Music

1 - 4 terms, non-solid 1 day/week 45 minutes, 1/4 credit per term

Culver students may enroll in private music lessons in piano, guitar, voice, band and orchestra instruments, carillon, harp, organ, jazz improvisation and composition. This is an opportunity for those who wish to seriously explore their musical studies, or for those who just want to try something new. Private lessons are given once per week, and students are expected to practice a minimum of two hours per week for beginning students and three hours per week for more advanced players. Full time faculty or adjunct instructors who are experts in their field of study provide the weekly instruction.

A fee is charged for lessons, but musicians who contribute to the school by being enrolled in choir, band, or orchestra may be eligible for a fee reduction. As well, students may be eligible for a reduction based on the amount of financial assistance they receive.

2 terms, 2 days/week, 1 credit

This course provides the tools a student needs to gain basic proficiency in playing a stringed instrument, reading musical notation, and interacting musically in an ensemble. As a result of this course, students develop the ability to play a stringed instrument with good posture and tone quality, play a varied repertoire in the keys of D, G, C, and A majors (and their relative minors), read notated music, develop effective practice habits, and build a sense of musicianship. This is a performance-based course, and students perform in two ensembleconcerts, one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester. Instruments offered are violin, viola, cello, and bass.

1 term, solid, 1 credit

This course will provide students with foundational knowledge of music theory, including notes, rhythms, intervals, scales, keys, chord construction, and harmonic progressions. No previous knowledge of music theory or experience on an instrument is required.

1 term, non-solid, 1/2 credit

This course is designed for the music curious. Together we will explore the landscape of digital music production from Garage Band to Logic Pro. This will be a highly differentiated course tailored to the student’s experience & interests. If you learned and instrument by ear and want to know how to capture your creations in a way that you could communicate to other musicians, this class is for you. If you don’t play an instrument but are interested in music production/engineering, this class is for you. If you play, sing & read sheet music and want to deepen your composition skills, this class is for you.

1 term, non-solid 2 days/week (Mon & Thurs or Tues & Fri), 1/2 credit

Do you play an instrument? Interested in creating a solo?  Want to join a band? If you have some prior musical knowledge and experience with basic staff notation, then Improv Workshop is for you! In this one term non-solid class, you will select music to study, and styles to imitate as you progress through a series of projects. You will

• Practice counting rhythms using movement, beats and repetitive patterns, utilizing rhythmic call and response.
• Learn basic and practical music theory, with emphasis on the harmonic form of songs.
• Engage with a broad choice of historical and current genres: gospel, folk, country, blues, swing, Broadway, jazz, pop, rock, and rap. 
• Study melodies intensely, focusing on learning lyrics, harmonic forms, scales and chords. 
• Be free to choose collaborators and create crossover projects utilizing technology, various media, and domains outside of the musical arts.

2 term, non-solid 2 days/week (Mon & Thurs or Tues & Fri), 1 credit

This course will be a journey of discovery as we explore the many types of music that have been created and influenced by African Americans over the past 200 years.

From Spirituals to the Blues, Gospel to Jazz, and Motown to Hip Hop, students will have the opportunity to listen, learn and reflect on the different styles and musicians that have impacted the evolution of music in the United States and around the globe. We will also take a deep dive into how particular artists and their music affected the culture in which the music was created and performed. This course is opened to all students.

4 terms, non-solid 3 days/week (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 2 credit, B

Field Music is open to members of the CMA Band Company who are beginners on their marching instruments and are in need of passing their Level 1 Proficiency. Listening, sound concepts, basic technique and ensemble playing are focused on in this class. The ensemble will explore the musical requirements of the Regimental Band of the Corps of Cadets and the role of music in the military as a whole. The class meets on Tuesday and Friday only, with the Wednesday drill period taking the place in class on that day. 

4 terms, non-solid non-solid 3 days/week (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 2 credit, A

Field Percussion is designed for the CMA Band Unit cadet percussionist to learn fundamentals on all percussion instruments. They perform three concerts per year. Directors will assign cadets to this course.

4 terms, non-solid 3 days/week (Tues, Wed, Fri), 2 credit, B

Concert Band is open to any CGA or CMA musician who plays a traditional band instrument. The Concert Band maintains a busy performance schedule and plays a wide variety of symphonic band and wind ensemble repertoire. Musicians in the Concert Band also perform in chamber ensembles and combine with the string players when the literature calls for a full orchestra.

4 terms, non-solid 3 days/week (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 2 credit, A 

Choir invites all students to improve their personal vocal skills, sing as a member of an ensemble, and experience all genres of music. Music skills, sight singing, and vocal and performance techniques are developed in choir. The curriculum provides students the opportunity to collaborate with visiting and area choirs, work with distinguished guest artists, and sing in various performances on and off campus.  This course meets 3 days a week.

