I. Vocal courses (all levels):

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CHORUS (BEGINNING): This introductory course is for students interested in singing. Students study the fundamental skills of music, sight-singing, proper vocal production, and vocal health. Choral music study involves listening, describing, and evaluating music. Students also study basic vocal health and wellness issues. Any student who loves to sing is welcome to join. Participation in after-school rehearsals and performances is expected. If a student has successfully completed chorus in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, the student should enroll in an Intermediate or Proficient Level course. This course does not require an audition or prior experience, all students are welcome!

 

TREBLE ENSEMBLE** (PROFICIENT*) and TENOR/BASS ENSEMBLE** (PROFICIENT*): Each course is designed specifically for male and female singer to improve their vocal skills in a wide range of musical settings. Traditional choral skills of blend, balance, intonation, and phrasing will be learned through the rehearsal and performance of gender specific repertoire. Participation in after-school rehearsals and performances is expected. Prerequisite: Complete 6th-8th grade education in Choir; Beginning Choir; or Demonstrated proficiency with High School Course Instructor recommendation.  These courses receive an additional +0.5 quality point. *Proficient and intermediate are used interchangeably on CMS registration documents. **Women's Chamber and Treble as well as, Men's Chamber and Tenor/Bass are used interchangeably on CMS registration documents. Treble is for higher voices and Tenor/Bass is for lower voices. 

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MIXED CHAMBER CHOIR (ADVANCED): This course utilizes a small performing group of mixed voices, which requires the highest level of technical skill and the ability to perform music in a variety of meters and keys, using both traditional and non-traditional notation. Mixed Chamber Choir students perform with subtle nuances making their work unique, interesting, and expressive. Exploration is highly encouraged to interpret music from personal, cultural, and historical contexts. Participation in after-school rehearsals and performances is expected. Prerequisite: Complete 6th-8th grade or 3+ years in choir; Beginning Choir, Women's Chamber, Men's Chamber, or Mixed Ensemble; or Demonstrated high proficiency and Teacher Recommendation. This course receives an additional +0.5 quality point. Auditions are required before being placed in this course. 

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II. Music and Theory Courses (beginning level):

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MUSIC APPRECIATION (BEGINNING): This course is a basic survey of the music of the Western world. Emphasis is placed on the elements of music, terminology, composers, form, and style within a historical perspective. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate skills in basic listening and understanding of the art of music.

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MUSIC THEORY I (BEGINNING): This course is an intro to AP Music Theory (see below). 

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III. Vocal and Theory Courses (advanced level):

IB* MUSIC (MIXED CHAMBER): The IB Diploma Programme standard level music course seeks to develop students’ knowledge and potential as musicians, both personally and collaboratively. IB Diploma Programme music students are required to study musical perception and actively listen to a wide range of music from different parts of the world, musical cultures and time periods. They also develop aural perception and understanding of music by learning about musical elements, including form and structure, notations, musical terminology and context. Through the course of study, students become aware of how musicians work and communicate. This course receives an additional +1.0 quality point. Students do NOT need to be in the IB program; this is a two-year course for 11th and 12th grades. Vocal audition required by Choral Director.  NOTE: there is an IB Music level course for other performing arts, e.g., IB Music Band, IB Music Drama, etc. Please contact those dept heads or the school for information.

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AP** MUSIC THEORY: Learn to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music. Students develop skills by listening to, reading, writing, and performing a wide variety of music. This course is devoted to understanding the guidelines and theory behind performing and composing music. The skills that will be acquired in this course are:

• Identifying features of pitch, interval, scales and keys, chords, meter, rhythm, and other musical concepts in performed and notated music

• Singing a notated melody on sight

• Notating music that you hear 

• Completing music based on cues, following common-practice style                            

This course receives an additional +1.0 quality point.

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*International Baccalaureate is a non-profit run by ibo.org.

**Advanced Placement Program® by the College Board (collegeboard.org).