Nutley High School Music Education Department

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

701	Concert Band	9,10,11,12	Full Year
Prerequisite: Audition The marching and concert band is open to all 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who have satisfactorily completed one year of training in Band B or its equivalent. To qualify for membership, a student must receive the recommendation of the director. Students who are members of Band A continue to work on tone, intonation, and blend in the ensemble with emphasis on good intonation and reading of the music score. Solo and ensemble assignments are given to advanced student in Band A. Band A members perform as a marching band during the football, competition, and parade seasons. At other times, the organization continues to work as a concert band.  Members study moderate to difficult concert and march music. In addition to daily rehearsals, this band makes occasional recordings in class and performs in concerts, parades, festivals, and competitions. Individual and small group instrumental music instruction is incorporated into the program and is available, if scheduled period 3 or 4, during one of the student’s gym periods.  These lessons will include exercises and studies to improve technique and interpretation and correct any musical problems. Weekly assignments will be given from a methods book and home practice is a requirement.

703	Jazz Lab	9,10,11,12	Full Year
Jazz Lab is open to all 9-10-11, and 12 grade students on an audition basis. Students in the Jazz Lab work throughout the year on tone, intonation, balance, and blend and improvisation with an emphasis on jazz phrasing and the study of advanced jazz literature. Members of the Jazz Lab and Ensemble will perform at Café Night, Spring Concert, Festivals, and Competitions.

720	Introduction to Vocal Music Chamber Singers	9,10,11,12	Full Year
Membership in Introduction to Vocal Music is open to all students who enjoy singing. In this class, students have the opportunity to develop their vocal skills through the study of solo and group vocal literature. In addition to this, this class performs as an ensemble when its training is completed. A piano accompanist and assistant are selected for this group by the teacher in charge.

723 725 740	Choralettes (Girls) Concert Choir (Mixed) Octets (Boys)	9,10,11,12 9,10,11,12 9,10,11,12	Full Year Full Year Full Year
Prerequisite: Audition The advanced choral ensembles afford advanced choral experience for the students who are selected for the same in annual competitive tryouts. Students applying for membership in these groups should have completed Mixed Chorus and Advanced Mixed Chorus or its equivalent. In the advanced choral ensembles, the students study moderate to difficult music in the secular, sacred, and popular idioms. In addition to its regular rehearsals, the advanced choral ensembles perform in festivals and school and community concerts. Special talent is recognized through solo and ensemble assignments in rehearsals and performances. A piano accompanist and assistant are selected for this group by the teacher in charge.

730	Music Fundamentals I	9,10,11,12	Full Year
This course covers the rudiments of music including theory and ear training. A study of the staff, scales, notation, musical terms, intervals, and chords are included in this course with an introduction to harmony. The creative aspects of music writing are encouraged in each student’s work. Classroom performance of the latter in encouraged when feasible.

732	Music Fundamentals II	10,11,12	Full Year
Prerequisite: Music Fundamentals I and teacher recommendation. This course continues the study of the rudiments of music including rudimentary harmony and ear training. Students who are currently studying piano, orchestra or band instruments or voice and have successfully completed the first year of Music Fundamentals may select this course. A study of major, minor, augmented, diminished, seventh, and ninth chords with methods of modulations are included in the course. Attention will also be given to non-harmonic ornamental tones, with altered chords, secondary dominants, and their proper resolutions. Composition and performance are included in a creative approach to music writing. Students who plan to major in music on college level should elect this course to enrich their preparation for advanced studies.

750	Orchestra	9,10,11,12	Full Year
Prerequisite: Audition Membership in the orchestra is open to all students with the ability to play an orchestral instrument in a satisfactory manner. Students in the orchestra develop a tonal blend in the ensemble with emphasis on good intonation and on reading the musical score. Individual and small group instrumental music instruction is incorporated into the program and is available, if scheduled period 3 or 4, during one of the student’s gym periods.  These lessons will include exercises and studies to improve technique and interpretation and correct any musical problems. Weekly assignments will be given from a methods book and home practice is a requirement.