Music

Introduction to Music (BI)

This course exists to help you become an active, informed listener and consumer of music. You will be exposed to music of many peoples, places, and times, and gain an understanding of how music, culture, and history relate. We explore folk music from around the world, Western classical music, the blues and jazz, all of which form the foundation for the wide variety of musics we enjoy today. This class seeks to help you approach new or unfamiliar music with an open mind, understand how music works, and give you some hands-on experiences creating and performing music, as well as develop your discussion, writing and thinking skills. 

Music Theory (IA)

This course gets “under the hood” of music to discover how it works. It teaches the fundamentals of music theory as a set of tools for the performance, understanding, and creation of music in a variety of styles. This course is NOT an introductory course and assumes some prior music knowledge and skill. Learning to read and notate music, improving your musical ear, and getting some basic keyboard skills are the main components of this course. Prerequisite: Introduction to Music (which used to be called Music Appreciation,) Chorus, Band, or permission of instructor. Generally not open to freshmen.

Music Composition & Production (IA)

This course builds on the knowledge and skills gained in Music Theory and uses keyboards and computer technology as a tool for composing, notating, recording and producing your own music. We use MIDI keyboards and software including Finale NotePad and FL Studio Fruity Loops edition. The maximum class size of this new course for 2006-07 will be determined by how many computer workstations are equipped with the necessary technology. Prerequisite: Music Theory.

Freshman Chorus (BIA)

This performance-based course provides an introduction to singing, including basics of a healthy vocal technique, ear training, and sight-reading. Students will form a chorus which will perform publicly, both during and outside of the school day, 2-3 times during the semester. The fundamentals of vocal technique, including appropriate posture, breathing habits, placement, and diction will be stressed, as will the self-discipline and work habits required for success as an ensemble member and performer, as well as in life. Participation in all of our public performances is a required component of this course. Open to all freshmen.