Abington Junior High School Course Selection Guide 2012-2013 ...

MUSICChorus – grade 7Students will explore a wide variety of music from various cultures, styles and time periods from classical tomodern. Students will also engage in music learning through music reading, sight-reading, solfege, rhythmreading, vocal exploration and voice building. Chorus students are part of a constructive and positivecommunity of musicians. Choral students perform with their groups in 2 concerts per year. Attendance atthese concerts is a required part of the course. Previous singing experience is not necessary.Chorus – grade 8Students will explore a wide variety of music from various cultures, styles and time periods from classical tomodern. Students will also engage in music learning through music reading, sight-reading, solfege, rhythmreading, vocal exploration and voice building. Chorus students are part of a constructive and positivecommunity of musicians. Choral students perform with their groups in 2 concerts per year. Attendance atthese concerts is a required part of the course. Previous singing experience is not necessary.Band (Symphonic)This is offered to 7 th and 8 th graders who have played a musical instrument for at least one year. Repertoireincludes a range of musical styles including baroque, classical, romantic, popular, and Broadway musicals.The development of performance skills and the student's awareness and sensitivity to the aesthetic qualitiesof music are emphasized.Jazz BandThe A-Town Jazz Band is Abington Junior High’s competitive Jazz Band and one of the most successfulstudent extracurricular activities at Abington Junior High. Musicians are chosen based on auditions, andrehearse as an ensemble once a week. The band participates in several competitive jazz festivals, schoolperformances, and assemblies. Students are taught jazz fundamentals and the importance of improvisation.The A-Town Jazz Band is open to any student musician at Abington Junior High. Students must be part ofband, chorus, or orchestra, with the exception of electric guitar, bass, and piano students.Orchestra - grade 7This course is geared for the advanced beginner and intermediate string player. String playing techniquesinvolving bowings, fingerings, and tone production are emphasized and pursued through the use of scales,method books, and string literature. The orchestra performs music from a wide range of Baroque, Classical,Romantic and Contemporary composers, interweaved with discussions and projects that address historical,theoretical, expressive, technical, and general performance issues specific to the selected repertoire. Theprimary goal of string orchestra participation is to advance each student's individual musicianship andempower each student to pursue lifelong music making on an amateur or professional level.Orchestra - grade 8This course is geared for the intermediate and advanced intermediate string player. String playingtechniques involving bowings, fingerings, and tone production are emphasized and pursued through theuse of scales, method books, and string literature. The orchestra performs music from a wide range ofBaroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary composers, interweaved with discussions and projects thataddress historical, theoretical, expressive, technical, and general performance issues specific to the selectedrepertoire. The primary goal of string orchestra participation is to advance each student's individualmusicianship and empower each student to pursue lifelong music making on an amateur or professionallevel.16