Courses

SCOPE & SEQUENCE BY MAJOR

Notice: In addition to coursework listed, ChiArts requires its music students to be enrolled in weekly private lessons starting in the freshman year for both instrumentalists and vocalists. Private lessons are to be taken outside of the regular school day.

VOICE

Freshman Year
Vocal Technique I
Choir
Music Theory
Keyboard Skills I
Acting I for Voice Majors

Sophomore Year
Vocal Technique II
Choir
Music Theory
Keyboard Skills II
Music History

Junior Year
Vocal Technique III
Choir
Keyboard Skills III
Professional Development
Elective

Senior Year
Vocal Technique IV
Choir
Music Technology
2 Electives

Electives may include:
Acting II for Voice Majors
AP Music Theory
Ballet/Movement
Composition
Musical Theatre for Voice Majors
Opera Workshop
Theatre Production
Vocal Jazz

STRINGS

Freshman Year
String Technique I
String Repertoire I
String Ensemble
Music Theory
Choral Experience

Sophomore Year
String Technique II
String Repertoire II
String Ensemble
Music Theory
Keyboard Skills I

Junior Year
String Technique III
String Ensemble
Music History
Professional Development
Elective

Senior Year
String Technique IV
String Ensemble
Music Technology
2 Electives

Electives may include:
AP Music Theory
Chamber Music
Chorale (by special permission)
Composition
Jazz Foundations and Repertoire
Keyboard Skills II/III
Movement

WINDS & BRASS

Freshman Year
Technique I
Repertoire I
Band
Music Theory
Choral Experience
Jazz Foundations & Repertoire by special permission

Sophomore Year
Technique II
Repertoire II
Band
Music Theory
Keyboard Skills I
Jazz by special permission

Junior Year
Technique III
Band
Professional Development
Music History
Elective

Senior Year
Technique IV
Band
Music Technology
2 Electives

Electives may include:
AP Music Theory
Chamber Music
Choir (by special permission)
Composition
Jazz
Keyboard Skills II/III
Movement

PERCUSSION

PERCUSSION

Freshman Year
Percussion Fundamentals
Drum Set Technique I
Music Theory
Keyboard Skills I
Jazz Foundations and Repertoire

Sophomore Year
Orchestral Percussion Technique
Music Theory
Choral Experience
Percussion Ensemble/Wind Ensemble (Band)
Option of Jazz Combo, Music History or Drum Set Technique II and Improvisation

Junior Year
Advanced Percussion Technique
Afro-Cuban Percussion
Music Technology
Percussion Ensemble/Wind Ensemble (Band)
Option of Jazz Combo, Music History or Drum Set Technique II and Improvisation

Senior Year
Audition Prep and Repertoire for Percussion
Keyboard Skills II
Professional Development
Percussion Ensemble/Wind Ensemble (Band)
Option of Jazz Combo, Music History or Drum Set Technique II and Improvisation

PIANO

Freshman Year
Piano Technique I
Piano Repertoire I
Piano Ensemble
Music Theory
Choral Experience

Sophomore Year
Piano Technique II
Piano Repertoire II
Piano Ensemble
Music Theory
Music History

Junior Year
Piano Technique III
Piano Ensemble
Professional Development
Accompaniment Skills
Elective

Senior Year
Piano Technique IV
Piano Ensemble
Music Technology
2 Electives

Electives may include:
AP Music Theory
Chamber Music
Chorale (by special permission)
Composition
Jazz
Movement

GUITAR

Freshman Year
Guitar Technique I
Guitar Ensemble
Bass for the Guitarist
Music Theory
Choral Experience
Jazz Foundations & Repertoire by special permission

Sophomore Year
Guitar Technique II
Guitar Repertoire
Guitar Ensemble
Music Theory
Keyboard Skills I
Jazz by special permission

Junior Year
Guitar Technique III
Guitar Ensemble
Professional Development
Music History
Elective

Senior Year
Guitar Technique IV
Guitar Ensemble
Music Technology
2 Electives

Electives may include:
AP Music Theory
Chamber Music
Chorale (by special permission)
Composition
Jazz
Keyboard Skills II/III
Movement

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

TECHNIQUE

Vocal Techniques I, II, III, IV
In this progression of courses, students will lay a lifetime foundation of healthy vocal habits. The class will cover exercises that develop posture, breath management, production of sound in the three vocal registers (head, passagio, and chest), diction (English, French, Italian and German), and musical expression. Students will also study solo vocal literature to actively apply these concepts.

