Music

During ninth grade, students focus on developing music literacy skills while continuing to develop their vocal and instrumental skills. Topics include musical composers, composition analysis and historical, cultural and social implications of American folk songs.

Music History provides students with an historical overview of Western music, beginning with the Gregorian chant in the Dark Ages. Students study music of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods, as well as music from the twentieth century. Students study about orchestral instruments while working on their music literacy skills and mastering the vocabulary necessary to understand the major composers and the salient cultural, artistic and historical events of their time. The final part of the course involves studying contemporary musical genres such as jazz, rock and rap and assessing their influence. Advanced Music History is a continuation of Music History, with most of the focus on the Romantic era. Formal analysis of scores, research into composers, as well as a great deal of listening make up the course. Special emphasis is placed on the history of jazz as well. 

In Musical Theater History, students study the history of one of the few truly American art forms: musical theater. Through readings, class discussions and viewing footage of original stage musicals, students explore the historical evolution of the form by examining the ways representative artists approached the basic elements of the American musical: book, lyrics, score, dance and design. Student work emphasizes written analysis of major works.

History of American Musical Theater II uses the foundational knowledge gained in History of the American Musical Theater as a springboard for in-depth exploration and analysis. Together, the class identifies a theme for the semester and selects three musicals from throughout the history of the American musical to study and, through this study, explores the chosen theme. For each of the three musicals, the class watches the full production (or reads the script in its entirety if a video performance is not available), conducts a critical analysis of the work, and “zooms out” to examine the show in its historical context. The class asks such relevant questions as: How was the show received critically and commercially? What other shows premiered in the same season? What were the major events in the news at the time the shows first ran? How does the historical context inform our understanding of the work? How does the content of the show reflect contemporary attitudes and understandings about our chosen theme? How have revivals revised or changed our understanding? How can popular culture reflect societal changes over time?

Independent research and collaborative discussions are emphasized, with a final grade based on a combination of written papers, oral presentations and a student’s ability to engage in critical discussion on a day-to-day basis. 

AP Music Theory focuses on developing students’ abilities to understand and describe the basic elements of music, both aurally and in written form. Corresponding to the first semester of the typical college music theory sequence, students who take AP Theory will, by the end of the course, strengthen their own musicianship, be better able to communicate their musical ideas to others and be equipped to apply the fundamental skills of tonal music to whatever style or genre interests them.
 

Concert Chorale provides an opportunity for seasoned vocalists who would like to perform at a more challenging level to audition for this elite ensemble. This course is designed to be different than the clubs offered at CGPS. This groups meets every day and is serious about creating superior sound production, blend, dictions and clarity. In addition to the Spring and Winter Concerts, there are many performance opportunities. Classes are divided between full group, sectionals, aural skills development, basic and advanced score reading, and voice workshop.  

Jazz Improvisation is a course for instrumentalists who would like to study the theory and technique of improvisation in a jazz style. Students study jazz harmony and form and have the unique opportunity to play their instrument every day.  

This is a vocal performance group open to all girls in grades 9-12. The primary focus of the course is choral skill building. Through a combination of ensemble rehearsals and smaller-group sectionals, detailed attention will be paid to principles of posture and alignment, breath, score reading, diction, tone quality and aural skills. 

 A mixed chamber ensemble class for advanced singers and instrumental players, Musica da Camera explores a variety of chamber music styles and settings with the goal of putting on various performances at the chamber concert each spring. Open to all intermediate and advanced instrumental students who also participate in CGPS Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble, as well as singers who possess strong note-reading and harmony ability.