-year study hall exploration class for 7th and 8th grade students.)

This 8th-grade music elective course offers students a hands-on opportunity to play the newest acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, the steel drum. Students will review the basics of music notation, a cultural and historical context of the steel drum, an appreciation for how the steel drum is built and tuned, instrument setup and care, rhythmic feel and coordination drills, mallet techniques, basic ensemble and musicianship listening skills, and ultimately learn how to play several traditional and popular songs on these converted oil barrels in a full orchestra of steel drums. The group performs at various campus events, chapels, and at the Winter and Spring World Music Concerts. Come experience the tropical sounds of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. (Grade 8; no prior experience necessary, only a focused attitude and a good work ethic.)

Whether you’re experienced or new to drumming, join this ensemble to learn influential drumming traditions from various parts of the globe including West Africa, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, and Trinidad. During this course, you will learn how to play folkloric rhythms using an extensive collection of authentic instruments from these regions. This group will perform during a chapel, Grandparents Day, and at the two World Music concerts. (A one-year study hall exploration class for 7th grade students.)

This college-level course continues the work begun in Music Theory with particular emphasis on the development of part-writing skills, harmonic analysis, and a comprehensive program of ear-training, sight-singing, and dictation. From a harpsichord to an iPad, students will use a variety of tools to prepare for the Advanced Placement exam while greatly improving their overall musicianship. (Grades 10-12; prerequisite: Music Theory I or departmental approval via placement test)

This course is designed for a variety of abilities. Within a repertoire suitable for developing voices, instruction is given in vocal techniques, musicianship, sight-reading, and performance practices. There are five main performances a year; two with the Middle School Choir, two that feature the High School Chorus, solo and small group acts from the ensemble, and our yearly performance at high school graduation. (Grades 9-12)

This course is designed for students, especially freshmen, who may be able to accommodate only one semester of choral singing into their schedules. Students in this class are full-fledged members of the High School Chorus and participate fully in performances and evaluations. If students are in the first semester Beginning Chorus, they are welcome to sing at graduation if they attend Morning Choir rehearsals. (Grades 9-12; one semester). This course is not UC-approved as a VPA.

This ensemble focuses on the performance and mastery of various styles of jazz such as swing, blues, bebop, funk, and Latin jazz. Improvisation, rhythm knowledge, note reading, ensemble skills, and jazz phrasing are emphasized as the group prepares for various performances, including various campus events and chapels and in both the Winter and Spring Evening of Jazz Concerts. (Grades 9-12; prerequisites: audition for rhythm section players, department recommendation for wind players)

The Jazz Combo is a course for rhythm section players that focuses on the development of improvisational skills and jazz composition. Students will learn jazz standards as well as compose their own original work for live performances throughout the year. Students in the class will also transcribe and analyze solos from jazz masters such as Miles Davis and Stan Getz. The group performs at various campus events and chapels and is featured in both the Winter and Spring Evening of Jazz Concerts. (Grades 9-12; prerequisite: audition for rhythm section players)

This course lays the groundwork for success in music theory and ear training. It is recommended for anyone who wants to enhance their musicianship, production skills, composition tools, or understanding of music. During the course, students will be taught the mechanics of music, such as melodic and rhythmic notation, intervals, scales, and chords. Fundamentals in ear-training will also be a focus with special attention to sight-singing and basic dictation. Speed and mastery of music theory fundamentals will be a curricular priority with an emphasis on fluency in areas such as key signatures, chords, inversions, rhythmic notation, and Roman numeral analysis. Ear training skills such as melodic dictation, rhythmic dictation, chord quality identification, and sight singing will be a large component of the coursework. (Grades 9-12, one semester)

This course trains each student in ensemble and musical skills. Students learn and develop the fundamentals of music theory, notation, style interpretation, instrumental technique, and performance practice through listening, studying, rehearsing, and performing orchestral music. The group performs at various campus events and chapels and is featured in both the Winter and Spring Orchestra Concerts. (Grades 9-12; prerequisite: two years of experience on an instrument. No audition required.)

This course provides an ensemble experience with full instrumentation that includes keyboard, drum set, percussion, vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, and bass guitar. The group performs a student-selected repertoire of cover songs spanning popular music hits from every decade since the inception of the electric guitar. Beginner to intermediate musicianship and basic ensemble playing skills are taught. Playing by ear, rehearsal etiquette, and practice techniques are all emphasized in a performance-oriented context. Students rehearse in a peer-led band experience with teacher interjections as needed. The group performs at various campus events and chapels and is featured in the bi-annual Popular Music Concerts. Band mates are expected to come to class prepared to rehearse by learning and practicing individual parts outside of class before group rehearsals. (Grades 9-12; for students with at least two years of experience on primary instrument; prerequisite: audition)

This course provides an advanced ensemble experience with full instrumentation that includes keyboard, drum set, percussion, vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, and bass guitar. The group performs a student-selected repertoire of cover songs spanning popular music hits from every decade since the inception of the electric guitar, as well as original music. In a performance-oriented context, students will practice advanced musicianship and ensemble playing skills such as playing by ear, professional rehearsal etiquette, and efficient rehearsal techniques. Students rehearse in a peer-led, self-motivated band experience with teacher interjections as needed. The group performs at various campus events and chapels and is featured in the bi-annual Popular Music Concerts. Band mates are expected to come to class prepared to rehearse with the band by learning and practicing individual parts outside of class before group rehearsals. (Grades 9-12; for students with at least four years of experience on primary instrument; prerequisite: audition)

This course offers students a fun, rare, and unique hands-on opportunity to play the newest acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, the steel pan. Students will learn how to play at a high level of precision and expression while learning intermediate to advanced arrangements from various genres of Caribbean, Latin, and pop songs. This group performs at various campus events such as the secondary open houses and is featured in the Biannual World Music Concerts. In this musically challenging group, although no prior experience is necessary, a certain level of musical proficiency and professional rehearsal etiquette is required. (Grades 9-12; prerequisite: audition)

This rare and unique large-group drumming ensemble offers a fun (and loud!) hands-on (and sticks on!) experience in playing authentic percussion instruments from around the world in what could be considered a non-western version of a drum line. Rhythmic styles are presented in a cultural context with a focus on replicating and preserving folkloric drumming traditions based on years of field research from West Africa, Central and South Americas, and the Caribbean. The group performs at various on-and-off campus events and chapels, and is featured in the biannual World Music Concerts. No prior musical or drumming experience is necessary. This course is also a great supplement to anyone who produces beats or plays drum set or other instrument. (Grades 9-12, prerequisite: audition)