Music II and III

The core principle guiding the music program is to infuse the student with the joy of performing music as a means of creative self-expression—to become a participant and not just an observer in this beautiful thing we call music.

Running counterpoint to that principle:

The music course is designed to introduce the beginning and intermediate music student to the fundamentals of music theory with a heavy emphasis on performance. The student will apply and reinforce knowledge learned during the academic part of the course to an instrument of his/her choosing (guitar, piano, bass, drums, vocals, and others) while also building and strengthening the mechanical skills necessary to achieve proficiency on his/her instrument.

The student will be exposed to the language of music daily and will achieve a level of comfort performing and communicating in a live band setting. Part of the course is based solely on listening and describing and/or transcribing what the student hears. In that regard, the student will be expected to develop his/her ear as part of the aural training. 

As the student progresses through the music program, they will become exposed to advanced concepts and theories that they are expected to understand and execute academically, and in performance, whether it be in a duet or solo recital, or in a large group. 

Beyond performance and theory, the student will learn about the historical importance and context of select musicians and styles of music as part of the appreciation aspect of the course. This will include watching documentaries, listening to music, and reading about some of the most influential musicians from Bach to Biggie. 

The student will also be encouraged to explore different aspects of music beyond the realm of what is covered in class. I will offer guidance and support where necessary as each student progresses down the path as a pupil of music. Though not required, the most ambitious students will have the opportunity to learn more than one instrument beyond their primary instrument, while others will be pushed to achieve excellence on their chosen instrument.