Music

Grade 9

Intro to Music is one of four courses in the “freshman mix.”  The following topics are included in this one-quarter survey of music:

·         Music in our world today:  students explore the role of music throughout history and in our world today, and how the international language of music describes who we are as human beings.  Students will learn our GMAHS Alma Mater, part of our own musical tradition!
·         The elements of music:  students become familiar with the elements of music including rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, form and dynamics and how they influence musical styles.
·         Classifying and Identifying musical instruments and voices:  students learn to classify and identify world instruments by their construction and the way they produce their sound and compare the instrumental pitch ranges with the 4 categories of the human voice.
·         Developing listening skills:  students listen to many genres and styles of music and be able to make more informed judgments about the music they hear.

No prerequisites

Grades 10, 11, and 12

Music Theory and History is the first of a progressive series of three music theory courses. The curriculum content is divided into three areas: 1) music theory, 2) musicianship skills (sight singing and aural theory), 3) music literature/history. Students develop a working music vocabulary of musical terms and symbols, which is put into application in all facets of music learning. The fundamental concepts of music theory covered in this course include pitch notation, rhythm values, meter, key signatures, major and minor scales, transposition and intervals with some emphasis upon the development of aural perception skills through performance. Theoretical concepts are reinforced through guided listening from a wide selection of music literature, analysis of the musical scores and practical application utilizing laptops and MIDI keyboards. Music Technology projects will be assigned throughout the year.

Prerequisites:
· a minimum grade of 90 in Intro to Music
· a musical background to include either participation in school musical ensembles (chorus, band or orchestra), or private vocal or instrumental instruction

Grades 11, 12

This course assumes the skills and content covered in Music Theory and History 1 and continues to develop the student’s understanding of basic and advanced theory and ear training as well as harmonic score analysis. The second-year students in Music Theory and History are given an opportunity to explore the historical, social, and artistic influences that have contributed to the development of western music from the Classical through the Modern era. Students continue composing and notating music with software. Music Technology projects will be assigned throughout the year and will be based on the historical style being studied.

Prerequisites:

· Completion of Music 1 with grade of 90 or by permission of the teacher

Honors Music 3 – Grades 11, 12

Honors Music 3 is the last in a series of progressive courses, with content including Music Theory, Music History from the Romantic Era to present day and musicianship skills. Theory progresses from the concepts covered in Honors Music 2 to include more complex and creative tasks, such as: melodic and harmonic dictation; composition of a bass line for a given melody, implying appropriate harmony; realization of a figured bass; realization of a Roman numeral progression; analysis of repertoire, including melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, and form; and sight-singing in major and minor modes and in simple and compound meters.

Students learn to identify aural and visual procedures based in common-practice tonality, such as: functional triadic harmony in traditional four-voice texture including nonharmonic tones, seventh chords, cadence types and secondary dominants; melodic and harmonic compositional processes (e.g., sequence, motivic development); phrase structure (e.g., contrasting period, phrase group); small forms (e.g., rounded binary, simple ternary, theme and variation, strophic); and modulation to closely related keys.

Prerequisites:

• a minimum grade of 93 in Fundamentals of Music or Honors Music 2
• current or previous vocal/instrumental study
• approval of the department chair

Grades 10, 11, 12  

This course explores the history of music in the United States. Using a chronological approach, students will learn the traditions upon which American Music is based and progresses from the 19th century to present day. Significant composers, lyricists, directors, choreographers and performing artists who have contributed to the development of musical will be studied. Socioeconomic, historical and cultural events throughout this time will be discussed with regard to their impact on music (and vice versa). Students will also develop evaluative listening and viewing skills and will analyze musicals with significant historical impact.