Music

MUS340  Music and Cultures
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | one semester
This course explores how styles of music changed throughout history along with other art forms, based on what was happening in the world. Developments in communication, technology, and relationships between nations all played a part with how composers created music. Defining characteristics of four significant periods in music history will be identified, and parallels in styles of literature, visual art, fashion, and dance will be studied. Why did large concert halls become more common starting in the 1800s? What is the fabled tradition that goes along with Handel’s famous “Hallelujah” chorus? How did the invention of recording devices change the music industry? These are some questions that will be delved into. This project-based class requires no previous musical training.

MUS320  Musical Instrument Building
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | one semester
This hands-on class will focus on how musical instruments are made. Students will experiment with sound production by designing and creating musical instruments from household and recycled materials. We will learn about the science of how instruments work in each of the major instrument families, not only in Western music but also in music from other cultures around the world. We will also compose short pieces for our homemade instruments. Projects may include constructing some of the following instruments: electric kalimba, tin whistle, Cajon, slide trombone, stomp percussion, PVC thongaphone, cigar box guitar, and bamboo pan flute.

MUS310  Critical Listening in Music
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | one semester
This class will challenge students to listen more deeply, carefully and thoughtfully through the lens of recorded and live music. While learning about some of the more creative/artistic music genres (classical, ambient/electronic, jazz, and world music to name a few), students will also examine the relationship between listening and mindfulness. We will learn about dissonance in music and art, about the difference between thematic and experiential content, and about some basic music theory ideas and how they pertain to our perception of music. Students can expect a hefty amount of listening and discussion, along with creative writing assignments meant to reflect on, and put to words, our listening skills.

MUS345  History and Impact of Hip-Hop
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | one semester
In this course, students will explore the musical and social contributions and conflicts that hip-hop and rap have contributed to both American and global culture over the past half-century. In addition to studying the musical characteristics of both early and contemporary styles, students will discover the historical influences of the genre, including connections to jazz, gospel, and reggae, among others. Students in the course will also compose, create, and record essential elements found in the genre, using the GarageBand app. The social impact of hip-hop will also be explored, with discussions centered around social justice, cultural appropriation, and other topics highlighted in the lyrics of rap and hip-hop.

MUS780  Fundamentals of Piano
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This introductory course is designed to teach students essential elements of playing the keyboard. Students will learn chord progressions and melodies from songs in all genres as well as how to read musical notation on the grand staff, treble and bass clef simultaneously, and in the fake book style with chords and melody on one line. We listen to and analyze music regularly and write in listening logs about identifiable characteristics of many genres of music. This course will also explore improvisation and give students the opportunity to create their own chord progressions and melodies as well as collaborate together to write songs with their peers.

THT830  9th Grade Musical
minor elective | grade: 9 | one semester
In this course, students will rehearse and produce a full-book musical. They will engage in the process of taking a show from script and score to stage and performance. Students will have the choice of auditioning for a lead role or participating as a member of the ensemble. Once the show has been cast, the course will move to the rehearsal process, including the study of scene work, choral, solo, and dance pieces. In the final stages of the rehearsal process, the rest of the grade will also join the efforts and support the final production. Performances occur in early May and will require evening rehearsals. No previous singing or acting experience is necessary. May be taken for Music or Theatre credit.

MUS300  Songwriting
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | one semester
This class will explore the craft of songwriting by listening and analyzing popular music, examining chord progressions, and studying melodic and chordal relationships. We will look at the role that poetry plays in lyrics, phrasing, and rhyme schemes, and dissect song structure, and social and political themes. Musicians and bands to be studied include the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Nirvana, and Bob Dylan. No instrumental or choral experience needed, but these skills can be utilized in the class. Students will be able to record their songs on GarageBand and score using Sibelius or Noteflight. We will build the art of singing while playing, and potentially pursue keyboarding skills and guitar skills as an accompaniment.

MUS310  Critical Listening in Music
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | one semester
This class will challenge students to listen more deeply, carefully and thoughtfully through the lens of recorded and live music. While learning about some of the more creative/artistic music genres (classical, ambient/electronic, jazz, and world music to name a few), students will also examine the relationship between listening and mindfulness. We will learn about dissonance in music and art, about the difference between thematic and experiential content, and about some basic music theory ideas and how they pertain to our perception of music. Students can expect a hefty amount of listening and discussion, along with creative writing assignments meant to reflect on, and put to words, our listening skills.

MUS360  Conducting
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Through the development of basic conducting technique, students will develop the relationship between gesture and sound. New conductors will learn to demonstrate musical ideas clearly and efficiently through fundamental conducting gestures. The conducting gesture includes appropriate posture, the use of the baton, expressive and independent use of both hands, beat patterns, cueing, and control of tempo, dynamics, and phrase shaping. We will also study and review musical terminology, instrument transposition, and score reading. Students will need to purchase a baton (of their choice) for use in the class.

