Music & Performing Arts
Symphonic Band #1700 (.5 credit)
Symphonic Band is the premiere instrumental ensemble at the high school. Students in grades 10-12 rehearse and perform standards of concert band literature by the greatest composers of the genre as well as solid arrangements of popular music. The music is demanding and requires home practice. The group performs at the Winter Concert, Festival of the Arts, the Woodmere Chamber Concert and Commencement. Attendance at these performances is mandatory. The class is offered all year long.
Concert Band-8/Concert Band #1709/1712 (.5 credit)
The 8/9 Concert Band is the entry-level band ensemble. The Concert Band performs at the Winter Concert, Festival of the Arts and Commencement. The ensemble is available to students in grades 8 and 9. Interested students in grades 10-12 may also take the course and should contact the Band Director personally before registering. The group rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00 a.m. until the end of homeroom. The group performs at the Winter Concert, Festival of the Arts, and Commencement. Attendance at these performances is mandatory.
8/9 Mixed Chorus #1707/1708 (.5 credit)
This is a vocal training course for the young singer. The students learn effective singing exercises and vocal techniques to achieve proper choral singing. The chorus will sing a variety of musical genres from classical to popular. The mixed chorus performs at the Winter Concert, Festival of the Arts and Commencement. Attendance at these performances is mandatory. The group rehearses Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:00 to 7:45 a.m. Student audition and/or teacher recommendation required. Grades 8-9.
Concert Choir #1705 (.5 credit)
This course offers the "serious" vocalist an opportunity to learn, practice and perform the musical elements (harmony rhythm, timbre, dynamics and forms of Classical and Broadway music as well as contemporary music). The class is offered all year long. The concert choir performs at the Winter Concert, Festival of the Arts, Chamber Concert, Senior Awards and Commencement. Attendance at these performances is mandatory. Prerequisite: Student audition and/or teacher recommendation. Grades 10-12.
Show Choir #1706 (.5 credit)
This course offers the student the opportunity to perform a variety of contemporary music, including Broadway musicals; jazz, rock "n" roll (from the fifties to the present). Meets twice a week before school. The group performs at the Winter Concert, Festival of the Arts and Commencement. Attendance at these performances is mandatory. Prerequisite: Student audition and/or teacher recommendation. Grades 10-12.
Band/Choir Combination (1 credit)
This course offers the vocal and instrumental musicians an opportunity to participate in Symphonic Band and Concert Choir. Please refer to the course information for Concert Choir #1705 and Symphonic Band #1700 for more information. Prerequisite: Student audition and/or teacher recommendation. Grades 10-12.
Music Theory I #1710 (.5 credit)
Music Theory I is the first part of a complete course on musical theory. Students delve deeply into the mechanics of music to understand why music works the way it does. Students will study pitch topics including scales, intervals, chords, harmonies and figured bass as well as rhythm topics like tempo, meter and syncopation. Students will learn to use Finale music notation software as well as Musition and Aurelia theory training packages. Co-requisite: The student must be a member of a Springfield band or choir. Grades 9-12.
Music Theory II #1714 (.5 credit)
Music Theory II is the second part of a complete course of musical theory. Students continue their study of theory exploring topics such as form, transposition, instrumentation, orchestration and compositional techniques. Students will use advanced Finale skills and continue to drill using Musition and Aurelia software. Prerequisite: Music Theory I. Co-requisite: The student must be a member of a Springfield band or choir. Grades 9-12.
Broadway Musical Ensemble #1715 (.5 credit)
The Broadway Musical Ensemble class offers the students the opportunity to produce and perform a Broadway musical each semester. Students will learn the proper vocal techniques needed to perform a variety of musical theatre genres. The students will also develop self-critiquing skills as they refine their talents for the performances. Students will be required to perform for the public and will be assessed on their class participation, written pre-production assignments and final performance. Grades 9-12.
Theatre I #1720 (.5 credit)
Theatre I is an introduction to acting and play production. Students will develop and refine physical characters as they interpret assigned scripts. Students will build and apply their peer and self- critiquing skills as they plan and prepare a final production. This performance-based class will focus on the development of a full-length play each semester. These productions will be performed during the school day. We welcome parents to join us. Grades 9-12.
Theatre II #1722 (1 credit)
Theatre II, emphasizes students producing and directing one acts. Students in this class work in small groups to choose plays which they will produce. Students are responsible for the entire production. Acting directing, set design, costuming, make-up and advertising are all parts of the students´ decision-making process. These performances will be presented at the end of each semester. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. Prerequisite: A final grade of B+ or better in Theatre I or Broadway Musical Ensemble. Grades 10-12.
Theatrical Art & Design #1721 (1 credit)
This course will focus on the process of "page to stage." Students' work will develop and evolve as they analyze various scripts and make their own artistic choices to create designs for stage productions. The class will observe past design work at Springfield and other secondary schools, as well as professional theater designs (through seeing one or more productions and visiting a scene shop). Students will be assessed on their ability to problem solve and create practical functional art and their ability to collaborate with classmates to achieve a thematic goal. Students will be required to maintain a sketchbook/journal to document their ideas and reflections of their learning. The work done in class will include, but not be limited to the productions done by the Springfield Township High School drama students. Grades 10-12. Prerequisite: Art I, Theatre I or Broadway Musical Ensemble.
Composing and Arranging #1716 (.5 credit)
Composing and Arranging is designed for advanced students who have completed the Music Theory courses and wish to learn advanced compositional techniques including fugue, contra faction and modeling, surrealism, and aleatoric music. In addition to creating, producing, and recording their own original works, students will study scores by prominent arrangers and composers like Bach, Mahler, Sammy Nestico, Krysztof Penderecki, and John Cage. Prerequisite: Music Theory II. Co-requisites: Symphonic Band or Concert Band.
Reading Music for Ear Musicians #1717 (.5 credit)
Are you a guitarist who reads tabs and can play tunes by ear? Or a percussionist who reads rhythms but is eluded by pitch? This course is designed for students who are already playing and performing music, but are not reading traditional music notation. Students will learn to read mensural notation for every instrument and will complete the course with the ability to correctly read and write the pitches and rhythms they hear in their favorite music. Limit: 10 students per semester.
Guitar Lab #1718 (.5 credit)
The Guitar Lab course is designed as an exploration for studnets interested in developing basic guitar skills including standard tuning, alternate tunings, major, minor, and pentatonic scales, chords, strumming, fingerpicking, and walking bass lines. Students will learn guitar and bass guitar skills and will complete the course with live performances, video and audio recordings. Limit: 15 students per semester.