Performing Ensembles:
- Sr. High Chorus - is open to any student in grades 9-12 who wishes to participate.
- Show Choir - is an auditioned group made up of members of Sr. High Chrous. Show choir performs choreographed songs, competes nationally, and performs locally as well as throughout the country.
- Women's Show Choir - is an auditioned group made up of women from Sr. High Chorus
- Jr. High Chorus - is open to any student in grades 7-8 who wishes to participate.
- Jr. High Show Choir - is open to any member of Jr. High Chorus. Jr. High show choir performs locally as well as competes with other schools.
- County, District, Regional and All-State Chorus - are auditioned groups. Members of Sr. High Chorus are elegible to audition for the selection into these highly respected groups. Additionally, members of Jr. High Chorus are elegible to audition for Berks Jr. County Chorus.
- Sr. High Band - this ensemble is open to any student who wishes to participate.
- Marching Unit - this ensemble marches in local and other parades in the county area. We rehearse on Monday nights from 7pm - 9pm. There is a summer band camp that is required with this ensemble.
- Jazz Orchestra - students should be well versed on their instrument. Any woodwind players will be required to learn saxophone (either alto, tenor, or baritone.) Please see Mr. Shirk if you are interested in this ensemble.
- Jr. High Band - open to all 7th and 8th graders.
- County, District, Regional and All-State Band - these are all auditioned groups. Great chances to meet other musicians in the area!! Please see Mr. Shirk with any questions!!
Classes
- Music Theory - Learn the structure of music through this class. Anaylize chords, scales, and music. Use of Music Notation Programs is also done in this class, along with some music composition.
- Jazz Ensemble - Meets once a week. Learn to play improvised jazz solos along with jazz history, anaylizing jazz music and compsition. Great class if interested in Jazz Orchestra.
- Keyboard I - Have you ever wanted to learn to play that keyboard that's sitting around your house? This class is for you. Learn the basics of piano playing while learning the functions of an electronic keyboard, including voicings, styles and much more. This class is for the beginner. NO KNOWLEDGE of piano or music reading is needed.
- Keyboard II - This picks up where keyboard I left off. Students should have completed keyboard I or have the equivalent of one year's worth of piano lessons. This includes learning to record and play back original compositions on the synthesizer.
Philosophy
The study of music is both an aesthetic and academic education. Aesthetically, it is the education of human feeling through the development of a responsiveness to the qualities of musical sounds. Academically, music involves learning in the major domains: cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), affective (attitudes and feelings), and kinesthetic (the senses). Music students are engaged in the entire learning process through developing keener insights as to how these domains interrelate. Music also provides an important means for developing self-expression and creativity. When students experience significant works of music, they are more able to appreciate the richness and beauty of life.
Goals
The goals of the Music Department are to graduate students who:
- Make music alone and with others;
- Improvise and create music;
- Use the vocabulary and notation of music;
- Respond to music aesthetically, intellectually and emotionally;
- Acquaint themselves with a wide variety of music, including diverse musical styles and genres;
- Understand the role music has played and continues to play in the lives of human beings;
- Make aesthetic judgments based upon critical listening and analysis;
- Develop a commitment to music;
- Support the musical life of the community and encourage others to do so;
- Continue their musical learning independently; and
- Learn skills that provide a foundation for a vocation or avocation in music performance.