Students in the Grade 6 Concert Band will rehearse and perform wind ensemble/concert band music of various styles, with an emphasis on music literature for the beginning and developing band program. In addition to classes which meet during the school days, extra rehearsals may be scheduled before and after school depending upon need. Additionally, students will participate in scheduled instrumental music sectionals which provide opportunities for individual and small group music instruction. Participation in the Autumn, Holiday, and Spring Concerts is required of all members. Students may also perform at adjudication festivals such as the Great East Music Festival and MICCA.

Students in the Grade 7-8 Concert Band will rehearse and perform wind ensemble/concert band music of various styles. In addition to classes which meet during the school days, extra rehearsals may be scheduled before and after school depending upon need. Additionally, students will participate in scheduled instrumental music sectionals which provide opportunities for individual and small group music instruction. Participation in the Autumn, Holiday, and Spring Concerts is required of all members. Members of the Grade 7 & 8 Concert Band have the opportunity to audition for the Central Massachusetts Junior District Music Festival, as well as the biennial John Philip Sousa National Junior Honors Band-New England Region. Students may also perform at adjudication festivals such as the Great East Music Festival and MICCA. Students may fulfill their requirement of one section per music per year in middle school by electing this course, or electing Band and Concert Choir, or electing Band and Connecting with Music.

Grade 6 Concert Choir is open to all students in Grade 6. In addition to classes which meet during the school days, extra rehearsals may be scheduled before and after school depending upon need. Students in Grade 6 Concert Choir will rehearse and perform choral music of various styles, emphasizing music literature for the younger, developing singer. Participation in the Autumn, Holiday, and Spring Concerts is required of all members. Students may also perform at adjudication festivals such as the Great East Music Festival and MICCA.

Grade 7-8 Concert Choir is open to all students in Grades 7 & 8. In addition to classes which meet during the school days, extra rehearsals may be scheduled before and after school depending upon need. Students in Grade 7 & 8 Concert Choir will rehearse and perform choral music of various styles, emphasizing music literature for the intermediate, developing singer. Participation in the Autumn, Holiday, and Spring Concerts is required of all members. Members of the Grade 7 & 8 Concert Choir have the opportunity to audition for the Central Massachusetts Junior District Music Festival. Students may also perform at adjudication festivals such as the Great East Music Festival and MICCA.

Students in the Experiences in Music class will be exposed to music in a variety of ways, through listening, singing, performing and movement. This class does not require ANY previous musical experience on the part of the student. It introduces basic concepts in note reading, basic scales, major and minor keys, beginning harmony and form. An effort will be made to examine music of a wide variety of styles from classical to jazz to popular, as well as a variety of music from world cultures both Western and Non-Western including Middle Eastern, African, Indian, Asian, and Native American. Students will be introduced to state-of-the-art music composition software called “Finale 2001” and “Notepad”. S tudents will be listening, singing, and performing music both in recordings and live. Students will also get an introduction to piano. An emphasis will be placed upon demonstrating the applications of varied music technology.

Students in the Connecting with Music class will receive instruction in basic elements of musical performance and composition including piano keyboarding skills, an introduction to guitar (depending upon instrument availability), and learning about basic structural and compositional elements of music at a beginning and intermediate level. This class does not require ANY previous musical experience on the part of the student… it will be structured starting from where the students’ abilities and interests lie and moving forward from there in an individualized approach. The class is designed to be “hands-on” and encourages performance at a basic level. It also presents information on the “basics” of music - note reading, basic scales, major and minor keys, triads, beginning harmony and modes and musical form. Students will be introduced to state-of-the-art music composition software called “Finale 2001” and “Notepad”. Students will be composing music in various styles and varying degrees of difficulty. An emphasis will be placed upon using available technology to create original student works. Students in Grade 8 who elect this course will be offered several options including piano or other instrument study, composition, and introduction to improvisation, to name a few possibilities.

Open to those people who play Violin, Viola, Violoncello and String Bass, students in the String Orchestra will rehearse and perform string orchestral music from various artistic periods and cultures. Rehearsals will be scheduled before or after school depending upon availability... it will not meet during the school day. Participation in the Autumn, Holiday, and Spring Concerts is required of all members. Members of the Grade 7 & 8 Concert Band have the opportunity to audition for the Central Massachusetts Junior District Music Festival. Students may also perform at adjudication festivals such as the Great East Music Festival and MICCA.