Upper School students must successfully complete a one-trimester credit in the performing arts. Choices include:
Concert Band: A performance organization open to all interested students from beginning to advanced levels. In addition to rehearsing as a group, the students will study a specific instrument. The Concert Band will perform throughout the year both on and off campus and may also provide opportunities to perform as a soloist. The group performs standard concert band literature and other styles including: classical, show tunes, marches, contemporary and pop/rock.
Jazz Band: A select performance group consisting of the standard jazz band instrumentation. Students are selected by audition in the fall. Students auditioning on brass, saxophone, or percussion must be members of the Concert Band. The repertoire performed includes: big band, blues, swing, funk, Latin and rock. The Jazz Band performs several times throughout the year both on and off campus.
Concert Choir: This performance group is a non-select chorus which is open to all men and women interested in singing. The group performs standard choral literature representing all styles of music. Concert Choir provides several opportunities to perform on and off campus throughout the year. This choir will also perform selections that will feature certain sections, such as songs just for the women or the men.
Vocal Ensemble: A smaller vocal group of select members. Interested students will audition to join this group. The Vocal Ensemble offers many opportunities to sing both on and off campus throughout the year. The repertoire includes: a cappella selections, madrigals, contemporary music, and classical music.
Music Theory: This one-trimester class is designed for serious music students who wish to enhance their knowledge through detailed analysis of music composition and basic compositional techniques. Students entering this course must have a good working knowledge of music reading and performing.
Music Exploration: This class explores various styles of music from classical to popular and is designed to give students a better understanding of the place of music in history and how music relates to society. Students learn how to listen perceptively with concepts in mind such as melody, harmony, form, dynamics, and rhythm. The baroque, classical, and romantic periods are studied as the development of music over three centuries is explored. Students also follow the progression of modern jazz from African American spirituals and blues to more modern forms. Students will also be introduced to the guitar and will play simple songs with basic chord structures.
