Performing Arts

This course is offered to all first year choral students at Somers High School. Through repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to Broadway, students develop an understanding of the rudiments of music and the choral rehearsal process. Enrollees are required to perform in three evening concerts.

This course is offered to those students who have successfully completed one or more years of chorus. Students rehearse and perform standard concert choir repertoire in addition to lighter selections, while advancing key skills of sight-reading, vocal technique, and choral musicianship. Enrollees are required to perform in three evening concerts. Students who also play an instrument may enroll for ½ credit in conjunction with band or orchestra. These students will attend class every other day. Enrollment in Chorus or Concert Choir is required for membership in all co-curricular vocal activities, including Chamber Choir, Men’s Choir and Women’s Choir.

Recommended: One year of Chorus.

This full-year course meets one afternoon per week directly after school. The Chamber Choir sings mostly a cappella madrigals and chamber pieces. Only students enrolled in the SHS Concert Choir or Chorus for the current year are eligible. Students are admitted to Chamber Choir by audition in September. The audition includes a prepared piece and a sight-reading sample. Space is limited, as a choral balance is necessary. Rehearsals begin in September and continue throughout the year. Enrollees are required to perform in three evening concerts and many additional performances in the community throughout the year. Students must be available for all rehearsals and performances.

Concert Band offers students a band experience with music that is generally less demanding than the repertoire of our Symphony Band. It is an ideal ensemble for many ninth grade students, for students changing instruments (changing to percussion is not an option), and older students who wish to play but have less time to practice. Additionally, students who are unable to schedule period one for Symphony Band are invited to enroll in concert band. Concert Band enrollees are expected to practice independently, and attend rotating instrument classes in addition to the daily rehearsals. Factors in the grade point average include engagement in daily rehearsal, individual preparation of our repertoire, instrument class attendance, and commitment to our performance schedule. Ninth grade students are encouraged to speak with their current/former band director in considering the best band placement. Self-selecting is allowed, keeping in mind the demand for independent practice from both ensembles.

Symphony Band members develop individual and ensemble musicianship through reading, rehearsing, practicing and performing music written and transcribed for band. Symphony Band is open to wind and brass students who have been members in good standing of the SMS band program. The SCSD music program requires proficiency on mallet percussion and timpani as well as drumming technique, and percussion students are required to be proficient in treble and bass clef reading. Therefore, students may only enroll on percussion if they have participated in all three years of the SMS band as a percussionist. Percussionists coming to Somers from other districts must first meet and audition with the instructor before enrolling. Symphony Band enrollees are expected to practice independently, and attend rotating instrument classes in addition to the daily rehearsals. Factors in the grade point average include engagement in daily rehearsal, individual preparation of our repertoire, instrument class attendance, and commitment to our performance schedule. Band members are encouraged to participate in the choral programs. Instrumentalists who sing tend to phrase more musically, play better in tune, and demonstrate the best of tone quality. Therefore, Symphony Band is offered in conjunction with Concert Choir on an ACE/BDF basis for .5 credit. Therefore, Symphony Band is offered in conjunction with Concert Choir on an ACE/BDF basis for .5 credit.

Symphony Band members are encouraged to audition for the Jazz Ensemble, which meets on Tuesday afternoons from 2:15 – 3:30. Instrumentation comprises saxophones, trumpets, trombones, guitar, piano, bass and drum set. As the latter four instruments are not offered in Symphony Band, students from outside the band are invited to audition for those positions. In the case of instruments not regularly employed in the standard jazz ensemble, highly motivated students may perform with the band in selections where we can orchestrate solos/ parts. To play on more pieces, ‘doubling’ on saxophone or rhythm section instruments would be encouraged. Grade point average is influenced by consistent attendance, engagement in the rehearsal, individual preparation of our repertoire, and commitment to all scheduled performances. Members of Somers sports teams have been successful members of the ensemble; they are responsible for keeping the director apprised of away game schedules, and must commit to prioritize this honors course over regular team practices. The ensemble, in turn, will excuse students for athletic contests.

This course is designed for strings students who wish to develop their individual and ensemble musicianship at the high school level. Orchestra includes reading, studying, rehearsing, and performing strings music from a wide variety of historical eras and perspectives. The course emphasizes proper playing technique, knowledge of musical style and interpretation, and knowledge of current and historical performance practices. Orchestra meets daily in the morning, and all student musicians are expected to attend regular strings classes at school, and practice and study their music independently. All classes, rehearsals, and performances are mandatory.

Chamber Orchestra is an honors class that meets every Thursday and Friday after school. Participation is by audition only and concurrent enrollment in String Orchestra is a prerequisite. Private lessons, while not required, are recommended as students are expected to be prepare our music independently prior to the rehearsal. Members of Chamber orchestra will be expected to participate fully in our partnership with the Caramoor Center for the Performing Arts. This involves twice yearly concerts, workshops and master classes.

Theory takes motivated students quickly through the fundamentals of music reading including treble and bass clef, intervals, scales, keys, chord progressions, cadences, rhythms and meter. Some hands-on keyboard harmony will be included. Theory will help all student musicians with their applied instrumental or vocal study.

A highly intensive study of harmony, ear-training, sightsinging and form analysis for the advanced theory student interested in a career in music. With the successful completion of the AP theory examination in May as a goal, study of the aforementioned topics will proceed at a rigorous pace, with the expectation that students will assume the responsibility of independent listening and work outside of the classroom. All students enrolled in Advanced Placement Music Theory must take the Advanced Placement exam in May. The cost of the AP exam is the responsibility of the student. A satisfactory score on the AP exam may allow for some college credit. A summer assignment may be required.

Recommended: Music Theory or department recommendation.

Students will learn how to play the piano using the Patrick Casabona Piano Lab. Students will learn the fundamentals of note reading, key and time signatures, rhythm and proper playing position. Once fundamentals are established, students will progress at a pace differentiated for each musician. Repertoire will be selected for and by each student individually. This course can be taken as a music elective, but does not satisfy the NYS Music requirement. Students may enroll in Piano multiple times, as instruction will meet students at their individual readiness level, and students will continue to be challenged with more advanced pieces as they enroll in subsequent semesters.

This course is designed for students of all experience levels to develop their individual and ensemble musicianship through playing guitar. Students will learn proper playing techniques and musical notation, study guitar music and musicians from a variety of historical traditions and perspectives, and prepare and rehearse music for public performance. Learning material will be differentiated by experience level, so that advanced students will be challenged and beginning students will be able to fully participate every day. All students are expected to study their music and other course materials outside of class. Guitars will be provided. Students may enroll in Guitar multiple times, as class members who enroll in subsequent semesters will partake in greater ensemble experiences, self-governing their progress through group interaction and cooperative learning. Various publications, method books and ensemble music will be incorporated into course content. Development of higher-level musicianship skills, tuning, and self-reliance will be expected all students enrolling in additional semesters. At the conclusion of a student’s second enrollment, an end of semester performance will be planned. *Suitable reading skills to include rhythmic recognition to the eighth note (& rest) value, dotted rhythms and triplets. Enrollees should know hot to recognize time and key signatures, and have experience reading notes in treble and/or bass clef.

We will experiment with and investigate the intersect of technology with all facets of music-making, including production, recording and reinforcement of performance. We will make (compose, improvise, and produce) music through interaction with MIDI, software applications, and the Digital Audio Workstation. All students will realize and demonstrate that they are musicians who are able to create and perform through new and accessible avenues. Students will collaborate with peers working in other arts/disciplines, by creating and producing new music for stage, television, film, video-gaming, and other emerging media.