Music (Humanities)

MARCHING BAND I - Honors                                                                                                               (6524) 

One Semester                           Credit 0.50                    Weight 1.05           

This course is open to students in Grade 9/10 who are qualified instrumentalists through band director recommendation or audition (typically new members to the ensemble). This course begins meeting in August prior to the start of the school year.  This elective course is offered for those band members interested in performing at football games, parades, and marching band competitions.  The “DCI” (Drum Corps International) concept of marching and performance will be the foundation for all teaching.  Emphasis will be placed upon fundamentals of musicianship, marching and maneuvering, musical expression, showmanship, physical coordination, and development of discipline and character.  This course will run concurrently with Concert Band I.  Members of Marching Band I will perform during the first quarter with the Marching Band, and with the Concert Band during the second quarter. After the first quarter, students will focus on traditional and contemporary literature for concert band with a traditional concert band concert at the end of the quarter.

MARCHING BAND II - Honors                                                                                                              (6525)

One Semester                           Credit 0.50                    Weight 1.05

This course is open to students in Grades 10, 11, and 12 who are qualified instrumentalists through band director recommendation or audition (typically new members to the ensemble).  This course begins meeting in August prior to the start of the school year.  This elective course is offered for those band members interested in performing at football games, parades, and marching band competitions.  The “DCI” (Drum Corps International) concept of marching and performance will be the foundation for all teaching.  Emphasis will be placed upon fundamentals of musicianship, marching and maneuvering, musical expression, showmanship, physical coordination, and development of discipline and character. This course will run concurrently with Concert Band II. Members of Marching Band II will perform during the first quarter with the Marching Band, and with the Concert Band during the second quarter.  After the first quarter, students will focus on traditional and contemporary literature for concert band with a traditional concert band concert at the end of the quarter.

CONCERT BAND I – S1 & S2                                                                           (6534A & 6534B)

One Semester each      Credit 0.50 each            Weight 1.00

Concert Band I (Grade 9) will perform appropriate and quality band literature as well as seek to increase the student’s music fundamentals. Students are to possess a passionate desire to increase their abilities, seek to learn all aspects of concert band fundamentals, gain a greater respect for wind band literature, and fervently seek to learn about all aspects of music. Students willing to improve their present musicianship will successfully complete course requirements. Students in Concert Band I will perform three concerts a year: The Winter Concert, The Prisms Concert (Spring Concert), and two performances in May. Please note: The Memorial Day Parade & Graduation are REQUIRED and graded performances. The concert band literature is at an intermediate level, and the level of expected musicianship is at a developing level. For homework, students should expect to practice at least 2 hours per week outside of class. This course is intended for students not interested in marching band, however, students will still learn music for the fall season (Q1).

CONCERT BAND I – HONORS – S1 & S2                                                         (6542A & 6542B)

One Semester each      Credit 0.50 each            Weight 1.05

Concert Band I Honors (Grades 9) will perform appropriate and quality literature as well as seek to increase the student’s music fundamentals. Students are to possess a passionate desire to increase their abilities, seek to learn all aspects of concert band fundamentals, gain a greater respect for wind band literature, and fervently seek to learn about all aspects of music. Students willing to improve their present musicianship will successfully complete course requirements.  Students in Concert Band I will perform three concerts a year: The Winter Concert, The Prisms Concert (Spring Concert), and two performances in May. Students in the honors concert band I will combine with the Concert Band (grade 10-12) students for one song in every concert, in addition to participating in the pep band and jazz band. The concert band literature is at an intermediate level, and the level of expected musicianship is at a developing level. For homework, students should expect to practice at least 2-3 hours per week outside of class. As performing at all concerts and the Memorial Day Parade is exam material, attendance is therefore considered to be mandatory.

 Honors Concert Band I students must also:

·       perform an Eastern Region audition level solo or approved solo by band director;

·       perform the Eastern Region level scales and sight reading;

·       perform required excerpts from concert pieces for the director each quarter.