Instrumental Techniques I, II, III, IV
Sections offered for Guitar, Piano, Strings and Winds
The techniques classes will allow students concentrated time to develop the vocabulary of their instruments. Material will include scales and arpeggios in all keys, from memory, over the full compass of the instrument, as well as regular etude assignments. As relevant, technique classes will also address healthy playing posture, breathing, tone and vibrato.

Percussion Fundamentals
This freshman-level course will present the 40 International Snare Drum Rudiments endorsed by the Percussive Arts Society and apply them in context with musical expression. The technical focus will be on arm, wrist and finger development and the execution of composite strokes utilizing proper playing locations and stick heights. Additionally, this course will introduce the mallet family of instruments, including the glockenspiel, xylophone, chimes, marimba and vibraphone. This study will allow percussion students to develop the critical skills of reading notes and learning all major and minor scales and arpeggios. Focus will be on grip, posture, mallet selections, playing locations and proper tone production.

Orchestral Percussion Technique
This sophomore-level course will present orchestral repertoire and related instruments found in the symphony orchestra. These instruments include glockenspiel, xylophone, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle and castanets. Students will also begin their study of the timpani, working on technique, tone production, muffling, ear training and tuning skills. Playing techniques and sound production will be addressed on all instruments as well as the study and execution of standard orchestral excerpts.

Advanced Percussion Technique
This junior-level course will present a two-part focus: four-mallet marimba and multi-percussion. Students will develop the ability to play richer musical textures using four-mallet technique on marimba. Standard repertoire will be introduced, as well as in-depth four-mallet training. Students will also develop the coordination of playing multiple percussion instruments within the same piece, an increasingly frequent demand in modern ensemble literature. This course will also continue to address orchestral excerpts on all instruments.

Afro-Cuban Percussion
This junior-level course serves as an introduction to the historical development of rhythms and instruction of the performance techniques of percussion instruments utilized in the performance of select Afro-Latin musical traditions. These instruments include the shekere, maracas, güiro, claves, bongos, bongo bell, congas, and timbales. The course of instruction will consist of two consecutive semesters consisting of lectures, master classes on performance techniques, and group rehearsals.

Audition Prep and Repertoire for Percussion
This senior-level course will focus on how to prepare for and succeed at a college or professional audition. Throughout the course, there will be video recorded mock auditions and readings that will develop the students auditioning skills. The class will culminate with a professional performance video to upload to colleges that require pre-screenings or in lieu of an in-person audition (if applicable). Additionally, a curriculum vitae or musical resume will be created to document the musical path of the student. 

Drum Set Technique I
This freshman-level course establishes a drum set foundation that will allow percussionists to achieve a level of long-term flexibility and adaptability on the instrument and provides immediate solutions to the question of how to begin performing in the idiom of jazz. Because jazz and the drum set grew up together, grasping jazz performance skills opens up a wide world of future possibilities for young drum set artists. Students will get introductions to jazz rhythms, coordination on the drum set and standard comping approaches in the jazz/swing style. Various latin jazz rhythms/styles will also be introduced throughout the year. Additionally, this course will explore common song forms found in jazz, and establish a basic framework for soloing on the drum set in a jazz setting.

Drum Set Technique II
This course has the option of being taken the sophomore, junior, or senior year. This course will cover higher level drum set concerns such as chart reading, advanced time-keeping and coordination concepts, advanced improvisation in jazz and other styles, and additional Latin jazz styles not previously covered. Students will also explore more contemporary styles that are complementary or adjacent to jazz, such as funk, blues, and R&B. Time permitting, the course will introduce additional styles that are distinct from the jazz idiom

MUSICIANSHIP

Music Theory Fundamentals
This course is for students with no previous experience in reading and writing music. It will introduce students to treble and bass clefs, rhythmic notation, simple meters, intervals, the construction of major and minor scales, key signatures, and triads. Aural recognition of these musical elements will also be a significant component of this course.

Music Theory I
This course is designed for students who demonstrate mastery of the material covered in Music Theory Fundamentals. It will introduce students to chord inversions, seventh chords, chord progressions, basic Roman numeral analysis, the function of non-chord tones, cadences, and compound meters. Aural skills training will continue to develop the student’s accuracy in identifying intervals and chords at increasingly sophisticated levels and will also include sight-singing and rhythmic dictation.