4 terms, non-solid non-solid 3 days/week (Tues, Wed, Fri), 2 credit, A

Jazz Ensemble is a class that studies the great American art form of Jazz through practice and performance. The students will become familiar with the many different styles of jazz that have developed over the 100 plus year history of the genre. Listening, ensemble playing concepts and improvisation will be focused on throughout the year. The group maintains a busy performance schedule on and off campus in large and small group settings. Jazz Ensemble is open to CGA and CMA musicians who are determined capable players by the director. 

3 terms, solid, 3 credits

Admission to AP Music Theory requires a requires 3-term unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and approval from the Music Department Chair.

This course is to simulate an introductory college level course for advanced music students. Music fundamentals such as scales, intervals, melody, harmony, rhythm, analysis, and elementary composition will be covered in depth. Listening skills, sight singing, basic keyboard skills and musical dictation will also be developed throughout the course. Students should have the ability to read and write musical notation and should have basic performance skills in voice or an instrument. 

4 terms, non-solid (1 day/week), 2 credits

This course is a once a week, private instruction lesson, taken in all 4 terms of the senior year, that focuses on advanced techniques in one's instrument as well as rigorous study of multiple pieces that will be performed at the capstone recital. 

4 terms, non-solid (1 day/week), 2 credits

This course is a once a week, private instruction lesson, taken in all 4 terms of the senior year, that focuses on advanced vocal techniques as well as rigorous study of multiple pieces that will be performed at the capstone recital. 

4 terms, non-solid (1 day/week), 2 credits

This course is a once a week, private instruction lesson, taken in all 4 terms of the senior year, that focuses on advanced theory and compositional techniques where the knowledge learned will be used to create original works that will be performed at the capstone recital. 

1 term, solid, 1 credit

A research based class with heavy focus on the student's recital program. 

4 Term, non-solid (meeting 1 day/week), 2 credits

Prerequisites: Students who pursue honors in music will:
• Take private lessons during their 11th and 12th grade years, earning an average of B+ or higher.
• Be enrolled in the appropriate curricular ensembles for at least two of their four years at Culver, earning an average of B+ or higher.
• Complete Honors Music Seminar, a researched based class with heavy focus being on your recital program, earning an average of B+ or higher.

Honors Project and Recital Process 

With instructor input, students choose appropriate literature with the end goal being a 30-minute recital program that has at least three different styles and/or periods represented. Programs will be set by the beginning of the senior year.
• In December, the student will participate in a pre-jury. They will perform 10 minutes of music from their recital program for the faculty and provide an update on their progress. The faculty will provide feedback and give a grade of pass, pass with reservation or decline to continue.
• In the spring there is a formal jury where the student will perform their chosen repertoire for the music faculty. The faculty will provide a grade of pass or decline. If the student passes the jury, they will prepare for the recital.
• The capstone event of Honors in Music is the formal, public recital in which the candidate performs the literature in a setting similar to one they would encounter in college. At the end of the recital the faculty will provide a grade of pass or decline.

4 Term, non-solid (meeting 1 day/week), 2 credits

Prerequisites: Students who pursue honors in music will:
• Take private lessons during their 11th and 12th grade years, earning an average of B+ or higher.
• Be enrolled in the appropriate curricular ensembles for at least two of their four years at Culver, earning an average of B+ or higher.
• Complete Honors Music Seminar, a researched based class with heavy focus being on your recital program, earning an average of B+ or higher.

Honors Project and Recital Process 

With instructor input, students choose appropriate literature with the end goal being a 30-minute recital program that has at least three different styles and/or periods represented. Programs will be set by the beginning of the senior year.
• In December, the student will participate in a pre-jury. They will perform 10 minutes of music from their recital program for the faculty and provide an update on their progress. The faculty will provide feedback and give a grade of pass, pass with reservation or decline to continue.
• In the spring there is a formal jury where the student will perform their chosen repertoire for the music faculty. The faculty will provide a grade of pass or decline. If the student passes the jury, they will prepare for the recital.
• The capstone event of Honors in Music is the formal, public recital in which the candidate performs the literature in a setting similar to one they would encounter in college. At the end of the recital the faculty will provide a grade of pass or decline.

4 terms, non-solid (1 day/week), 2 credits

This course is a once a week, private instruction lesson, taken in all 4 terms of the senior year, that focuses on advanced theory and compositional techniques where the knowledge learned will be used to create original works that will be performed at the capstone recital. 

2 terms, 2 days/week, 1 credit

Honors in Musical Theatre Workshop would be a cross disciplinary course mirroring the scope of a collegiate preparatory program. Students would study the art of storytelling through the mediums of acting, music, dance, &design. Curriculum would be grounded in the methodology of the four C’s: Clean Notice, Critique, Compliment & Correct as well as the Four Pillars of Healthy Vocalization: Body, Breath, Onset & Resonance. The capstone project would consist of a musical solo, a musical ensemble piece, a monologue, a scene, written & recited program notes as well as a research paper.