The ECHS music department offers a wide range of courses and activities for the performer and the non-performer. Below are listed the course offerings for the 2007-2008 school year.
All courses below are listed by their official state curriculum guide title and descriptions are from the Elkhart Community Schools Course Descriptions listing.
Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the concert band, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed to enable students to connect, examine, imagine, define,try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production,(2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills,(5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.
Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting,playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students also have opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students are required to participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
In addition, students, perform, with expression and technicalaccuracy, a large and varied repertoire of concert band literature that is developmentally appropriate. Evaluation of music and music performances is included.
•Prerequisite: Beginning Concert Band and Instructor Approval
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters
•A one credit per trimester course; three trimesters
•Advanced Concert Band•
Advanced Concert Band provides students with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the concert band, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed to enable students to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities aredesigned to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation,(4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.
Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting,playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students are provided with opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Band repertoire must be of the highest caliber. Mastery of advanced wind band technique must be evident. Areas of refinement consist of advanced techniques including, but not limited to: (1) intonation, (2) balance and blend, (3) breathing, (4) tone production, (5) tone quality, (6) technique, (7) rhythm, (8) sight-reading, and (9) critical listening skills. Evaluation of music and music performances is included.
•Prerequisite: Beginning Concert Band, Intermediate Concert Band, and Instructor Approval
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters
•A one credit per trimester course; three trimesters
•Jazz Ensemble•
Students taking this course develop musicianship and specific performance skills through group and individual settings for the study and performance of the varied styles of instrumental jazz. The instruction includes the study of the history, formative, and stylistic elements of jazz. Students develop their creative skills through (1) improvisation, (2) composition, (3) arranging, (4) performing, (5) listening, and (6) analyzing. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other areas.
Students are provided with opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom. Student participants must also be receiving instruction in another band or orchestra class offering, at the discretion of the director.
•Prerequisite: Instructor Approval
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters
•A one credit per trimester course; offered second and third trimesters
•Intermediate Orchestra•
Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the orchestra, string and/or full orchestra, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation,(4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.
Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting,playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students are provided with opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Students must perform, with expression and technical accuracy, a large and varied repertoire of orchestral literature that is developmentally appropriate. Evaluation of music and music performances is included.
•Prerequisite: Beginning Orchestra
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters
•A one credit per trimester course; three trimesters
Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the orchestra, string and/or full orchestra,which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed to enable students to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities aredesigned to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation,(4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.
Orchestral repertoire must be of the highest caliber, and mastery of advanced orchestral technique must be evident. Areas of refinement consist of advanced techniques including, but not limited to:(1) intonation, (2) balance and blend, (3) tone production, (4)tone quality, (5) technique, (6) rhythm, (7) sight-reading, and (8) critical listening skills. Evaluation of music and music performances is included.
Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting,playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students also have opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Students must perform, with expression and technical accuracy,a large and varied repertoire of orchestral literature that is developmentally appropriate. Evaluation of music and music performances is included.
•Prerequisite: Beginning Orchestra, Intermediate Orchestra, and Instructor Approval
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters.
•A one credit per trimester course; three trimesters
Students taking Beginning Choir develop musicianship and specific performance skills through ensemble and solo singing. The choir may be composed of (1) male choir, (2) female choir, (3) mixed choir, or any combination thereof. Activities in this class create the development of quality repertoire in te diverse styles of choral literature appropriate in difficulty and range of the students. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Choir classes provide instruction in creating, perfoming, conducting, listening to, and analyzing, in addition to focusing on the specific subject matter. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students have the opportunity to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. A limited amount of time, outside of the school day, may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters.
•A one credit per trimester course; two trimesters (first and third)
Intermediate Choir provides students with opportunities to develop musicianship and specific performance skills through ensemble and solo singing. The choir may be composed of (1) male choir, (2) female choir, (3) mixed choir, or any combination thereof. Activities create the development of quality repertoire in the diverse styles of choral literature that is appropriate in difficulty and range of the students. Instruction is designed to enable students to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Choir classes provide instruction in creating, perfoming, conducting, listening to, and analyzing, in addition to focusing on the specific subject matter. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students have the opportunity to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. A limited amount of time, outside of the school day, may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Choral repertoire should be developmentally appropriate. Additional emphasis is placed on sight-reading, critical listening skills, and vocal technique.
•Prerequisite: Beginning Choir and Instructor Approval
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters.
•A one credit per trimester course; two trimesters (second and third)
Students taking Advanced Choir develop musicianship and specific performance skills through ensemble and solo singing. The choir may be composed of (1) male choir, (2) female choir, (3) mixed choir, or any combination thereof. Activities in this class create the development of quality repertoire in the diverse styles of choral literature appropriate in difficulty and range of the students. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Choir classes provide instruction in creating, perfoming, conducting, listening to, and analyzing, in addition to focusing on the specific subject matter. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students have the opportunity to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. A limited amount of time, outside of the school day, may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances.A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
The choral repertoire must be of the highest caliber. Mastery of basic choral technique must be evident. Areas of refinement include a cappella singing, sight-reading, and critical listening skills.
•Prerequisite: Beginning Choir, Intermediate Choir, and Instructor Approval
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters.
•A one credit per trimester course; three trimesters
Students taking this course develop skills in the analysis of music and theoretical concepts. Students: (1) develop ear training and dictation skills, (2) compose works that illustrate mastered concepts, (3) understand harmonic structures and analysis, (4)understand modes and scales, (5) study a wide variety of musical styles, (6) study traditional and nontraditional music, (7) notation and sound sources as tools for musical composition, and (7) receive detailed instruction in other basic elements of music. Students have the opportunity to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day.
A limited number of performances may serve as a culmination of activities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
[Students with no formal music instruction are encouraged to discuss coursework with the instructor prior to enrolling.]
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters.
•A one credit per trimester course; offered first trimester
Students taking this course receive instruction designed to explore music and major musical style periods through understanding music in relation to both Western and Non-Western history and culture. Activities include but are not limited to: (1) listening to, analyzing, and describing music; (2) evaluating music and music performances; and (3) understanding relationships between music and the other arts, as well as disciplines outside of the arts.
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•A one credit per trimester course; offered second trimester
High school students taking this course are offered keyboard classes, including piano and electronic keyboard, in order to develop music proficiency and musicianship. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music into other subject areas. Students: (1) perform with proper posture, hand position, fingering, rhythm, and articulation; (2) compose and improvise melodic and harmonic material; (3) create and perform simple accompaniments; (4) listen to, analyze, sight-read, and study the literature performed; (5) study the elements of music as exemplified in a variety of styles; and (6) make interpretive decisions.
[Students must be able to work independently in class on a daily basis.]
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters.
•A one credit per trimester course; offered first and second trimesters
Rhythm and Dance is a course which incorporates all styles of dance in a precision dance line format including the use of props (i.e. flags, capes, ribbon sticks, etc.). The course work culminates in public performances at athletic events and concert presentations. Rehearsals both in and out of school time are considered a part of this course.
•A Core 40 and AHD course
•This course may be taken for successive trimesters when offered.
•A one credit per trimester course; offered first trimester
updated 06/19/07 by WN