Music

The Music program at Milford High School is designed to provide a broad-based, comprehensive musical experience for all students. The program, therefore, is built on the musical skills, conceptual understanding, and notational abilities developed in earlier grades, thereby helping students deepen their awareness of musical expression, form, and style. The program's purpose is to develop an awareness of music as an art, musical understanding and skills, knowledge of music literature, and an increasing ability to recognize quality music. Opportunities to participate in instrumental and vocal groups and music electives are offered to stimulate and challenge the student's intellectual and musical abilities, talents, and interests while fostering self-discipline and self-esteem.

General Requirements for All Performing Groups

Certain requirements of attendance and participation in performances and rehearsals are necessary to receive credit and/or maintain membership in performing groups. Members are expected to perform at all concerts and attend all special rehearsals, music festivals, and musical productions outside of the regular school day.
Reasonable standards of appropriate dress and personal appearance are required for members of performing groups. Members are required to provide appropriate accessories to complement the uniform or concert dress required for performances.

Advanced Vocal Studies

Full Year (1 Credit) 1691

Semester I or II (1/2 Credit) 1692

Grade 9-12

This class is designed for vocal students who have already reached high levels of achievement in both choral and solo singing, and are actively pursuing outside performance opportunities such as musical theatre, All State, a cappella ensembles, local community and church choirs, and college auditions. Students will focus on both solo and ensemble singing. Students enrolled in Advanced Vocal Studies are expected to enroll in Mixed Chorus for at least one semester in the year. Advanced Vocal Studies meets every other day, opposite Mixed Chorus.

Prerequisite: As this is an advanced performance class, at least one semester of MHS Mixed Chorus OR teacher recommendation is required.

Requirement: Attendance at all dress rehearsals and performances is mandatory.

Audio Engineering 1673

1 Credit Grades 9-12

Students learn the fundamentals of recording, playback, and sound reinforcement equipment operation, microphone selection & placement, sound engineering in live and studio situations, and a history of music technology. Students use soundtrap and Apple’s GarageBand to create music, as well as support major MHS events including music department concerts, school assemblies, and graduation. Students are required to complete projects in and out of class. Students produce portfolios suitable for collegiate music technology programs. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement for graduation. There are no prerequisites.

Band: Concert & Marching 1679

1 Credit Grades 9-12

Band is available to all students who play a band instrument, and to those wishing to begin playing a band instrument. Students learn to improve their musical ability by rehearsing and performing a wide variety of repertoire. Topics of study include sound production, performance technique, ensemble playing, phrasing and style. Ensembles may rehearse in different groups based on experience and ability. Band performs both as a concert band and marching band, and is a year long course. It meets every other day opposite the jazz band. Students not enrolled in jazz band will have a study or off block for upperclassmen. Participation in all events is required. Performances include concerts, festivals, assemblies, competitions, football games, and community functions such as parades. School instruments are available for borrowing.* This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement for graduation. No pre-requisite required, although a background in music is encouraged.

Requirement: Attendance at all dress rehearsals and performances is mandatory.

SUMMER BAND CAMP - In order to prepare for the fall football field show and parades all Band and Color Guard members are required to attend a week long camp to be held at Milford High School during the latter part of August (dates to be announced—visit MHS website for more information). Students with conflicts should contact the director.

NOTE: Fall sports participants are encouraged to also participate in Band and Color Guard

Beginning Guitar 1676

1 Credit Grades 9-12

This course is designed for students with no previous guitar experience. Students will receive guidance and direction in solving problems related to playing the guitar at a beginning level and will learn many of the different styles, skills and techniques required to become a successful guitarist. Areas of concentration include: performance technique and posture, instrument maintenance and care, note reading and music literacy, chord formation, aural skills, rhythmic patterns, finger-picking and strumming styles, musical forms, improvisation, and performing experiences.

Chimes & Bells Ensemble 1696

.5 credit Grades 9-12 (quarter-length class)

This course will teach students to play handbells and/or improve upon their handbell ringing skills. While reading music is helpful, you don't need to read music to play in this ensemble! No prior experience with handbells is needed for this course. Students will learn various basic handbell techniques and music literacy, and rehearse and perform a wide variety of handbell literature at an intermediate level. The handbell choir will learn all types of music from "Carol of the Bells" to the latest songs you hear every day. Students in this course will form an MHS handbell choir that will perform at a music department concert. Students taking this course will be encouraged to continue playing handbells in college and in their community throughout life.

