ability to perform the ensemble repertoire. Private music lessons are not covered by tuition. Students will be charged the School’s usual fee for lessons.
MUSIC 24 - Chamber Orchestra Fall, Spring. Additional weekly private lessons required. Open to string, woodwind, brass, and piano instrumentalists; audition required. The Chamber Orchestra offers classical music students an opportunity to explore and perform chamber and orchestral music of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras and the twentieth century. Students will learn to develop non-verbal, musical communication skills necessary for playing intimate chamber music. Focus will be placed on preparing music for the Holiday Concert and Spring Instrumental Concert. A student’s grade will reflect their outside practice time and ability to perform the ensemble repertoire. Private music lessons are not covered by tuition. Students will be charged the School’s usual fee for lessons.
MUSIC 25 - Steel Pan Ensemble Spring. This course is designed for students who have an interest in learning to play the steel pan and being part of a fun performance band, performing at the Spring Instrumental Concert. Beyond learning to play the steel pans in class, students will learn basic music theory and study the culture and music of the Caribbean. Music experience is not a prerequisite. The group is also open to students who play drums, guitar, or bass.
MUSIC 26 - Introduction to Digital Music Spring. This course offering is designed to provide an introduction to audio production. The primary software is GarageBand by Apple. Students will learn how to record, edit, and mix music through a series of group and individual projects designed to promote creativity and expression. Students will learn about the elements of music: rhythm, form, melody, etc. Students will explore the many facets of GarageBand including how to create audio tracks, add audio effects (EQ, Noise Gate, Compressor, Delay, and Reverb), create MIDI tracks, podcasting, and create music for video.
MUSIC 27 - Middlesex Foundations Ensemble Spring. Additional weekly private lessons required. Open to all instrumentalists with some degree of proficiency on their instruments; no audition necessary. Students who want to develop the necessary skills to perform with the Chamber Orchestra or Jazz Ensemble are invited to practice these skills in this course. Students who wish to participate as a pianist, drummer/percussionist, or guitarist will need special permission from the Head of the Music Department. The Foundations Ensemble will prepare music across a variety of genres, from pop/jazz to Classical and traditional concert band repertoire. Special attention in class is given to intonation, rhythmic accuracy, and tone quality. Focus will be on skills acquisition and refinement, with the hopes of advancing to Chamber Orchestra or Jazz Ensemble. Private music lessons are not covered by tuition. Students will be charged the School’s usual fee for lessons.
MUSIC 40 - Advanced Placement Music Theory Year. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department. The broad goals of this course are to develop fundamental music literacy necessary to function effectively among fellow musicians and to develop tools to understand music in new ways. We begin this course with a study of the basic elements of music theory (scales, key signatures, rhythm, etc.) and quickly progress to a study of chord progression and the principles of voice leading. To facilitate this learning, aural skills will be developed incorporating melodic and rhythmic dictation and sight-singing. The course then advances to the study of secondary dominants, chromaticism, and mode mixture. Assessments include nightly workbook assignments and larger, long-term composition and transcription projects. This course prepares students for the Advanced Placement Examination in Music Theory. Distributional credit in the Arts or the Humanities. The following offerings do not receive academic credit, but may be used to fulfill upper level distributional credit in the Arts. Studio Music. Fall, Spring. Private lesson weekly. A student in Class I or II will receive half credit toward fulfilling the Arts distributional requirement for each individual semester of participation in Studio Music. This is a course in applied music which develops the student’s vocal and/or instrumental talent through solo and ensemble performances. Students will have the opportunity to perform in the Winter, Spring, and Thoreau Recitals, and are encouraged to participate in the Chamber Orchestra or in the Jazz Ensemble, and/or Choral Ensembles. Students will be charged the School’s usual fee for lessons. Chapel Chorus. Fall, Spring. Chapel Chorus Block. Students in Class I or II may fulfill the Arts distributional requirement by participating in all required rehearsals and performances for two years. Chapel Chorus is a non-auditioned singing ensemble which performs both a cappella and accompanied choral works. Anyone is invited to join and no previous musical background or experience is necessary. Public performances throughout the year include a candlelight Holiday Concert in early December, and the Spring Concert in April. Small Chorus. Year. Members must be available the MXolydian/Bullfrogs/Small Chorus blocks. Small Chorus members must be members of Chapel Chorus. Audition is required at the beginning of the school year. Students in Class I or II can fulfill the 40
