Course Guide Home

127001 & 127002 (Year-long)  - CHORUS
Grades: 9-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: None

The Chorus is open to anyone who enjoys singing. No previous singing experience is required. The class enables you to improve your singing skills with emphasis on understanding and enjoyment of music. Various concerts are presented throughout the year. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals. Uniform attire is required.

127041 & 127042 (Year-long) - CONCERT CHORALE
Grades: 9-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Audition

The Concert Chorale is a performing ensemble selected by individual audition. Designed for students with previous singing experience, this class emphasizes the improvement of vocal production, music reading skills, and general musicianship. Chorale members perform in several concerts and have the opportunity to participate in the St. Louis Suburban Choirs and Festival for solos and ensembles. If enrollment warrants, the choir may be divided into separate sections. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals. Uniform attire is required.

127061 & 127062 (Year-long) - CHAMBER CHOIR
Grades: 9-10
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Audition and recommendation of previous director

The Chamber Choir is a select performing ensemble. Emphasis is placed on the improvement of vocal production, music reading skills, and general musicianship through the study of advanced choral literature and techniques. Choir members perform in several concerts and have the opportunity to participate in the St. Louis Suburban Choir and Festival for solos and ensembles. If enrollment warrants, the choir may be divided into separate sections. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals. Uniform attire is required.

127151 & 127152 (Year-long) - JAZZ-A CAPELLA CHOIR
Grades: 11-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Audition and concurrent enrollment in Concert Choir 

Jazz-A Cappella Choir is a small select ensemble, which specializes in the performance of popular styles of vocal music. For the audition, considerations will include vocal style, movement, and stage presence. Many performances are given off-campus, which require time, in addition to normal class work. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals. Uniform attire required.

127171 & 127172 (Year-long) - CONCERT CHOIR MIXED (HONORS OPTION)
Grades: 11-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Audition

The Concert Choir is a major performing ensemble chosen by individual audition. Emphasis is placed on the improvement of vocal production, music reading skills, and general musicianship through the study of advanced choral literature and techniques. Choir members perform in several concerts with other ensembles; participate in competitions and festivals and present off-campus concerts. Students who sing in this choir are eligible to audition for the Missouri All-State Choir, the Missouri Honors Choir and the St. Louis Suburban Choir. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals. Uniform attire is required.

127181 & 127182 (Year-long) - CONCERT CHOIR TREBLE (HONORS OPTION)
Grades: 11-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Audition

The Concert Choir is a major performing ensemble chosen by individual audition. Emphasis is placed on the improvement of vocal production, music reading skills, and general musicianship through the study of advanced choral literature and techniques. Choir members perform in several concerts with other ensembles; participate in competitions and festivals and present off-campus concerts. Students who sing in this choir are eligible to audition for the Missouri All-State Choir, the Missouri Honors Choir and the St. Louis Suburban Choir. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals. Uniform attire is required.

127411 & 127412 (Year-long) - CONCERT ORCHESTRA 1
Grade: 9
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Previous instrumental experience and audition for the instructor.

Concert Orchestra gives the student an opportunity to develop individual and ensemble musical expression. Skills taught include advanced bowing technique, left-hand technique including high- position patterns, ensemble playing, and improved sight-reading. Students learn how to musically interpret a variety of styles as they are introduced to standard orchestral literature from classical to popular music.  Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals.

127421 & 127422 (Year-long) - CONCERT ORCHESTRA 2
Grades: 10-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Previous instrumental experience and audition for the instructor.

Concert Orchestra 2 gives the student an opportunity to continue to develop individual and ensemble musical expression and expand playing technique and concepts introduced in Concert Orchestra 1.  Skills are improved in bowing technique, left-hand technique, including high-position patterns, ensemble playing, and sight- reading ability.  Knowledge of style and musical interpretation increase as students perform standard orchestral literature from classical to popular music.  Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals.

127441 & 127442 (Year-long) - SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA (HONORS OPTION)
Grades: 9-12          
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite:  Previous instrumental experience and audition for the instructor.

Symphonic Orchestra is the most advanced school orchestra and one of the major performing ensembles representing the school. Membership is based on a high level of string instrument playing ability, prior orchestral experience, sight reading skills, and overall ensemble skills.  Students will be selected by audition only. Members will be added to maintain a balanced orchestral instrumentation. Brass, woodwind, and percussion students enrolled in Symphonic Band are selected for full orchestra experiences.  The ensemble will study and perform repertoire chosen from a wide variety of all historical periods stressing tone quality, musicianship, and interpretation of various styles.  This group offers the student many performance opportunities at school, off-campus, and at festivals.  Members of Symphonic Orchestra are eligible to audition for such honor groups as All-Suburban Orchestra and All-State Orchestra as well as various small ensembles.  Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals.  

127511 & 127512 - CONCERT BAND
Grades: 9-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite:  Previous instrumental experience and consent of instructor. Audition may be required.

