Music

0.5 Credit

Grade 9

This semester-long introductory course examines music as both an art form and a powerful cultural force. Students explore how music reflects human identity, communicates meaning across cultures, and shapes society from historical traditions to contemporary popular styles. The course develops foundational knowledge of musical elements—including rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, form, and dynamics—while strengthening critical listening and analytical skills. Students also engage in introductory digital audio production, learning to use a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to create original audio projects such as a Women in Music podcast and multi-track recordings. Through listening, discussion, and creative exploration, students gain a deeper understanding of how music is created, experienced, and evaluated in the modern world. No prior musical experience is required.

1 Credit

Grades 10, 11, 12

Honors Integrated Music 1 is the first course in a rigorous, three-level sequence designed for students seeking a deeper, more analytical understanding of music. This course integrates three core areas of study: music theory, musicianship skills, and music history and literature.

Students develop a comprehensive working vocabulary of musical terms and symbols and apply these concepts across performance, analysis, and listening experiences. Foundational topics include pitch notation, rhythmic values, meter, key signatures, major and minor scales, intervals, and transposition. Emphasis is placed on developing strong aural skills through sight-singing, listening, and performance-based activities.

Theoretical concepts are reinforced through guided listening drawn from a broad range of musical styles and historical periods, score analysis, and hands-on application using music technology. Students regularly engage with laptops and MIDI keyboards to complete theory exercises and creative projects. Music technology–based assignments are incorporated throughout the year to support musical understanding and real-world application.

This honors-level course is recommended for motivated students with a strong musical background who are interested in advancing their musicianship and preparing for higher-level music study.

Prerequisites: A final average of 90 or higher in Foundations of Music; Demonstrated musical background through participation in a school ensemble (chorus, band, or orchestra) and/or private vocal or instrumental instruction

1 Credit

Grades 11, 12

Honors Integrated Music 2 is the second course in a three-year honors sequence designed for advanced music students. Building upon the skills and content introduced in Honors Music Theory and History I, this course further develops students’ understanding of intermediate and advanced music theory, musicianship, and aural skills, with an increased emphasis on harmonic analysis and score study.

Students examine the historical, social, and artistic influences that have shaped Western art music from the Classical era through the Modern era. The course integrates theoretical study with guided listening, score analysis, and performance-based applications. Students continue to compose and notate music using notation software, and complete music technology projects throughout the year that reflect the stylistic characteristics of the historical periods studied.

Prerequisites: Final average of 90 or higher in Honors Integrated Music 1; Demonstrated musical background through participation in a school ensemble (chorus, band, or orchestra) and/or private vocal or instrumental instruction

1 Credit

Grade 12

Honors Integrated Music 3 is the culminating course in the honors music theory and history sequence. Designed for highly motivated and advanced music students, this course integrates advanced music theory, musicianship, and music history, with an emphasis on analytical thinking, creative application, and independent musical understanding.

The curriculum continues the theoretical progression from Honors Music Theory and History II, focusing on advanced skills such as melodic and harmonic dictation, figured bass and Roman numeral realization, composition of harmonically appropriate bass lines, and in-depth analysis of musical repertoire. Students engage in sight-singing in major and minor modes and in both simple and compound meters.

Historical study spans the Romantic era through contemporary music, with attention to stylistic developments, compositional techniques, and the cultural and artistic contexts of each period. Students learn to identify and analyze aural and visual features of common-practice tonality, including functional harmony in four-part texture, nonharmonic tones, seventh chords, cadence types, secondary dominants, modulation to closely related keys, formal structures, and compositional processes such as sequence and motivic development.

Prerequisites: Final average of 90 or higher in Honors Integrated Music 1 or Honors Integrated Music 2; Current or previous private vocal or instrumental study, or participation in a school ensemble

0.5 Credit

Grades 10, 11, 12

Ever wanted to play guitar and record your own music? This course introduces students to the fundamentals of guitar performance while exploring the creative world of music technology and digital recording.

Students learn basic guitar technique, chord progressions, strumming and picking patterns, and how to read standard music notation and chord charts. Through solo and ensemble playing, students perform music in a variety of styles including rock, pop, folk, and contemporary music.

