Elkhart Central has a wonderful music department. Participating in music related programs helps build discipline and responsibility. It also builds character and identity. We offer a variety of classes ranging from
choir, band, and
orchestra, and more.
For links to the specific websites, Band, Orchestra, Vocal Music, Music News, and Music Department click here
*Web Site Disclaimer
Abous Us
William Niederer, Chairperson
Michelle Campanello, Department secretary
Laura Baier, Technical Assistant
Department email: wniederer@blueblazers.org
Department Telephone: 574-295-4743
Description of classes...
Intermediate Concert Band #8831 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 9, 10, 11, 12 Length: 3 terms Credit: 1 credit/term
Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the concert band, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains.
Students also have opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students are required to participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend learning in the classroom.
In addition, students perform, with expression and technical accuracy, a large and varied repertoire of concert band literature that is developmentally appropriate. Evaluation of music and music performances is included.
Prerequisite: Must have been in 8th grade band all year.
Advanced Concert Band #8851 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 9, 10, 11, 12....... Length: 3 terms.............. Credit: 1credit/term
Advanced Concert Band provides students with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the concert band, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains.
Students also have the opportunity to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students are required to participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Band repertoire must be of the highest caliber. Evaluation of music and music performances is included.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Concert Band and Instructor Approval
Jazz Ensemble #8871 (Core 40 & AHD)
Class may also be offered after regular school hours if there is sufficient interest.
Level: 10, 11, 12............ Length: 2 terms.............. Credit: 1credit/term
Students taking this course develop musicianship and specific performance skills through group and individual settings for the study and performance of the varied styles of instrumental jazz. The instruction includes the study of the history, formative, and stylistic elements of jazz. Students develop their creative skills through (1) improvisation, (2) composition, (3) arranging, (4) performing, (5) listening, and (6) analyzing.
A limited amount of time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. In addition, a limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend the learning in the classroom.
Prerequisite: Instructor approval
Intermediate Orchestra #8811 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 9, 10, 11, 12 ...... Length: 3 terms.............. Credit: 1 credits/term
Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the string orchestra, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.
Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with audience. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of 8th grade orchestra.
Advanced Orchestra #8911 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 10, 11, 12............ Length: 3 terms ............ Credit: 1credit/term
Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the orchestra, string and/or full orchestra, which is designed to enable students to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.
Orchestral repertoire must be of the highest caliber, and mastery of advanced orchestral technique must be evident.
Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Intermediate Orchestra and instructor approval.
Beginning Chorus
Freshman Women - #8711
Level: 9
Men's Choir - #8731 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 9,10,11,12 Length: 2 terms Credit: 1credit/term
Students taking Beginning Chorus develop musicianship and specific performance skills through ensemble and solo singing. Activities in this class create the development of quality repertoire in the diverse styles of choral literature appropriate in difficulty and range for the students. A limited amount of time, outside of the school day, may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Intermediate Chorus
Blazer Chorale - #8741 ........................... (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 10, 11, 12............ Length: 2 terms ............. Credit: 1credit/term
Intermediate Chorus provides students with opportunities to develop musicianship and specific performance skills through ensemble and solo singing. Activities create the development of quality repertoire in the diverse styles of choral literature that is appropriate in difficulty and range for the students. Chorus classes provide instruction in creating, performing, conducting, listening to, and analyzing, in addition to focusing on the specific subject matter. A limited amount of time, outside of the school day, may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Choral repertoire should be developmentally appropriate. Additional emphasis is placed on sight-reading, critical listening skills, and vocal technique.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Beginning Choir and instructor approval. In some situations, the Beginning Choir requirement may be waived.
Advanced Chorus
Concert Choir - #8751 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 10, 11, 12 Length: 3 terms Credit: 1 credit/term
Students taking Advanced Chorus develop musicianship and specific performance skills through ensemble and solo singing. Activities create the development of a quality repertoire in the diverse styles of choral literature appropriate in difficulty and range for the students. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. A limited amount of time, outside of the school day, may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and extend learning in the classroom.