Modern Band 1697

.5 credit Grades 9-12 (quarter-length class)

Modern Band is a music program that utilizes popular music as its central curriculum, utilizing (but not limited to) the musical instruments that are common to these genres: guitar, bass, drums, piano, and voice. Modern Band teaches students to perform both music they know and music they will explore to read and understand music, and to compose and improvise. Styles that are studied include rock, pop, hip-hop, rhythm & blues, jazz, country, and other contemporary styles as they emerge. Students are expected to be proficient at a basic level on their instrument of choice, but beginners will be accommodated and included fully. Students will have the opportunity to learn a secondary instrument in this course. Students who play by ear will learn to read music as well.

Jazz Band 1684

1 Credit Grades 10-12

Jazz Band provides an opportunity for musicians to study and perform music form all styles of the jazz idiom. Students who play saxophone, trumpet trombone, or rhythm section instruments (such as piano, bass, drums, and guitar) are eligible to participate. Students will learn appropriate performance techniques and gain a basic understanding of chord structure and progress as it relates to improvisation. Jazz Band students must also be enrolled in Band unless exempted by the Band Director. Jazz Band meets every other day opposite of band. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement for graduation.

Prerequisite: Students must also be enrolled in Band unless exempted by the Band Director.

Requirement: Attendance at all dress rehearsals and performances is mandatory.

Mixed Chorus

Full Year (1 Credit) 1685

Semester I or II (1/2 Credit) 1688

Grades 9-12

A variety of vocal styles and genres are studied and performed. Music reading is also emphasized. The chorus performs at various concerts at the school and in the community throughout the school year. Students are encouraged to enroll for the full year if at all possible. Mixed Chorus meets every other day, opposite Advanced Vocal Studies.

Requirement: Attendance at all dress rehearsals and performances is mandatory.

Music and Other Cultures 1693

1 Credit Grades 9-12

Music is considered to be a universal language amongst different cultures and countries. Every country and culture uses music in its daily life in some way. Music is used for celebrations, events, passing of oral traditions, entertainment, and much more. This course is a non-performance based class and will explore the music of different countries and cultures. Its primary focus will be music, but it will also explore and examine other aspects of each country's culture including but not limited to; history, visual art, theater, food, clothing, and so much more.

Music Theory 1674

1 Credit Grades 9-12

Students learn about the structure of music by studying pitch and rhythmic notation, scale and chord function, transposition, and aural and dictation skills. An emphasis is placed on chord structure and four-part chorale style composition. Students complete a variety of assignments that will prepare them for a future in music, including college level courses. Upon completion of this course, students may choose to take the AP Music Theory test. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement for graduation. No pre-requisite required, although a background in music is encouraged.

Survey of Musical Theatre 1695

1 Credit Grades 9-12

Survey of Musical Theatre is a non-performance class in which students study Musical Theatre as a unique art form. Focuses of the class are musical theatre in our history and culture, the writers, composers, choreographers, and performers of Musical Theatre, mental health and social issues in musical theatre, and a history of musical theatre. We'll also go in-depth to explore questions such as: How accurate is the history portrayed in Hamilton and Six? Do musicals such as Mean Girls accurately portray the life of an average high-schooler? How has Broadway been ahead of the times in terms of social justice, civil rights, etc.? Could Evan have really pulled off the fake email chain in Dear Evan Hansen? What are the merits- both financial and artistic- of movie adaptations such as Groundhog Day and Mrs. Doubtfire? How could Jenna have gotten help in her situation in Waitress? What made Sponge Bob the Musical a surprise hit? What aspects of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s compositions are found in Hamilton, In the Heights, and Bring It On? There’s so much to explore in the world of musical theatre and how it relates to our culture.

Piano Lab 1694

1 Credit Grades 9-12

This course will provide students with introductory experiences on the keyboard in performance skills and interpretation of simple notation. Content includes the development of music fundamentals, appropriate vocabulary, and listening skills. Students will develop the ability to perform keyboard selections by using correct fingering and hand positions. The student will demonstrate an intermediate knowledge of music reading and vocabulary, play root chords, scales, and chord progressions. Students will learn traditional piano notation, and delve into "fake book" chordal notation and improvisation as well. Pieces in pop music and a variety of genres will be learned.

Songwriting 1675

1 Credit Grades 9-12

Creative writing of music and lyrics with an emphasis on today's marketplace. Students will be motivated to learn about the craft of songwriting and will want to apply what they have learned directly. This course is open to all students regardless of musical background; however, some knowledge of music and/or creative writing is helpful. Students will develop multiple approaches to starting and finishing a song, learn about the essential components and forms of a song, explore a variety of genres, compose melodies and harmonies, write and develop effective and creative lyrics, evaluate and respond to a wide variety of music, record and share their work using modern techniques.