MUS880  Jazz Ensembles
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | co-requisite: private instrumental lessons
The jazz ensembles are open to all instrumentalists who wish to explore music from the jazz tradition. Students explore facets of performing as an ensemble, with special attention given to the study of jazz history, important musicians, theory, improvisation and listening to influential recordings. Styles of music other than jazz are sometimes included. Ensembles are arranged with regard to instrumentation, student ability and scheduling. Students in the ensembles are required to take private lessons in order to gain facility and adequate technique. These skills will greatly enhance the proficiency of the individual, and the collective progress of the ensemble. Performance opportunities include GFS assemblies, community events, and the Jazz Night in April.

MUS790  Chamber Ensembles
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | co-requisite: private instrumental lessons
The Chamber Ensembles are open to all instrumentalists who wish to explore music in small ensembles. Students explore facets of performing as an ensemble, with special attention given to the unique communication and independence of parts within this structure. Repertoire is drawn from a wide range of genres including classical, contemporary, pop, rock, medieval, and instrument-specific styles. Students who enroll in Chamber Ensembles are placed in duets, trios, quartets or quintets to experience the unique and intimate level of communication that occurs in a small ensemble setting. Ensembles are arranged with reference to instrumentation and students’ abilities; all instruments and levels of playing are placed in appropriate groups. Chamber ensembles may include traditional instrumentation (e.g. two violins, viola & cello) or more non-traditional formations (e.g. ukulele or guitar ensemble), depending on the students’ interest. Students may also propose their own groups, with the assistance of the orchestra director. Performances include community events, GFS functions, and the Chamber Music Concert in May. Interested musicians should speak with the Orchestra Director for placement.

MUS800  Orchestra
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 | co-requisite: private instrumental lessons
The Orchestra is open to all instrumentalists (except guitar) who wish to perform within a large ensemble context. (Pianists are often taught percussion technique as well.) The ensemble plays repertoire from a wide variety of genres, including classical, contemporary, Broadway, and pop music; these works are featured in many assemblies, the Holiday Concert and the Orchestra Night concert. In addition to learning challenging repertoire, students focus on orchestral playing techniques that include accurate intonation, dynamic range, sectional blend, and musical phrasing. Students are required to take private lessons on their instrument in order to gain an adequate technical facility. Although most rehearsals occur during the academic day, occasional after-school and weekend commitments are required.

MUS940  World Percussion Ensemble
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Study in percussion techniques from Africa, the Middle East, Cuba and Brazil is available to any interested student. The course accommodates students of all levels, from beginner to advanced. Students will learn about the process of building a percussion ensemble based on the traditional instrumental and vocal cues used within the various cultures studied. Techniques and repertoire are presented through rote, traditional notation, graph notation, audio and visual examples, and transcriptions. Instruments used are provided by the instructor, and include Bata drums, Agbadza drums, doumbeks, djembes, and Gyili (African balafons). Students will develop an understanding of and appreciation for the collaborative nature of a percussion ensemble, and gain insight into their own creative forces via this genre. Although most rehearsals occur during the academic day, occasional after-school and weekend commitments are required.

MUS730  Chorus
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Chorus is a large choral ensemble, and is open to any student who wishes to participate in a singing group. Students in this ensemble work to establish and develop vocal technique, aural skills, and sight-reading abilities. Singers focus on both choral and choral-orchestral works in this ensemble, culminating with concert exhibitions in December and May, among others. This is a non-auditioned ensemble that is open to all students in the Upper School. Although most rehearsals occur during the academic day, occasional after-school and weekend commitments are required.

MUS750  Choir
minor elective | grades: 10, 11, 12 | co-requisite: Chorus
Choir is an auditioned choral ensemble in the Upper School that seeks to achieve excellence in choral study. Through the examination and performance of a diverse range of repertoire as well as participation in rehearsals and performances throughout the year, students develop their vocal technique, sight-singing skills, and sense of ensemble. Selection is through audition only and singers are expected to attend regular rehearsals and performances outside of the academic day, including bi-weekly Sunday rehearsals. Auditions begin in February of the preceding academic year and are open to all students in grades ten, eleven, and twelve.

Singers are also required to attend Choir Camp, which is usually held during the last weekend in August. Dates may be obtained on the GFS calendar. Additional fees for Choir Camp, attire, and materials are required for this class; financial aid is available.

THT840  Musical Theatre
minor elective | grades: 10, 11, 12
Acting, singing, dancing: this course is what they call a ‘triple threat’. We will study Broadway musicals, both past and present, through the complementary but distinct lenses of libretto, score, and choreography. Students can expect to learn through participation as we study the vocal, acting, and movement techniques common in this genre of theatre. Coursework will also include dramaturgical studies of particular periods in history as they relate to the creative team and director’s vision, performance, and writing styles of a given show. The course will culminate with an in-class showcase of student work and can be taken for either Music or Theatre credit.

MUS760  Instrumental Improvisation
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed to give students an in-depth, thorough technique of how to improvise on their instrument. The first half of the course will be spent studying the tonal theory behind chordal structures in a variety of musical styles, as well as analyzing transcriptions of notable soloists. This includes jazz terminology, chords, progressions, and soloing guidelines. The second half of the course will involve students actually playing their instruments in class. In doing this, they will gain not only a better concept of the art of spontaneous improvisation, but also learn how to utilize these concepts in their ensembles and musical settings in/out of school. Students who choose this course should have prior training on a musical instrument.