The course integrates GarageBand and other recording software, allowing students to record performances, play along with professional backing tracks, and experiment with arranging and layering sound. Students gain hands-on experience learning how musicians collaborate in modern recording environments and how technology is used to create, edit, and produce music.

No prior guitar experience is required. This class is ideal for beginners as well as students interested in songwriting, music production, or performing in a modern music setting

0.5 credit

Grades 10, 11, 12

Piano Lab is a hands-on, beginner-friendly course designed for students with little or no prior piano experience. This class introduces the fundamentals of piano technique, music reading, and musicianship in a supportive and creative learning environment.

Students learn proper keyboard technique, basic scales and chords, and how to read standard music notation while performing solo and ensemble repertoire in a variety of styles, including classical, pop, and contemporary music.

Piano Lab is ideal for students interested in learning a practical and versatile instrument, building foundational music skills, and exploring music through performance.

0.5 Credit

Grades 10, 11, 12

From the bustling sounds of Tin Pan Alley to the dazzling spectacles of today’s Broadway blockbusters, this honors-level course explores the evolution of America’s most iconic theatrical tradition. Students will trace the history of Broadway musicals, examining how music, storytelling, and stagecraft have reflected—and shaped—American culture across the 20th and 21st centuries.

Through close study of landmark productions, influential composers and lyricists, and groundbreaking performers, we will uncover how Broadway has continually reinvented itself to capture the spirit of its time. Topics include the rise of the American musical, the Golden Age of Rodgers and Hammerstein, the innovations of Stephen Sondheim, the global impact of shows like Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, and the contemporary voices redefining the stage in works such as Hamilton and Hadestown.

Students will engage with scripts, scores, recordings, and live performance analysis, while also considering the social, political, and economic forces that have shaped Broadway’s trajectory. By the end of the course, participants will not only appreciate Broadway’s rich history but also understand its enduring role as a cultural mirror and creative force.

0.5 Credit

Grades 10, 11, 12

This honors-level course traces the vibrant evolution of American popular music, from the syncopated rhythms of the Swing Era to the chart-topping hits of Taylor Swift. Students will explore how jazz and pop have intertwined, diverged, and reinvented themselves across decades, reflecting cultural shifts, technological innovations, and changing tastes in society.

We will study the rise of big band jazz and its influence on early popular music, the birth of rock ’n’ roll, the Motown sound, and the global reach of pop icons from the Beatles to Beyoncé. Alongside these movements, we’ll examine jazz’s transformation through bebop, cool jazz, fusion, and contemporary crossovers, considering how improvisation and innovation have continually reshaped the genre.

Through listening sessions, score analysis, and critical discussion, students will uncover the artistry behind both jazz standards and pop anthems, while also investigating the social and political contexts that gave these sounds their power. By the end of the course, participants will understand how the interplay between jazz and pop has created a soundtrack to modern life.

0.5 Credit

Grades 10, 11, 12

Audio Engineering invites students to step into the world of music production and discover the art and science behind recording sound. From exploring the fundamentals of acoustics to mastering microphone techniques, students will gain practical skills in capturing instruments and vocals with clarity and precision. Using industry-standard Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) like GarageBand and Soundtrap, they’ll learn how to record, edit, and shape audio into polished tracks.

Along the way, students will sharpen their critical listening abilities and experiment with creative projects—recording live performances, building beats and samples, and enhancing recordings with digital effects.

By the end of the course, students will not only understand the technical side of audio but also develop the creative confidence to professionally record, edit, and produce music that resonates.

0.5 Credit

Grades 10, 11, 12

Broadcast Production & Storytelling immerses students in the dynamic world of video, audio, and journalism. Through hands-on studio and fieldwork, students will explore the art of visual storytelling by producing documentaries, news segments, educational videos, vlogs, and podcasts.

From concept to final cut, students will experience every stage of the production process:

• Crafting scripts and interview questions
• Capturing cinematic footage and speaking confidently on camera
• Applying professional post-production techniques in video and audio editing

Projects are not just classroom exercises—they’ll be showcased at school and community events and featured on GMA TV, Gwynedd’s official newscast. Working with industry-standard software in the Mac Lab, students will learn how to blend video and sound into compelling narratives that inform, inspire, and engage audiences.

By the end of the course, students will have the creative and technical skills to produce polished media projects that reflect both journalistic integrity and artistic vision.