CONCERT BAND II – S1 & S2                                                                          (6535A & 6535B)

One Semester each      Credit 0.50 each            Weight 1.00

This course is open to students in Grades 10, 11, and 12.  Concert Band II is offered to all students with previous experience on a traditional band instrument. Continued emphasis is given to the development of musicianship and basic skills through a large repertoire of appropriate level band literature. Concert Band II focuses on learning and performing symphonic works from a variety of time periods. Student involvement in concert and performance activities will be part of the grading process for this course. Periodically there are special events, rehearsals or concerts during non-school hours. Participation in such activities is an essential extension of the requirements. The band will present three evening concerts each year and travel around the United States to compete in various performance festivals. The band will also march in parades as well as perform at community functions. As performing at all concerts and the Memorial Day Parade is exam material, attendance is therefore considered to be mandatory.

This course is intended for students not interested in the extracurricular “DCI” performance style, but students will still learn music for the fall season.  Concert Band members will perform at school events during the school day throughout Quarter 1, and will continue to perform as a traditional Concert Band during Quarters 2, 3, and 4.  Concert Band concerts in Quarters 2, 3, and 4 will focus on traditional and contemporary literature for concert band.

CONCERT BAND II – HONORS – S1 & S2                                                        (6543A & 6543B)

One Semester each      Credit 0.50 each            Weight 1.05

This course is open to students in Grades 10, 11, and 12 who are qualified instrumentalists through band director recommendation or audition (typically experienced members of the ensemble).  Students study and perform standard band literature of all stylistic periods.  Fundamentals of musicianship, both technical and expressive, will be stressed.  Playing assessments will be required each quarter along with daily practice outside of the school day.  Students will also study musical terminology, music theory, and music history.  This course will run concurrently with Marching Band II, but students in Concert Band II will not be expected to participate in outside rehearsals or performances through Quarter 1.

This course is intended for students not interested in the extracurricular “DCI” performance style, but students will still learn music for the fall season.  Concert Band members will perform at school events during the school day throughout Quarter 1, and will continue to perform as a traditional Concert Band during Quarters 2, 3, and 4.  Concert Band concerts in Quarters 2, 3, and 4 will focus on traditional and contemporary literature for concert band.

Honors Concert Band II students must also:

·       attain an 85% or higher on final playing assessments of each quarter;

·       complete additional performance assessments throughout the year;

·       study music theory in a more comprehensive manner through outside coursework;

·       obtain private music lessons (encouraged but not required);

·       fulfill additional assignments and responsibilities selected from a menu at the beginning of the year.

CONCERT CHOIR – COLLEGE                                    Weight 1.00                  (6533A & 6533B)

CONCERT CHOIR -- HONORS                                     Weight 1.05                  (6541A & 6541B)

            Two Semesters (S1/S2)             Credit 0.50 each

This course is open to experienced choral students in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.  It is designed to offer mixed voices (SATB) the opportunity to perform a variety of choral literature of varying styles.  The development of proper vocal technique and more advanced musicianship skills, including theory and sight singing, are emphasized in the daily rehearsal.  Importance is also placed on studying the text and expressive designs in the literature studied.  Student achievement is primarily demonstrated through the performance of the music studied in the choral classroom.  Students who elect the Honors-weighted course will be required to fulfill additional assignments and responsibilities selected from a menu at the beginning of the school year.

BAND / CHOIR EXCHANGE – HONORS – S1 & S2                                           (6544A & 6544B)

            One Semester each      Credit 0.50 each            Weight 1.05                 

Permission of both the band and choral instructors is required.  This course is designed specifically for the serious and talented musician who wishes to continue developing skills in vocal and instrumental music through participation in both Band and a vocal ensemble (chorus). In this combination course, the student will alternate attending each class.  In addition, each student will select pursuing either the vocal or instrumental emphasis and must fulfill the requirements of Honors Band or Honors Vocal Ensemble (chorus).