AP Music Theory
AP Music Theory is a continuation of Music Theory I and is designed to prepare students to take the AP exam in Music Theory and to receive college credit. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills necessary to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. Each unit will work with concepts of Melody, Rhythm, Harmony, Form, and Tone Color at increasingly complex levels. Students will engage with the concepts through a variety of rigorous musical activities including written work, sight singing, listening and composition. Students will ultimately, individually and as a collective, answer essential questions concerning the essence of musical creativity and expression.

Keyboard Skills I
This course is designed for students with no previous keyboard experience. Physically, students will develop strength and agility of all fingers and independent coordination of the two hands. Reinforcing the material taught in Music Theory Fundamentals, the class will incorporate tonic-dominant chords and major scales. The skill of note reading will also be emphasized. By the end of this class, students will be able to play simple right hand melodies accompanied by block chords or arpeggiated harmony in the left hand.

Keyboard Skills II
This course proceeds from the foundation established in Keyboard Skills I. In addition to introducing pieces with more complicated textures, course material also includes minor scales and chord progressions in all keys. Sight-reading will be a regular class activity.

Keyboard Skills III
In this course, students will continue to play solo piano repertoire but will also turn increasing attention to using their keyboards skills to enhance musicianship in their area of concentration. By the end of this class, students will be able to fluently play chord progressions in chromatically ascending or descending keys (as used in vocal warm-ups) and will have experience in playing simple accompaniments to vocal and instrumental solos.

Choral Experience
This course will provide a positive and musically valuable singing experience for instrumentalists. Singing is invaluable for sharpening the inner ear and creating greater awareness of the body as an instrument. No prior singing experience is necessary and all students will be guided in how to make music with their voices in a healthy way. Sessions will include exercises on posture, breathing, singing in different registers of the voice, and diction, as well as exposure to a wide variety of choral repertoire.

Repertoire
Sections offered for Guitar, Piano, Strings, and Winds
The Repertoire seminars will broaden students’ appreciation of their instrument family’s repertoire and exemplary practitioners. It will be strongly centered around listening, reading and discussion. Students will also experience the material through performance within the class setting.

Music History
This course will provide a comprehensive overview of Western classical music from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods. Through listening, reading, class discussion, and written assignments, students will develop an appreciation for different musical styles and the impact of social, political, and cultural influences on the musical product of each time period.

Music Technology
Technology touches almost all aspects of 21st century life and music is no exception to this. This course will offer a broad overview of the many ways in which technology can enhance the life of a professional musician. Students will gain hands-on experience with music notation software, creating high-quality recordings, sequencing software, blogging and podcasting.

Professional Development
Being a professional musician today looks very different than it did even a few decades ago. Rather than following a prescribed formula, musicians must be prepared to create a unique career path that blends their strengths and interests. This professional life will likely be woven together from many strands such as performance, education, interdisciplinary collaboration, writing, business, and technology. Students need to cultivate their imaginations to find those paths that spark their passion, while also being useful to society and earning them a living. This yearlong seminar during the junior year will address polished self-presentation through a variety of mediums, exploration of career paths, and audition taking. The class will also prepare students to meet the senior solo recital requirement through discussions on programming, audience building, publicity, writing program notes, and coordination of behind the scene logistics.

PERFORMANCE

Accompaniment Skills
Sections offered for Guitar and Piano
This class will provide students with the necessary skills to accompany vocalists and other instrumentalists. Students will have multiple opportunities to gain confidence with these ensemble skills through accompanying peers and guest musicians.

Band
This performing ensemble will rehearse and present both repertoire for the full group as well as for smaller wind chamber groups. Students will take an active role in self-assessing the ensemble’s progress through written rehearsal reflections. Wind Ensemble gives a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and also participates in external competitions and festivals as appropriate.

Junior and Senior Choir
These performing ensembles are for Vocal and Music Theatre majors. Other music students may elect these ensembles pending schedule feasibility and permission of both the Junior or Senior Choir Director and Music Department Head. Both choirs will explore choral literature from all periods and styles. Rehearsals will actively reinforce the concepts of good breathing, vocal tone production and diction, as taught in the Vocal Techniques curriculum. Junior and Senior Choir give a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and also participate in external competitions and festivals as appropriate.

Guitar Ensemble
This performing ensemble will rehearse and present repertoire in varied styles for guitar ensemble. Students will take an active role in self-assessing the ensemble’s progress through written rehearsal reflections. Guitar Ensemble gives a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and also participates in external competitions and festivals as appropriate.