The choral repertoire must be of the highest caliber. Mastery of basic choral technique must be evident. Areas of refinement include a cappella singing, sight-reading, and critical listening skills.
Prerequisite: Audition and Instructor approval.
Choral Chamber Ensemble
"Shades of Blue" - #8761 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 10, 11, 12 Length: 3 terms Credit: 1 credit/term
Student musicianship and specific performance skills in this course are enhanced through specialized small group instruction. Chamber ensemble classes provide instruction in creating, performing, listening to, and analyzing music in addition to focusing on specific subject matter. Instruction is designed to enable students to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals.
Students must participate in performance opportunities and rehearsals outside of the school day that support and extend the learning in the classroom.
Prerequisite: Audition and Instructor approval. Students must also be accepted into Advanced Choir to be in this course.
(Choral Chamber Ensemble meets concurrently with Advanced Choir second and third terms)
Music History and Appreciation #8941 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 9, 10, 11, 12....... Length: 1 term ............. Credit: 1 credit/term
Students taking this course receive instruction designed to explore music and major musical style periods through understanding music in relation to both Western and Non-Western history and culture. Activities include but are not limited to: (1) listening to, analyzing, and describing music; (2) evaluating music and music performances; and (3) understanding relationships between music and the other arts, as well as disciplines outside of the arts.
Music Theory and Composition #8931 (Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 9*,10*, 11, 12.... Length: 1 term ............... Credit: 1 credit/term
Students taking this course develop skills in the analysis of music and theoretical concepts. Students: (1) develop ear training and dictation skills, (2) compose works that illustrate mastered concepts, (3) understand harmonic structures and analysis, (4) understand modes and scales, (5) study a wide variety of musical styles, (6) study traditional and nontraditional music notation and sound sources as tools for musical composition, and (7) receive detailed instruction in other basic elements of music. Students enrolling in this course need to also be in an ECHS music ensemble or have instructor approval.
* Grades 9 and 10 with instructor approval only.
Music Theory: AP #8991 (Core 40 and AHD)
Level: *10, 11, 12 Length: 1 term Credit: 1 credit/term
Students taking this course further develop skills in the analysis of music and theoretical concepts. Students: (1) develop advanced ear training and dictation skills, (2) compose works and harmonizations which illustrate mastered concepts (including four-voice harmony, realization of figured bass and Roman numeral progressions), (3) understand harmonic structures and analysis of forms (binary, ternary, etc.), (4) understand modes and scales, (5) study a wide variety of musical styles, both through score analysis and aural identification, (6) study traditional and non -traditional music notation and sound sources as tools for musical composition, (7) receive detailed instruction in the building of aural skills, (8) develop sight-singing skills. These content items, among others, are those which have been established by the College Board, as this course is intended for students who want to take the AP Music Theory examination.
*Grade 10 with permission of instructor.
Prerequisite: successful completion of Music Theory #8931 with "C" or above.
Piano and Electronic Keyboard #8771
(Core 40 & AHD)
Level: 9, 10, 11, 12....... Length: 1 term................ Credit: 1 credit/term
High school students taking this course are offered keyboard classes, including piano and electronic keyboard, in order to develop music proficiency and musicianship. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Students (1) perform with proper posture, hand position, fingering, rhythm, and articulation; (2) compose and improvise melodic and harmonic material; (3) create and perform simple accompaniments; (4) listen to, analyze, sight-read, and study the literature performed; (5) study the elements of music as exemplified in a variety of styles; and (6) make interpretive decisions.
Students must be able to work independently in class on a daily basis. The course may be repeated if there is space.
Dance Performance #9281 (Core 40 and AHD)
Level: 9, 10, 11, 12 ....... Length: 1 term ............. Credit: 1 credit/term
Rhythm and Dance is a course which incorporates all styles of dance in a precision dance line format including the use of props. (i.e. flags, capes, ribbon sticks, etc.) The course work culminates in public performances at athletic events and concert presentations. Rehearsals both in and out of school time are considered a part of this course. Trimester 1 is with the marching band; trimester 2 would be Winter Guard.
Prerequisite: Audition and Instructor approval.