PIANO/KEYBOARD                                                                                            (6522)

            One Semester               Credit 0.50                    Weight 1.00

This course is open to students in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.  This is an introductory course in the fundamentals of piano keyboard performance.  Classroom topics include the study of musical notation and symbols, the performance of simple melodies, standard scales and chord progressions, folk songs, and popular music.  Students will also perform ensemble music, with an emphasis on rhythmic accuracy and tempo pulse control.

GUITAR                                                                                                           (6536)

            One Semester               Credit 0.50                    Weight 1.00

This course is open to all students in Grade 9, 10, 11, and 12.  This course is designed for students who are beginners.  Students will receive instruction on guitar performance, music notation reading, stylistic performance, and specific skills and techniques that are required to become a successful guitarist.  Areas of concentration include correct posture, note/chord reading, aural skills, rhythmic patterns, chord study, finger-picking styles, musical forms, improvisation, and performing experiences.

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY I                                                                                   (6521)

            One Semester               Credit 0.50                    Weight 1.00

This course is open to all students in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. This course is open to any RHS students who have not taken a music technology class before. Students will discover and explore introductory concepts used in music sequencing, notation and recording. No prior musical experience is needed. Students will create music using sequencing/ editing software (Logic Pro and Garageband), synthesizers and drum machines. Students will study the following genres of music: Latin, blues, jazz, musical theater, gospel, folk, R&B, rock, hip hop, and many others. Students will also produce Movie & TV trailers, as well as two podcasts.

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY II                                                                                  (6537)

            One Semester               Credit 0.50                    Weight 1.00

Prior successful completion of the MUSIC TECHNOLOGY I course offered at Rockville High School is required with the recommendation of the teacher. Students will study advanced music technology concepts and will build upon projects in music technology I using Logic Pro as well as Garageband. Special emphasis will be placed on recording techniques as well as film scoring and production. Students in Music Technology II will manage an in-house recording studio and will be trained on portable sound systems and the RHS auditorium sound system. Students will learn how to set up and operate a basic sound system and be able to run a recording session or operate a sound system for a concert or event. Students will continue to study the following genres of music: Latin, blues, jazz, musical theater, gospel, folk, R&B, rock, hip hop, and many others.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT MUSIC THEORY – S1 & S2                                     (6553A & 6553B)

            One Semester each      Credit 0.5 each              Weight 1.10

Advanced Placement Music Theory is a college-level course that integrates aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, elementary composition, and, to some extent, history and style.  Musicianship skills such as dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are considered an important part of the theory course.  The student’s ability to read and write musical notation is fundamental to this course.  It is strongly recommended that the student will have acquired at least basic performance skills in voice or on an instrument.  Students enrolled in Advanced Placement Music Theory are expected to take the AP Music Theory exam in May.

AP Music Theory will have summer work that will need to be completed prior to the start of the class.

POPULAR MUSIC ECE* **                                                                                           (6554E)

University of Connecticut Early College Experience*

            One Semester                           Credit 0.5                      Weight 1.10

This course is open to students in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.  It is intended to provide a historical overview of popular music in America, exploring a wide variety of genres such as jazz, blues, country, pop, rock, and hip-hop.  Influential musicians and their music from each genre will be studied through the context of society, diversity, and popular culture as applicable.  Students will analyze the evolution of music genres throughout the 20^th and 21^st centuries in relation to technological advances for sharing music such as the radio, television, and the Internet as well as the invention of new electronic instruments and recording equipment.

*The ECE Popular Music course is the MUSI 1003 (Popular Music and Diversity in American Society) course offered at UCONN.  Students who successfully meet the expectations of the Early College Experience requirement will earn 3 college credits from UCONN.  Students are charged per UCONN credit plus a processing fee per course.  Billing is handled by UCONN.

**This course has been proposed by the Music department for the 2025-2026 school year and is pending approval by the Vernon Board of Education and UCONN.