2013-14 Guide for Academics and Student Life - Tampa Preparatory ...

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - ARTSand students become familiar with choral composers. Theclass musicians will perform in Arts concerts, various schoolfunctions and in the larger community, at the discretion ofthe instructor. Participation in all ensemble rehearsals andperformances is an expectation of the course and is required.Beginning Band (6)This course is designed for the sixth grade student with noprevious experience playing a wind instrument. Studentswill play one of the following instruments: flute, clarinet,alto saxophone, trumpet, or trombone. During the semesterstudents will develop the fundamentals of music: music theory,history of their instrument and learn how to read musicalnotation according to their instrument. Grading is entirelybased upon participation.Middle School Band (7,8)This performing wind and percussion ensemble meets fourhours each week during a regularly scheduled period and isoffered as a one-semester Arts elective in the seventh andeighth grades. Students are not auditioned; the course is opento all interested students. Students learn basic skills on awind and percussion instrument of their choosing. Emphasisis placed on music reading, proper breathing, intonation,tone, developing a sense of ensemble and blend, musicality,dynamics, line, et al. The class’ musicians will perform inArts concerts, various school functions, and in the largercommunity, at the discretion of the instructor.String Orchestra (7-12)This performing string ensemble for violin, viola, cello,and bass meets four times each week for one hour during aregularly scheduled period. Students in this year-long classwill learn music from several genres including classical,pops music, and chamber music works. The class’ musicianswill perform in Arts concerts, various school functions, andin the larger community. Prerequisites: 3 year minimumbackground/expertise in string performance or with StringOrchestra Instructor approval. Students interested inauditioning should contact the Music Director for details.Upper School Band (9-12)This performing wind band, with rhythm section, including,percussion, piano, and guitar, meets four times each weekfor one hour during a regularly scheduled period. Studentsin this year-long class will learn music from several generes,focusing on jazz, popular music, and classical. Students inUpper School Band will collaborate with the String Orchestra.The class’ musicians will perform in Arts concerts, variousschool functions, and in the larger community. Prerequisites:some background/expertise in instrumental performance.Music Studio Ensemble (9-12)This is a performing arts course for students who wantto learn to create their own music. Students in this classwill learn fundamental composition methods to help themlay the foundation for their own Garage Band/ipad musiccomposition and mixing projects. Students will also learnto create music for acoustic instruments including, but notlimited to percussion, guitar, and piano. This two semestercourse will help students explore the use of acousticinstruments alongside electronic technologies. Students willhave the opportunity to perform their music in Arts concertsin addition to various school and community functions.Participation in rehearsals and ensemble performancesis required. Past musical experience is beneficial, but notrequired.Concert Chorus (9-12)The Concert Chorus is open to all students without audition.Students learn standard sacred and secular choral literaturewith a multicultural emphasis as recommended by theAmerican Choral Directors’ Association, the Music Educators’National Conference and the Florida Vocal Association.Emphasis is placed on ear training, proper breathing,diction, tone color, developing a sense of ensemble andblend, musicality, dynamics, line, et al. Attention is paid tothe historical context in which the music was composed andstudents become familiar with choral composers. Severalconcerts are presented and there is a performing tour outsideof Florida each year. Participation in all ensemble rehearsalsand performances is an expectation of the course and isrequired. Students may elect to participate in this ensembleas an independent study and permission of the instructor isrequired.Chamber Chorus (9-12)The Chamber Chorus is open to all interested students byaudition. Students learn standard sacred and secular choralliterature with a multicultural emphasis as recommendedby the American Choral Directors’ Association, the MusicEducators’ National Conference, and the Florida VocalAssociation. Emphasis is placed on ear training, sightsinging, proper breathing, diction, tone color, developing asense of ensemble and blend, musicality, dynamics, line, etal. Attention is paid to the historical context in which themusic was composed, and students become familiar withchoral composers. Members of this chorus will learn thesame literature as the Concert Chorus, and will perform withthem; in addition they will learn more difficult works whichthey will perform as a group - a fair number of these will beunaccompanied, and sung from memory. Several concertsare presented, the Chorus may enter the District and StateAll-State Choral festivals, and there is a performingtour outside of Florida each year. Participation in allensemble rehearsals and performances is an expectationof the course and is required.AP Music Theory (10-12)In this year-long course, students focus on the basics of musicnotation and learning to read and write music. Conceptsstudied include note values, steps of the scale, key signatures,melodic dictation and four-part harmony. Students becomefamiliar with the piano keyboard and learn to sight-sing. 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