Concert Band consists of students who have had previous instrumental experience.  Basic fundamentals of music, interpretation of performance styles, and musicianship are emphasized. Several concerts are presented each year.  Members of the group are eligible to audition and participate with various other musical ensembles. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals.

127521 & 127522 (Year-long) - JAZZ BAND
Grades: 9-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Member of concert unit and/or consent of instructor. Audition may be required.

Jazz Band is designed to give students an opportunity to develop group jazz and jazz related performance skills within a select instrumental ensemble. Individual improvisation, ensemble performance, and jazz theory are emphasized. Instrumentation is flexible, but appropriate size and balance will be maintained in order to perform repertoire authentically and artistically.  Bass, piano, and guitar players are encouraged to contact the instructor to determine if they qualify prior to enrollment.  Attendance is required at all performances and special rehearsals.

127551 & 127552 (Year-long) - SYMPHONIC BAND - PERCUSSION (HONORS OPTION)
Grades: 9-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite:  Previous instrumental experience and consent of instructor. Audition is required.

Symphonic Band-Percussion consists of students who have achieved a high level of proficiency as performers on percussion instruments and are seeking many performance opportunities. Symphonic Percussion is designed for students who are willing to accept the responsibilities of participating in an active performing group.  Students accepted in Symphonic Percussion are automatically included in Marching and Symphonic Bands. Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals.

127581 & 127582 (Year-long) -  SYMPHONIC BAND 2 (HONORS OPTION) 

Grades: 9-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite:  Previous instrumental experience and consent of instructor. Audition may be required.

Symphonic Band 2 is designed for students who have achieved a high level of proficiency as performers through their previous musical experiences. Members of the Symphonic Band 2 are automatically included in the Marching Band and will participate in an active fall marching season.   Through many performance opportunities students will be introduced to a wide variety of quality band literature representing many styles and historical periods. Musicianship, listening, interpretive and reading skills will be refined and individual responsibility within the ensemble emphasized. Symphonic Band 2 students are eligible to audition and participate with the orchestra, the jazz band, and with various small ensembles.    Attendance is required for all performances and special rehearsals, including a summer band camp. 

127610 - PIANO
Grades: 9-12
½ Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: None

This course is designed for beginning piano students. Students will become familiar with the digital keyboard and will learn to read notes and chord symbols.  Personal headphones with an adaptor are required.

127620 - PIANO 2
Grades: 9-12
½ Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Piano or permission of instructor

This course is designed for students who have had some previous piano experience.  Simple scales and chords will be presented along with the study of piano literature from every period of music history. Personal headphones with an adaptor are required.

127630 - GUITAR
Grades: 9-12
½ Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: None

In this Guitar course, introductory skills are taught for the acoustic (non-electric) guitar. Basic fundamentals of reading music notation, rhythm, and chords are incorporated. Students will learn several styles of playing including folk, country, blues, and rock. Both finger picking and chording will be taught. Students may use their own acoustic guitar or make arrangements to use a school guitar.

127640 - GUITAR 2
Grades: 9-12
½ Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Guitar or satisfactory completion of a proficiency exam before enrollment. See instructor.

In the Guitar 2 course, students will continue to study the basic styles of playing on the acoustic guitar, including classical, country, rock, and blues. Students will improve their playing technique, become more skilled at note reading, learn special chords and effects, and will understand how to use rhythmic and melodic patterns in improvisation. Students may use their own acoustic guitar or make arrangements to use a school guitar.

127720 - INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORY
Grades: 9-12
1/2 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: None

Topics of study will include note recognition in all clefs, rhythm, all major, minor and modal scales, all key signatures, and interval recognition and dictation. Basic ear training and piano keyboard skills will be covered. The course is designed for students with good basic solo skills on their instrument/voice and as an introduction to Music Theory. The course is designed to teach the student comprehensive theory skills beyond those partial skills learned in school ensembles or in private lessons.

129701 & 129702 (Year-long) - AP MUSIC THEORY
Grades: 10-12
1 Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor

AP Music Theory is a course designed to cover all material within the scope of work that would be equivalent to first year college courses in Music Theory and Ear Training.  More specifically, it aims to prepare students to score a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Music Theory Test prepared by the AP College Board.  Curriculum is aligned directly with the guidelines laid out in the AP College Board Course Description for AP Music Theory. A weighted grade is given for this course. The foundation of knowledge presented in this year-long course will provide students with the opportunity to develop, practice, and master music theory skills essential to success in post-secondary music theory course work.

127760 - MUSIC DESIGNS
Grades: 9-12        
½ Fine Arts credit
Prerequisite: None

The Music Designs course provides students important knowledge and skills necessary to better appreciate music and become informed music consumers.  Students will trace the development of Western music genres from their beginnings to present day through exploration of composers’ lives, and the historical and social contexts of the times. Listening and analytical skills are developed as students become familiar with music from a variety of historical periods, styles, and cultures.