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Music Courses at Windham High School
Note: All music courses satisfy the Fine Arts requirement for graduation. CONCERT CHOIR Grades 9-12 Full Year One Credit The Concert Choir emphasizes vocal techniques and the exploration and interpretation of various periods and styles of choral literature. The repertoire varies from year to year so that the course covers a considerable range of literature over a four year span. Concert Choir is open to all students without an audition. CONCERT BAND Concert Band is designed to provide a major outlet for instrumental music students on all brass, reed, and percussion instruments. An exposure to may areas of band music literature from the classics to the present will be included. The band works for a finished product applying musical terms and expressions as they relate to the literature. Grades 9-12 Full Year One Credit ORCHESTRA Grades 9-12 Full Year One Credit Orchestra is a string ensemble for students with several years of playing experience. While much of the class emphasizes the preparation and performance of literature from various eras and cultures, students will also have the opportunity to compose their own original works, listen and write analytically about music, and advance their technical skills. Orchestra is a year long class, and students will be expected to perform publicly at several concerts. Prerequisite: Student must have completed at least one to two years of orchestra experience prior to high school, or must receive permission of instructor. BASIC PIANO LAB Grades 9-12 Half Year Half Credit Students will learn note reading, rhythm interpretations, correct keyboard technique, basics of composition and improvisation, how to interpret presets and learn to use MIDI technology. The student will learn to provide simple accompaniments, to play “by ear” simple melodies and will produce a finished composition as a final product. This course will be taught on a Yamaha keyboard and will use Piano Discovery and Score Writer 25 ADVANCED PIANO LAB Grades 9-12 Half Year Half Credit Prerequisite: Basic Piano Lab Advanced piano lab will be a continuation of Basic Piano Lab. Skills will continue to be developed, as well as broadening the student’s repertoire. Improvisation and jazz reading will be introduced. Students will have a listening/research project, as well as a final recital performance. The method book used will be Adult Piano Adventures, Book 2, as well as supplementary materials. MUSIC THEORY I Grades 10-12 Half Year Half Credit Music Theory I begins with the basic language of music and the symbols used to read and study music. Students will progress to harmonic analysis and 4-part writing. Sight singing, ear training, and rhythmic dictation will be stressed. MUSIC THEORY II Grades 10-12 Half Year Half Credit Prerequisite: Successful completion of Music Theory I Music Theory II is a continuation of Music Theory I. The course will begin with a brief review of basic technology and terminology. Work on advanced skills and the use of them in music analysis, arranging and composition will follow. The course will also contain sections dealing with music history. GUITAR LAB Grades 9-12 Half Year Half Credit Students will learn how to tune and string a guitar, the basics of note reading, guitar tablature, chord symbols, chord change patterns, basic finger picking styles, strumming styles and will learn a variety of music. The student will learn to accompany a basic 12 bar blues melody in different keys and produce a finished composition as a final product. This course will be taught on a 6 string acoustic guitar and will use the Hal Leonard method book plus supplementary materials. Students must supply their own 6 string acoustic guitar or have access to one for the class. ADVANCED GUITAR LAB Grades 9-12 Half Year Half Credit Prerequisite: Guitar Lab Advanced guitar lab will be a continuation of Basic Guitar Lab. Skills will continue to be developed, as well as broadening the student’s use of styles and chords. Improvised solos and jazz reading will be introduced. Students will have a listening/research project, as well as a final recital performance. MUSIC HISTORY Grades 10-12 Half Year Half Credit In this course, students will cover a brief overview of music history, emphasizing the impact on current music by past masters. The student will learn some of the basic forms and styles of the periods of music history – ancient, medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, classical, romantic, and modern and how their influences have affected popular music of the 20th century. Music styles that have developed since 1900 in serious and popular music will also be studied, as well as the influence of musical theater. MUSIC INDUSTRY Grades 9-12 Half Year Half Credit Music Industry will explore the various non-performance careers available in the field of music, such as music therapy, recording engineering, instrument repair, retail music business, artist management, music publishing, and more. Class will involve research, guest speakers and a final project focusing on one of the available careers. Additional opportunities for job shadowing and field trips may be available |
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