Music

List of 5 items.

• Ukulele

  In this participatory music course, students learn how to play ukulele from the very beginning or build on what they have already learned, exploring chord progressions, strumming patterns, playing techniques, learning how to play different pop songs, as well as singing while accompanying themselves on ukulele.

• American Musical Theater

  In this study of the art form of musical theatre, students explore the answers to the following questions: What is a musical? What are the elements that go into making a musical? How does a creative team develop the book/music/lyrics? How do those elements work together to create a piece of art? What is the story being told and how is it conveyed on the stage? What makes a musical work or not work? Why are some musicals successful box-office hits while others are flops that last only a few performances? Students also study the classic musicals of the past (e.g. The Sound of Music, The Music Man, etc.) as well as contemporary musicals of today.

• Music Performance Ensemble

  In this intermediate music course, students begin by examining musical arrangement—how songs are structured and constructed. They then work in small and large ensembles, playing xylophones, glockenspiels, piano, guitar, ukulele, and percussion instruments to explore how multiple instruments come together to form a cohesive whole. Emphasis is placed on composing as a group and working toward performing both existing and original compositions.

• Music in Film

  In this music appreciation course, students find an introduction as well as an in-depth exploration of the art of film scoring: original music written specifically to accompany a film. Students will investigate the aesthetic relationship between film and music and discuss the many functions of film music with analysis of its most effective application to dramatic situations. This course also explores the work and careers of influential film composers who have had an extraordinary impact on the art of film scoring.

• Piano Lab

  This course offers beginner and intermediate piano players a classroom laboratory to learn the basics of playing piano or continue to hone their piano playing skills. Students will benefit from both one-on-one and group instruction as they play individual keyboards to improve their skills and to practice for performance opportunities.