Music Department

Senior High Course Offerings

Rehearsals, concerts, clinics, festivals, and music performances outside of scheduled class time are defined as an extension of the District's formal classroom instructional program and, as such, require reasonable student participation and attendance.

Parents and students are invited to contact the counselor or music teacher at their respective school to determine the possible cost of instrument rentals and/or uniforms for performing groups. Students will not be denied membership in music groups for financial reasons.

Unless otherwise noted, all courses are two semesters and earn two credits. Not all music courses are available at every school. Contact the counselors or music instructors for class availability.

Most of our Senor High Music curriculum is available on the District's Curriculum portion of the web site.

MARCHING/CONCERT BAND: Grades 10,11,12 Prerequisite: Junior High Band or instructor/counselor approval.

The Marching Band emphasizes march show style music. The class develops performing skills, including self-discipline, precision, and teamwork. These skills provide the student the opportunity to correlate rhythm and physical coordination. The marching band performs at football games, parades, and festivals. Marching season lasts through the first nine week quarter.
The Concert Band is the culmination band. The band performs serious wind music representing traditional as well as contemporary styles. The band participates and performs in clinics, festivals, school concerts, and city-wide programs. The class lasts for the second, third and fourth nine weeks.

INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE: Grades 10,11,12 By Audition only.

The Jazz Ensemble is a special performing group consisting of select students from the symphonic band that focuses primarily on music of a contemporary nature. Class size generally averages 16 to 24 students.

DRUM CORPS/PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE: Grades 10,11,12 By audition only. One or two semesters/one or two credits.

Fall semester drum corps performs in conjunction with the marching band. The drum corps emphasizes perfecting musical skills in all areas of the percussion section.
The purpose of the percussion ensemble is to practice and perform percussion music. Special emphasis is placed on development of keyboard skills. A variety of serious contemporary literature is studied. The ensemble performs at concerts, contests and clinics.

ORCHESTRA 3: Grades 10,11,12 Prerequisite: Junior High School Orchestra or Instructor/Counselor approval.

Open to the student who plays a stringed instrument. This performing organization studies and performs orchestra literature of past and present. The group participates in clinics, festivals, school programs, and city-wide concerts.

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: Grades 10,11,12 By audition only.

The Chamber Orchestra is a select instrumental ensemble consisting of students from orchestra 3. The Chamber Orchestra concentrates on literature specifically written for a smaller orchestra at an advanced performing level.

MIXED CHOIR: Grades 10,11,12 Instructor/Counselor approval.

This choir serves a dual purpose as a training group for A Cappella Choir and as a performing group. The student desiring membership in A Cappella Choir normally participates for one year in Mixed Choir. Mixed Choir participates in festivals, school programs, and city-wide concerts.

TREBLE CHOIR: Grades 10,11,12 Instructor/Counselor approval.

Open to all treble voices. This group serves a dual purpose as a training group for A Cappella Choir and as a major performing ensemble. It is recommended that the student meet in advance with the instructor to determine voice placement. Treble Choir participates in festivals, school programs, and city-wide concerts.

A CAPPELLA CHOIR: Grades 11,12 Prerequisite: Mixed Choir, Treble Choir or Instructor/Counselor approval.

Class is open to junior and senior students through audition. A Cappella is the culminating performing vocal group. This group performs a variety of vocal music and participates in clinics, festivals, school programs, and city-wide concerts.

VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE: Grades 10,11,12 By audition only.

The Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a special vocal performing group consisting of select students from the A Cappella Choir. The Jazz Ensemble focuses primarily on music of a contemporary nature, including current favorites, old standards, selections from Broadway musicals, and selected folk music.

MADRIGAL SINGERS: Grades 11, 12 By audition only. Boise High School only.

The Madrigal Singers are a special vocal performing group consisting of select students from the A Cappella Choir. The Madrigal Singers focus primarily on vocal music of the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

MUSIC APPRECIATION: Grades 10,11,12 One or two semesters/one or two credits. No prerequisite.

Students will develop an understanding of the basic elements of music as well as an appreciation for all styles and cultures of music. Studies will include: musical time periods and their characteristics, relationships between different musical styles, musicians, composition, and the purpose of music - developing a lifelong appreciation of music as well as the ability to be attentive, sensitive and perceptive listeners.

MUSIC THEORY: Grades 10,11,12 One or two semesters/one or two credits. No prerequisite.

Music Theory is designed to give the student a background of the structure of music. Study will include fundamental harmony and chord progressions.

DANCE TEAM: Grades 10,11,12 One or two semesters/one or two credits. By audition only.

The class emphasizes self-discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness. Performances include football and basketball halftimes, as well as selected competitions during the fall and spring semester.

Music Department
	8169 W. Victory Road Boise, ID 83709 PHONE ~ (208) 854-4158 FAX ~ (208) 854-4013