MUS350  Sight Singing & Ear Training
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This course develops the skills necessary to read and sing melodies at sight and notate aural material. Classwork includes the study of solfège, rhythm and meter, key signatures, the major, minor and chromatic scales, pitch and interval identification, dictation and error detection, conducting patterns, and the application of sight-reading to musical scores. Basic piano skills will be incorporated into our study as a tool for understanding pitch relationships. This course develops fundamental aural and sight singing skills, building confidence that will prepare students for more advanced literature and musical performance.

MUS710  Music Theory I
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Students in this course study the fundamental skills and language of music in order to become increasingly expressive and literate musicians. Course content includes major and minor scales, intervals, key signatures, basic harmonic progressions, and rhythmic figures in simple and compound meters. Aural skills are developed through sight singing with solfege syllables, rhythmic dictation, interval identification, and melodic dictation. Four-part writing and analysis will be studied towards the end of the second semester.

MUS720  Music Theory II: Advanced
minor elective | grades: 10, 11, 12 | prerequisite: Beginning Music Theory or approval by Department Head
This course continues work in four-part writing and analysis through proper voice-leading technique and advanced harmonic progressions. Strong emphasis is placed on the development of aural skills through rhythmic and melodic dic­tation, as well as intervallic and harmonic identification. Students explore various compositional techniques, culminating in a performance of original works during a spring assembly.

MUS610  Music Composition I: Advanced
minor elective | grades: 11, 12 | prerequisite: Advanced Music Theory or approval by Department Head
This course focuses primarily on 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century Western music, developing the students’ understanding of advanced chromatic techniques through both analysis and composition. Material covered includes variation technique, orchestration, form, and model composition. Throughout the year, students will learn a number of techniques to grapple with different repertories, such as chromatic-mediant relationships in early-Romantic music, basic Riemannian functions for late-Romantic harmony, scale networks in Debussy and Faure, ostinato techniques in Stravinsky, post-tonal theory in Bartok and the Second Viennese School, and minimalist techniques in Part, Berio and Reich. Our study of a wide diversity of musical styles will serve as an incentive for student compositions in those styles, and throughout the year, students will compile a portfolio of their original compositional work so they can track their progress. The course will culminate with the performance of an original composition in a style of the student’s own choosing during a spring assembly.

MUS620  Music Composition II: Advanced
major elective | grades: 11, 12 | prerequisite: Approval by Department Head
This course is a continuation of Advanced Music Composition I and focuses on 20th- and 21th-century Western music, developing students’ understanding of advanced musical techniques through analysis and original composition. Material covered will depend largely on student interest and personal compositional goals, but some possible topics might include choral music, canonic and fugal writing, orchestration, scoring for film, video games, and theatre. Throughout the year, students will learn a number of analytical and compositional models to understand different repertories, such as scale and modal networks from French music, ostinato techniques from Stravinsky and Glass, octatonic writing from Messiaen, and film scoring from Herrmann and Williams. Our study of a wide diversity of musical styles will serve as an incentive for student compositions in those styles, and throughout the year, students will compile a portfolio of their original compositional work so that they can track their progress. The course will culminate with the performance of an original composition during a spring assembly.

MUS770  Masterworks in Music
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is designed to familiarize students with Masterworks in Music from the Western tradition (Renaissance to the present day). Music in this course will be drawn from a variety of genres, styles and musical traditions, which may include: Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion, Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9, Brahms’s German Requiem, Stravinsky’s Firebird, Bernstein’s West Side Story, Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited, Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions, etc. In this course, students will come to understand and learn how to describe the stylistic, expressive and structural aspects of selected musical compositions, as well as communicate their experiences with these works. The course will focus on whole musical works, presented chronologically, which will be examined in detail and depth. The principal text of this course, therefore, will not be a book, but rather recordings of musical compositions. An exploration of the works represented on these recordings will be the basis for the discussions and assignments undertaken in this course. Additional readings will be assigned to inform class discussions, many taken from historical source texts written at the time of each composition. This course does not require a reading knowledge of music, but students will gain a rudimentary understanding of musical terminology; the development of students’ close listening skills is its central objective.

MUS910  Digital Music Recording and Production
minor elective | grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This course is about the future of music. This is a digital age, and the absolute transformation of everything we thought music to be, is well under way. This course is designed to inspire students to create new music, and to push the boundaries of what music is, has been, and can be in their lives. We will first survey the history of sound synthesis, the art of noise, and the role electronic technology has played in sonic culture throughout the past 120 years. We will timeline the progression from analog to digital recording, synthesizers, MIDI, beat-making, and finally today’s ‘in the box’ software based computer music. After providing a thorough back­ground on electronic music, we will work primarily with Ableton Live; a software already installed on every computer in the M-306. The class will cover the basic functionality of both hardware and software mixing consoles. We will discuss the dichotomy between ‘button-pushers’ and ‘real musicians,’ and how artists bring soul and true musicality to computer music.

Private music lessons are available to any GFS student. See details and the registration form here.