Jazz Foundations and Repertoire
This course will introduce students to a variety of jazz styles, as well as to the skill of improvisation. The primary goal of this course is to help students to start building a musical vocabulary for improvisation as they learn a core collection of jazz standards. Students will actively apply what they are learning in a combo. Enrollment for this course is limited and students may be required to audition to take the class.

Jazz Combo
Membership in this ensemble is by audition only. The ChiArts Combo typically gives numerous performances throughout the year, both at ChiArts as well as at outside venues. Ensemble members should be prepared for additional time commitments after school as well as occasionally on the weekends.

Piano Ensemble
This performing ensemble will rehearse and present repertoire in varied styles for four, six, eight and ten hands. Students will take an active role in self-assessing the ensemble’s progress through written rehearsal reflections. Piano Ensemble gives a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and also participates in external competitions and festivals as appropriate.

String Ensemble
This performing ensemble will rehearse and present both repertoire for the full group as well as for smaller string chamber groups. Students will take an active role in self-assessing the ensemble’s progress through written rehearsal reflections. String Ensemble gives a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and also participates in external competitions and festivals as appropriate.

Wind Ensemble
This performing ensemble will rehearse and present both repertoire for the full group as well as for smaller wind chamber groups. Students will take an active role in self-assessing the ensemble’s progress through written rehearsal reflections. Wind Ensemble gives a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and also participates in external competitions and festivals as appropriate.

Percussion Ensemble 

This performing ensemble is made up of sophomores, juniors and seniors and presents repertoire from mostly living composers as the percussion ensemble is relatively new, coming into its own in the first quarter of the twentieth century. The ChiArts Percussion Ensemble presents varied repertoire and gives a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year and participates in external fundraisers, competitions and festivals throughout the city.

Marimba Ensembles

These performing ensembles are derived from the technique classes at each grade level and perform repertoire from the Baroque through the Contemporary eras and consist of duos, trios, quartets and quintets, all on mallet instruments. The Marimba Ensembles give a minimum of two performances at ChiArts each year (at each grade level) and participate in competitions and festivals throughout the city.

Afro-Cuban Ensemble

This performing ensemble is made up of juniors and demonstrates the basic rhythms and performance techniques of the Afro-Cuban family of percussion instruments taught in the Afro-Cuban Percussion class. These instruments include the shekere, maracas, güiro, claves, bongos, bongo bell, congas, and timbales. Rhythms that will be performed include original arrangements of various styles of Afro-Cuban folkloric styles bembé-6/8, rumba guaguanco Havana style, and rhythms utilized to perform the Afro-Cuban popular dance styles, cha-cha, mambo, and songo. The Afro-Cuban Ensemble gives a minimum of three performances at ChiArts each year.

Ritmo de ChiArts

This six-piece performing ensemble is made up of select percussionists from all grade levels, but primarily juniors and seniors. Performing music from Cuba, Spain, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and others, this group is sure to entertain! Emphasis is on learning styles authentically and developing improvisation skills on both pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments. Ritmo de ChiArts is an extra-curricular ensemble that rehearses after school in the spring and performs at ChiArts largest annual fundraising event Kerfuffle!

INTERDISCIPLINARY

Acting I
All vocal majors will study Acting in order to develop their expressive performance skills. Using improvisation as a basis for the fall semester, students will explore a connection to the self and their ensemble. They will begin with exercises and techniques developed by Viola Spolin to explore and heighten their connection to sensory life, environment and relationship in order to develop their creativity, imagination and understanding of human behavior. They also will develop skills related to scenic objectives, listening, impulse, problem solving, physical and verbal communication and given circumstances. Building on the work of the fall, students will begin to work with text (existing and self-generated) such as monologues and short scenes in the spring semester. They will be expected to take all the skills they have developed in the first half of the year and to begin to apply them to the text.

Dance for Music Majors
Dance for Music Majors is a beginning dance class that will combine basic principles of classical ballet technique, modern dance, and folk dance. Class will consist of center floor warm-up, strengthening exercises, across the floor exercises and, musical theater and classical opera inspired dance combinations. This class is designed to benefit dancers of various levels ranging from beginning to advanced and it builds upon the foundation and the vocabulary of Modern Dance and Classical Ballet. Emphasis will be on developing body alignment, clarity of movement and musicality, and performance proficiency.

Elective opportunities for the junior and senior years include Composition and Chamber Music.